Suppressed Glock reliability problems

[quake]

I’m looking for help on making a glock reliable when suppressed. The can I’m using is an AWC Abraxas Titanium, weight of only 3.3 oz, iirc. The gun (a g26 now, likely will also use it on g19 eventually) short-strokes on firing, cycling enough to reset the trigger, but not enough to eject the spent case or strip the next round from the magazine.

I bought the titanium Abraxas primarily because it’s meant to cycle glock & browning tilt-barrel designs without needing an LID device due to its light weight, but no luck so far with any factory ammunition; subsonic or otherwise.

I’m not limp-wristing it, I’m sure of that. I’m wondering if the short barrel of the g26 over-accentuates the barrel-tilt issue; the barrel rear dropping the same distance as the longer-barreled glocks, but the pivot point (front of the barrel) being closer means a greater angle of change than on a longer-barreled gun. That may or may not be the case; if so, it could be that the g19 would be easier to make suppressor-reliable than the shorter-barreled g26.

It also may be that a lighter recoil spring is required to make it reliable. My first two options would be to put a threaded barrel on the g19 and try it to test the barrel-length issue, and/or install a lighter recoil spring on the g26; but wanted to check with folks here for ideas from others before going to far down the road on this.

FWIW, it’s a lone wolf barrel, and the g26 is reliable with it without the suppressor attached, so it’s not a chamber dimension issue of the barrel.

Thanks for any input or ideas.

[TimWarner]

if you hand load, and still want to keep it subsonic, you can try a slow powder with the same bullet weight you're using now.

That SHOULD generate a longer recoil impulse, and help out.

Should note I don't have, never have used or seen a suppressor. But I'm used to running high comp'd 9mm guns for uspsa.

[Slagged]

I finally gave up on my 26. My 19 works most of the time, and my 17 is very reliable. My class III dealer tried to talk me out of trying with the 26, but I am hard headed. The suppressor I tried was a Gemtech Trinity. I have a new 9mm suppressor on order from John's Guns, and hope that it will work.

[quake]

FWIW, I received a response from AWC today as well.

After I described the problem, the first words out of the guy’s mouth was “is it a Lone Wolf barrel?” I told him it was indeed, but that the gun… and he interrupted me with “but it’s reliable with the Lone Wolf barrel without the suppressor, right?” Darn.

I said it was, at which time he said that was almost certainly the problem, and that they hear that all the time regarding LW barrels on suppressed guns. It’ll run fine without the suppressor but not with. He was almost adamant about changing barrels solving the problem. What gave him credibility was two things. First, he said buy a barrel from him or don’t, but buy a different barrel. He even gave me names (that I already know) of different brands if I didn’t want to buy theirs. The second thing that gave him credibility in my eyes was that he was dead-set against reducing the spring power on the glock, for exactly the reason I was leery of it; increased wear on the slide rails. I was concerned that this would be the case with a reduced spring, and he brought it up before I did.

I know Lone Wolf is a GT sponsor, but the way the conversation played out really led me to trust the guy’s opinion. And just because it doesn't work with the suppressor, the LW barrel still works fine for normal (unsuppressed) use.

I’ll likely have a different barrel in my glock’s future…

[grecco]

I have been using a LWD 40-9 barrel on my g23 with a gemtech w/ a LID unit,
its been fine.
Glocks are hard pistols to surpress.

[myglockisa23]

Never had a problem with my Lone Wolf/Evo 9 combo on my 17 or 19....

[CAR-AR-M16]

My LW barrel in my G17 with a YHM Cobra has been 100% reliable from the first round.

[WolfiePacker]

How many rounds on the barrel? I've heard of this before and oddly enough the solution was to shoot a few hundred rounds though the barrel itself. Don't ask me how that helps enough to make it work, its just what I have read on the internets, so take it for what it is.

[MooseJaw]

I sent my G30 and my Gemtech SOS-45 back to Gemtech..

