I like the Kart NM barrel in my custom Colt Government, built by Steve Morrison, the barrel has always been very accurate and consistant
What caused this
Hello everyone: My pistol jammed in a way that I've never seen before. I worked it lose, removed the buffer (it was damaged) and reassembled but it happened again. Obviously there's a part that needs to be replaced but all looks well to me.
Any advice will be very much appreciated.
![Pen Writing implement Office supplies Wood Tints and shades]()
Any advice will be very much appreciated.
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There are a number of things that can obstruct a barrel. I left a hunting rifle just outside the door of my cabin when I had my hands full, and had a Mud Dauber Hornet building a nest in it when I remembered leaving it outside 40 minutes later. Mud and Snow are obvious possibilities, as well as a insect or critter crawling into the barrel. Couldn’t begin to recall all the things I’ve found in range brass trying to hibernate through the winter, as well as spider egg sacks and cocoons. Anything obstructing your barrel could have bulged it!
Here is a freak incident :
Back when I was shooting rifles, one day I left the rifle on the bench and went to the bathroom, when I came back and chambered a round, it felt really weird so I pulled the bolt back out, I found that I just crushed a caterpillar into the chamber when I loaded the shell !
Had a patch stuck in the barrel of my 243 BAR, which made chambering difficult. So now when take any firearm out to shoot, I look down the barrel one last time for any lost patch or the like before I load and shoot. NV
I concur. Definite bulge.Could be just the small View attachment 674178
screen on my tablet but where these two blue arrows are looks like a slight swell but I could be wrong
Ick. Was it at least a tactical caterpillar?Here is a freak incident :
Back when I was shooting rifles, one day I left the rifle on the bench and went to the bathroom, when I came back and chambered a round, it felt really weird so I pulled the bolt back out, I found that I just crushed a caterpillar into the chamber when I loaded the shell !
Just out of curiosity, if it were my pistol I would turn down the bulge to see if the barrel’s accuracy was compromised.
That is an unhardened WW1-era slide. Be careful what barrel you use because an improperly fitted one will quickly destroy those soft locking lugs in the slide. The best bet is a proper USGI-spec barrel, or one of the modern equivalents like a factory Colt or a Fusion Firearms barrel.
Then the next 'bulge' would blow out!Just out of curiosity, if it were my pistol I would turn down the bulge to see if the barrel’s accuracy was compromised.
I have a Woodsman with a bulge that shoots fine, my only experience with a bulged barrel.
Might not even take the next "bulge". Thinning the barrel walls in that area would mean the barrel is still containing high pressures in a very weakened state. Might not take a squib and live round after to blow it out. Might just be the next shot. Or maybe the 7th... Or 19th... or 152nd. It would simply be a disaster waiting to happen.Then the next 'bulge' would blow out!
Isn't even such a thing as too much lube (or too thick lube) a possible cause or a barrel bulge?
The slide stop notch and takedown notch are already damaged/worn.That is an unhardened WW1-era slide. Be careful what barrel you use because an improperly fitted one will quickly destroy those soft locking lugs in the slide...
A squib is not easy to notice when you are the shooter. A person standing over your shoulder can notice it much easier. We have a weekly bowling pin shoot and we will get someone with a squib every few months. We have a safety officer over the shoulder on each shooter. As far as I know we only had one case of a guy ignoring the command to stop and firing the next round into a squib and seriously damaging his 45 ACP. No one was hurt, thank God, but his pistol barrel was a mess. If you were shooting alone or where other shooters were not focused on you it is easy to miss a squib.
I agree with everyone on the appearance of a bulge in the photos.
But the measurements are not right:
15.574 mm is .613". It should be .580" (or .574" if National Match design).
And the bulge measurement itself is only .0005" based on those measurements ( 5.586 mm - 15.574 mm).
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But the measurements are not right:
15.574 mm is .613". It should be .580" (or .574" if National Match design).
And the bulge measurement itself is only .0005" based on those measurements ( 5.586 mm - 15.574 mm).
