Storm Lake Barrel Won't Chamber Rounds, rounds pass case guage check

[BigSlick]

Hi guys,

I ponied up the cash for a Storm Lake barrel for the G23 and took it out for a test today.

I loaded 165 MG RF to 1.135. Most fed, fired and extracted perfectly, 5 or 6 (out of about 300) rounds wouldn't chamber, thus not allowing the slide to go into battery.

I guaged all the loads before I took them out, all passed. I guaged the problematic rounds when I got home, they still passed.

I dropped the rounds that wouldn't feed into the stock barrel, no problems at all, when I dropped them in the SL barrel, they wouldn't feed past the web of the case without quite a bit of pressure.

I loaded these on a 550B, with Dillon dies. I read thru a few other posts and gather the Lee FCD, may help alleviate this from occuring again. I also read about the EGW and Lee undersized dies that some of you are using.

Is an FCD, undersized EGW or FCD the best option ?

BTW, the Dillon size die is turned down to touch the shell plate and backed out just enough to prevent an overcam.

Any suggestions ?

Thanks

BigSlick

 

[Navy joe]

Get the EGW "U"die. It has a smaller lead-in radius so it sizes the case further down, getting rid of the common bulge at the base of many .40 cases. The other suggestion is to mark the bullet ogive of the loads with a sharpie marker and then chamber them. Look at the problem ones and see if the marker is rubbed off, you may be engaging the leade of the rifling and have to seat the bullets deeper. The ones you have already had problems with you should check with a caliper. Did attempting to chamber them shorten OAL? That would be another sign of too long. HTH.

 

[only1asterisk]

I have a solution that will not require you to by another die. Just by XXX pieces if new starline brass (or another brand you don't have lots of) and use them only in the tight chambered barrel.

I think you are having trouble with the potion of the case that bulged when previously fired in your standard barrel. Your sizing die isn't getting it all and it's hanging up.

David