9mm Glock/Bar-Sto Barrel Problem

[MoShooter]

I know it sounds off topic but it isn't. I am just starting reloading. I am using a Lee Pro1000. It is working fine. I first tried Rainier 124gn Fp bullets at 1.095 oal. They did not feed. I upped the OAL to 1.12. Now they make it out of the magazine and into the breech. The problem is the round does not seat fully in the chamber. This keeps the slide from locking up.

I started comparing my rounds to factory ball rounds and the dimensions were fine. Then I started really comparing the barrels. My bullets are contacting the rifling before the case mouth bottoms out in the chamber. The Bar-Sto rifling comes right up to the chamber. In the stock Glock barrel it looks like the rifling begins a little further forward and gradual.

Does this make sense? Do you think the Bar-sto barrel is defective? Am I condemned to use round nose bullets or the stock barrel?

It never seems to go easy. :banghead:

 

[WmCC]

Howdy MoShooter,

Your post is very much on topic
My experience has been that Bar-Sto pre-fiit barrels are wonderful! However, those that I own are on the tight side with regard to SAAMI chamber specifications. I can actually drop FIRED and unsized cases from my Bar-Sto barrel(s) into Dillon overall length gauges and have room to spare. With such tight (but ok) chambers I have been forced to pay more attention to (loaded) case mouth diameter and to purchase and use Lee FCD's.

As for your specific problem of chambering vs leade and OAL, I recommend that you contact Bar-Sto and they will give you a hand,,,great folks! Without beating a dead horse to death, don't be surprised if it turns out to be a crimping problem, (more precisely, loaded case diameter at the mouth )...esp. with lead or plated bullets presenting diameters of .001 to .002 over caliber coupled with varying brass thickness among cases. The fix is easy with a properly set crimping die ...esp. a Lee FCD and a good reloading manual for spec's (do not confuse SAAMI max with proper nominal case diameter) ... say around .375" for the 9mm at the lip of the case mouth when loaded. A good check is to Mic a few factory rounds precisely at the case mouth for reference purposes.

Many of the problems people experience with regard to reloads are due to this often overlooked specification, especially with lead or plated bullets in 45 ACP and when trying to feed to and through a match chamber.

Sleep well. You have a fine barrel from an outstanding manufacturer and a great deal of enjoyable shooting ahead.

 

[MoShooter]

Thanks for the reply Bill.

My first suspicion was my case dimensions. I do use a Lee FCD. I did mic my cases and compared them to factory loads. My cases are the same as the factory loads that do drop in the case. I loaded one round and set the OAL way below the minimum. It dropped in the Bar-Sto barrel. Then I put blue on one of my normal size reloads. I blued the bullet and case mouth. I dropped it in and gave a good hard push with a block of wood. I then tapped it out. Not only could you see marks in the blue but the shape of each land was clearly embossed on the bullet. And the round was still well short of chambering.

I will contact Bar-Sto and see if they can help.

 

[Steve C]

The Rainier flat point bullets have a shoulder on them that generally needs to be seated to the case mouth or only very slight obove it to avoid the problems you are seeing. The OAL is determined by the bullet shape and style for these bullets. The pic below happens to show a .45 acp but the principle is the same. Bullets with a round nose profile generally have a longer and less abrupt taper to them so they can be loaded to a longer OAL.

 

[HSMITH]

My latest G17 shoots under 2" at 25 yards with anything resembling good ammo using the stock barrel. My question is why the Bar-Sto? I realize they make fantastic barrels and I own a few in 1911 type custom pistols, but my Glocks all shoot well with factory barrels. Why change yours?

 

[WmCC]

Hello MoShooter,

Sounds like you have run the proper checks. For reference purposes, a visual estimate has the rifling in my .40 cal Bar-Sto(s) beginning about 1/8" ahead of the headspace ring. The rifling appears to be tapered and blended which will have an effect on apparent vs. actual leade. This is a visual reference only, I have not attempted to measure the leade.

SteveC is absolutely correct with regard to ogive vs seating depth and resulting OAL. Makes a big difference. My truncated bullet loads typically appear to be on the "short" side.

If you are still concerned, I'm sure that both the Rainier and Bar-Sto folks. (respectively),will cheerfully provide you with hard data.

 

[JDGray]

Hello Wmcc,
I allways check new bullets by inserting a bullet only , into an unsized case, then push the case into the chamber, seating the bullet. Now, remove, and carefull measure the oal, add .015, and write it down as max oal. Good luck

 

[Deanimator]

My latest G17 shoots under 2" at 25 yards with anything resembling good ammo using the stock barrel. My question is why the Bar-Sto? I realize they make fantastic barrels and I own a few in 1911 type custom pistols, but my Glocks all shoot well with factory barrels. Why change yours?

He probably wants to be able to shoot cast lead bullets.

It's very strongly discouraged to shoot unjacketed bullets in factory Glock barrels. Lead buildup in the polygonal bore can lead to blow-ups. Some people get away with it. Some people don't. I did until I heard multiple warnings on the subject. I like my Glocks far too much to blow them up.

I plan to get a couple of Barsto barrels for my Glock 19 and Glock 22 for precisely this reason.

 

[WmCC]

Hello JD,

Yes sir, that's a very good and valid procedure! I've been loading for more years than I really want to think about and have kept specs on just about every load combination using your measurement methods and others. Now days it is pretty much a matter of eyeballing a sample round, checking my journal and verifying fit by dropping that first bad boy into the barrel for a quick check. As a rule, I note the OAL on my masking tape labels that adorn the old plastic ammo boxes.

Slightly off subject, with regard to CFR rounds, I became thoroughly engrossed in the use of a comparator for a few years...you know, seating the bullet(s) .005-.020 off of the rifling and chasing one hole groups. Overall, it did'nt improve accuracy as much as simply changing bullets, load, or front rest position.. In some cases accuracy diminished...esp in Ruger No.1's and Weatherby's where accuracy seemed to inmprove, the further that the bullet was required to "jump"...go figure!?/!

Bottom line, keep notes, study and be safe. Most quality handguns and reloads are well above our accuracy potential as shooters...life is good!

 

[EddieCoyle]

Not to hijack, but I didn't think this question warranted its own thread:

I have a G29 and I'm troubled by the amount of bulge I get on the cases. I like to run fairly hot handloads through all of my 10mm's and I definitely do not want to blow up my favorite carry gun (the G29).

I looked on Bar-Sto's website and they sell a "semi-drop in" barrel. Why "semi"? Does it require fitting?

Also, are there any other suppliers of aftermarket barrels to fit the G29?

Thanks.

[/hijack]

 

[WmCC]

Hello Eddie,

Yes, the Bar-Sto is "pretty much" a drop-in fit in most Glocks with only a pass or two with a stone or sandpaper on the rear of the barrel hood and/or lower lug on maybe 20% of the applications that I've seen.

Other U.S. makers include KKM, Jarvis, Storm Lake and (proprietary) barrels made for Lone Wolf. All are drop-in and of excellent quality. Normally their POI is the same as the OE Glock barrel and offer a huge improvement in casehead support. The chambers are also somewhat tighter. I've seen no compromised reliability as to feeding and extraction.

The best value appears to be the new Lone Wolf Barrel. I just received two of them in .40 S&W, (G-23 & G-27), and the quality and performance equal my Bar-Sto and KKM barrels, repectively. Absolutely dropped-in, I simply cleaned and inspected them and headed to the range. Marvelous barrels.