-
Absolutely correct. As an instructor you watch for and see this all the time. You need to feel the way the gun recoils in your hand because you won't hear it on a busy range. If it felt weird and you didn't see the the hole appear - then look through that bore before you do ANYTHING else. Squibs are MUCH more common than most people think. Sometimes a sharp individual will catch it and stop the shooter in time but many times the shooter is pumping rounds too fast. Watch your sights and watch the target very closely. Jerry Barnhart told me you can only shoot as fast as you can see. He was right. Go a little too fast, throw in a squib and you have a perfect train wreck. Watch that target like you watch your girlfriend unbutton her blouse -intently.
I have experienced two squibs in my lifetime. Both times, there was a noticeable difference in felt recoil and sound. Both times, I was able to clear the barrel and continue shooting without damage.
Even during rapid fire, it is possible to stop shooting immediately upon noticing a difference.
Gotta pay attention to everything when shooting. Missing the smallest change can result in someone getting hurt or damage to the firearm.
Even during rapid fire, it is possible to stop shooting immediately upon noticing a difference.
Gotta pay attention to everything when shooting. Missing the smallest change can result in someone getting hurt or damage to the firearm.
I decided on an Ed Brown Drop in barrel. Hopefully it will "drop in" without too much trouble and shoot as well as my damaged barrel.
Going back to the cause of the problem I shot at least 30 rounds before the bulge/jam so I have to rule out an obstruction inside the barrel other than a bullet that didn't have enough behind it to make it all the way out. I have gone through my shooting session in my mind very carefully a number of times and I recall having to clear a case out, then shooting and then the jam came along. I believe now that it was a squib and now I am a bit paranoid as to what I should do the next time my gun fails to cycle. Is it recommended to check the barrel every time the pistol fails to fully cycle? I have never been told to do that but if a squib load is one of a number of reasons for the gun to fail to cycle checking the barrel before continuing the shoot seems to me to be pretty important.
This is a subject perhaps for another thread but it's related but I would very much like to read opinions. Anyway thanks again to everyone for your help.
Going back to the cause of the problem I shot at least 30 rounds before the bulge/jam so I have to rule out an obstruction inside the barrel other than a bullet that didn't have enough behind it to make it all the way out. I have gone through my shooting session in my mind very carefully a number of times and I recall having to clear a case out, then shooting and then the jam came along. I believe now that it was a squib and now I am a bit paranoid as to what I should do the next time my gun fails to cycle. Is it recommended to check the barrel every time the pistol fails to fully cycle? I have never been told to do that but if a squib load is one of a number of reasons for the gun to fail to cycle checking the barrel before continuing the shoot seems to me to be pretty important.
This is a subject perhaps for another thread but it's related but I would very much like to read opinions. Anyway thanks again to everyone for your help.
I did not read your post until after I ordered that new barrel. Should I return it or have a gunsmith check the fit?an improperly fitted one will quickly destroy those soft locking lugs in the slide.
You are right. I misread my calipers. The barrel is .575" and the bulge is .585" so .010" difference. I have started to sand it down to see if I can get it to cycle maybe it will shoot OK & keep as a spare or maybe I should return the Ed Brown barrel, now I'm not sure.15.574 mm is .613". It should be .580" (or .574" if National Match design).
DO NOT SHOOT IT AGAIN.You are right. I misread my calipers. The barrel is .575" and the bulge is .585" so .010" difference. I have started to sand it down to see if I can get it to cycle maybe it will shoot OK & keep as a spare or maybe I should return the Ed Brown barrel, now I'm not sure.
Read "modulus of elasticity" . Just find a description you can read and understand rather than me posting a variety of links.
In summary, once a material has passed its elasticity limits it enters into plasticity. This means it has been stressed past its ability to return to it's original form.
What this does is irrevocably compromise it's ultimate yield strength.
The scary part here is you don't know how much of the strength has been compromised nor do you know how much you have left.
The only way now to find out how much yield strength is left is to continue destructive testing.
KABOOM.
So, is this clear as mud now?
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