As soon as I hear back, I'll let you know..

FTF

FTE

Not fun.

Very dissapointed, so far, but optomistic.

[quake]

Received the new barrels from AWC and they were right. Swapping barrels solved the reliability problems completely. Unless the guns are limp-wristed to the point that they’d likely be unreliable even without the suppressor, they work fine. No failures of any kind.

In their catalog, AWC says their machining is so good, and that the fit is so fine, that they sometimes get calls from customers, claiming that AWC forgot to thread the barrels. Sounds like self-aggrandizing marketing hype, but after receiving these two from them, I believe it. With the thread protector (included with the barrel) installed, you just can’t see a seam at all.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/1-19-08028.jpg


Only when you begin to unthread it does the seam become evident.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/1-19-08029.jpg

As these guns are often carried concealed, I wasn’t keen on the extended barrel length, but it’s necessary in order to keep the suppressor from impacting the guide rod when cycling.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/G19-Abraxas-racked.jpg


Overall, I’m as happy with AWC’s barrels as I am with their suppressor. Very good products.

With their Abraxas suppressor installed on one of the G26’s, the overall package is actually smaller than my old suppressed ruger 22 pistol – that impressed me substantially when I looked at them side-by-side.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/G26-AbraxasMk2.jpg

Even on the G19, it’s still only slightly larger than the .22 pistol.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/G19-AbraxasMk2.jpg

One thing I really like about the Abraxas is that it’s compact enough that it doesn’t block the sights the way most 9mm suppressors do.

[quake]

FWIW, the AWC (KKM) G26 threaded barrel and the Lone Wolf G26 threaded barrel together. To be fair to the Lone Wolf, it’s absolutely reliable without the suppressor, which means it would be fine for 99% of the Glock users out there. And it’s one-third the price, so for a lot of folks, it would probably be perfectly fine.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/AWCkkmLoneWolf.jpg


I recently picked up a used Marlin 9mm Camp Carbine as well. Those things are difficult to come by anymore, but I tracked one down & snagged it & figure to have it threaded to accept the Abraxas as well. Still considering optics for it if anyone has any suggestions. I’m leaning toward the Trijicon Tri-Power as it’ll let me (someday) use it in conjunction with a night-vision monocular behind it.

Ideas on optics suggestions for use on a suppressed, short-range carbine that are nv compatible are welcome – I’m not real ‘up’ on the latest products anymore.

[CAR-AR-M16]

FWIW, the AWC (KKM) G26 threaded barrel and the Lone Wolf G26 threaded barrel together. To be fair to the Lone Wolf, it’s absolutely reliable without the suppressor, which means it would be fine for 99% of the Glock users out there. And it’s one-third the price, so for a lot of folks, it would probably be perfectly fine.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/AWCkkmLoneWolf.jpg

If you have no use for the LW G26 barrel, you can send it to me and I will give it a good home. :wavey:

[quake]

If you have no use for the LW G26 barrel, you can send it to me and I will give it a good home. :wavey:
Always have use for gun stuff. ;) Even if I can't use it for the suppressor, you never know when I may need a threaded barrel for something on the other G26...

[one"Lucky"shot]

Congrats on getting the right combo of can and tube to get yours working well.

I am looking to add this type of set up to my collection. Are there any laws that need to be considered? both in buying and owning a suppressor? (I'm in FL)

[quake]

Congrats on getting the right combo of can and tube to get yours working well.

I am looking to add this type of set up to my collection. Are there any laws that need to be considered? both in buying and owning a suppressor? (I'm in FL)
Not sure about FL. You might start with some of the mfrs' websites for information.

www.awcsystech.com and www.advancedarmament.com are the only two I know off-hand, but I'm sure there are others as well.

[Jakk]

he was dead-set against reducing the spring power on the glock, for exactly the reason I was leery of it; increased wear on the slide rails. I was concerned that this would be the case with a reduced spring, and he brought it up before I did.
I wouldn't worry too much about the rails. Lots of competition shooters use reduced recoil springs and the rails last tens and hundreds of thousands of rounds.

