Waywatcher
Member
I have been curious for a while about how much a bullet gets pushed back upon chambering. I figure others have had the same question.
So, I quick whipped up an experiment to shed some light on the question.
The pistol: Gen 3 Glock 17 Serial #HWN2XX (no modifications)
The ammo: 9mm Remington 115 JHP (factory ammo)
The test:
1.) I measured the OAL of the cartridge.
2.) I pulled the slide back until it locked on the empty magazine.
3.) I placed one cartridge in the magazine as far back as possible.
4.) I inserted the magazine.
5.) I pushed the slide release with my thumb.
6.) I racked the slide back until it locked and ejected the cartridge.
7.) I repeated steps 1-6 15 times with same cartridge, recording results.
I did this entire test on three different cartridges from the same lot number. Here are the results: (The first number in each row is the chambering number.)
# Ctg#1 Ctg #2 Ctg #3
0 1.067 1.070 1.071
1 1.067 1.070 1.071
2 1.067 1.070 1.071
3 1.067 1.070 1.071
4 1.067 1.070 1.070
5 1.066 1.069 1.070
6 1.063 1.067 1.070
7 1.062 1.066 1.070
8 1.060 1.065 1.069
9 1.058 1.065 1.068
10 1.055 1.065 1.068
11 1.055 1.063 1.068
12 1.053 1.063 1.068
13 1.052 1.062 1.068
14 1.050 1.062 1.067
15 1.048 1.060 1.067
Conclusions: Every cartridge was safe even after 5 chamberings. One cartridge was still safe after 15 chamberings. All the cartridges looked really beat up at the end of the test.
So, I quick whipped up an experiment to shed some light on the question.
The pistol: Gen 3 Glock 17 Serial #HWN2XX (no modifications)
The ammo: 9mm Remington 115 JHP (factory ammo)
The test:
1.) I measured the OAL of the cartridge.
2.) I pulled the slide back until it locked on the empty magazine.
3.) I placed one cartridge in the magazine as far back as possible.
4.) I inserted the magazine.
5.) I pushed the slide release with my thumb.
6.) I racked the slide back until it locked and ejected the cartridge.
7.) I repeated steps 1-6 15 times with same cartridge, recording results.
I did this entire test on three different cartridges from the same lot number. Here are the results: (The first number in each row is the chambering number.)
# Ctg#1 Ctg #2 Ctg #3
0 1.067 1.070 1.071
1 1.067 1.070 1.071
2 1.067 1.070 1.071
3 1.067 1.070 1.071
4 1.067 1.070 1.070
5 1.066 1.069 1.070
6 1.063 1.067 1.070
7 1.062 1.066 1.070
8 1.060 1.065 1.069
9 1.058 1.065 1.068
10 1.055 1.065 1.068
11 1.055 1.063 1.068
12 1.053 1.063 1.068
13 1.052 1.062 1.068
14 1.050 1.062 1.067
15 1.048 1.060 1.067
Conclusions: Every cartridge was safe even after 5 chamberings. One cartridge was still safe after 15 chamberings. All the cartridges looked really beat up at the end of the test.