However, my Trident9 is noticeably louder, and throws a lot more gunk back at me when I shoot with a reduced spring installed.


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/G26-AbraxasMk2.jpg

One thing I really like about the Abraxas is that it’s compact enough that it doesn’t block the sights the way most 9mm suppressors do.
What sights? The guns in your pictures are all nekked in the front. :whistling:

FWIW, my G17 runs fine suppressed with a Lone Wolf barrel. But that's a different gun and a different suppressor. Sounds like it may just be an issue with that silencer and gun combo.

[quake]

What sights? The guns in your pictures are all nekked in the front.


I didn’t notice that before – the sights do just about disappear against that background, but I assure you they’re there. Tritiums on the G19, and standard (triangular front) factory sights on the G26.

How about another one? Ever see an 1892-design lever action with a silencer on it…? :innocent: :whistling:

Ridiculous-looking setup perhaps (.357 mag caliber), but works phenomenally well. Sealed breach so no ejection-port pop; pushing a 158-grain handload at just subsonic velocity – 350 ft/lbs or so, compact & light as my kid’s 10-22, and can still use the iron sights.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/SR9210-22.jpg

Had to have the magazine tube shortened when getting it threaded (and repeatedly cautioned the gunsmith to not shorten the 16” barrel any in the process…), but the results are worth it. I love the silly-looking thing.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/SR92detail.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/quake316/LE/SR92detail2.jpg

[BJSM16]

I was just looking at having this done with my Rossi Puma .357mag. Where did you have the barrel done? Have you tried 180gr subsonic handloads? If so how did they sound? I reload also and have tested some .38S&W's loaded with a 158gr JHP and they are quiet. No need of a can there and my rifle holds 15 of them. I had my Desert Eagle .357mag threaded for a can. Just waiting on my form 4.
Thanks,
Brandon.

[Jakk]

I didn’t notice that before – the sights do just about disappear against that background, but I assure you they’re there.

Sure... if you say so. :whistling::winkie:

The lever gun looks like fun.

[quake]

I was just looking at having this done with my Rossi Puma .357mag. Where did you have the barrel done? .
That’s what mine is; the Rossi Puma. The gunsmith at the Gander Mountain in Little Rock shortened the tube & threaded the barrel, but he’s a smith I’ve known for years; since long before there was a gander mountain around here. I don’t know if all their gunsmiths are as capable as he is.


Have you tried 180gr subsonic handloads?
Subsonic 180’s were exactly what I wanted to do originally, but didn’t due to the gun itself. I did some checking on the gun’s barrel, and it turns out that Rossi uses a very slow 1:30 twist in their .357 rifle barrels. Most .357 carbines are 1:14 or 1:16. I have no idea why Rossi used such a slow twist, but I don’t trust a short (sixteen inch), 1:30-twist barrel to stabilize a 180-grain bullet sufficiently to use in a suppressor – I’d be worried about baffle strikes every time I pulled the trigger. So I’ve stuck with 158 & occasionally 160 as the heaviest bullets in it, and they’ve done fine.


I reload also and have tested some .38S&W's loaded with a 158gr JHP and they are quiet.
Would you mind sharing load data? I’ve worked up a couple just-subsonic loads for the 158’s out of mine, but they’re still louder than I think they should be. I’m using fast powders now (Red Dot & TiteGroup), as my main consideration was to ensure complete burn in the 16” barrel, but I wonder now if a slower powder and non-magnum primers might be a better choice.

FWIW, right at 5.0 grains of titegroup pushes a 158-grain XTP at 990-1020 fps from my gun, using .357 cases and Federal magnum primers. May be different from your longer barrel gun. I don’t recall off-hand what the Red Dot load was that I settled on. (I’m thinking working some up with AA #7 next round.)

Any quieter load data would be welcome & appreciated.