open gun not shooting as flat as i'd like

[finz08]

Hey i need a little help

I recently bought a sti 2011 short block kit from freedom gun works, its absolutely beautiful work. I'm having trouble getting it to shoot as flat as i know it can. Here's what i have

i had the slide lightened(tri top, front cerations)

bedell titanium comp(Three ports on top, two ports on each side)

Schuemann barrel

tungsten guid rod with 10lb recoil spring

I'm shooting 38 super 124gr montana golds at around 1350 fps. Also bullets are tumbling

Any help would be great, the whole gun is brand new only about 1000 rounds through it.

Thanks again

Edited September 4, 2012 by finz08

[Glk21C]

Have you asked Bobby K at FGW?? Since you bought the short block from him, he generally is always a great help. Good luck

[finz08]

not yet i figured i'd ask around on here first so i'd have more to tell him if i couldnt get it figured out. He has been very helpful so far

[kmca]

What powder are you using?

[finz08]

AA 7 about 9.9gr with cci magnum primers

Edited September 4, 2012 by finz08

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: The Bedell comp likes the power factor up around 171-173. Using a 9lb ISMI recoil spring and ditch the tungston guide rod before it breaks. Check the comp to make sure the bullets are not contacting it. The Schuemann and Bedell is a good setup with the threads matching very well. Hope this helps. Thanks, Eric

[finz08]

I'll give that a try. Does the recoil spring need to go up or down in poundage with a lighter slide.

[strikeraj]

I'll give that a try. Does the recoil spring need to go up or down in poundage with a lighter slide.

down

and definitely a lot of comps work better with more gas

[latech15]

Yes, lower spring.

Who installed the comp on the barrel? Were they both factory threaded?

You may be over crimping the rounds. That is the first thing that I look for with tumbling bullets.

[HI5-O]

eta: what latech said

Edited September 5, 2012 by HI5-O

[Shadyscott999]

1. Too much spring I run a 7.5# variable

2. Dollars to donuts the bullets are hitting the comp.

[finz08]

Fgw fit the barrel and comp. when I got done shooting the comp was loose from the barrel. The guns getting the trigger worked on so I can't check the inside of the comp for strikes. Also I was thinking about milling off one of the front side ports... Thought?

Edited September 5, 2012 by finz08

[HI5-O]

I would wait until the comp is back on securely and then see if the bullets are still tumbling.

Then I would try different powders before cutting on the comp.

After that, maybe you can have someone else fire the gun and see what it looks like and what the shooter says.

[kmca]

Better yet, have someone video you shooting.

[finz08]

This may not be the best logic but a majority of the pics I see people are running three top ports with one side port on each side. Thought cutting the comp might direct more gas up

[technetium-99m]

I vote you contact Bobby and let him see it before massive changes are made.

Edited September 5, 2012 by technetium-99m

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: Send the pistol back to whoever fit the barrel and comp. That should not happen with a pistol with only 1000 rounds through it. If the comp came loose on the barrel then that is your problem with keyholing. A note on springs is that the Wolff brand springs are heavier than the ISMI springs. So a 7.5lb Wolff is really a 9lb spring or close to it. Thanks, Eric

[finz08]

That's good info. I bought the gun as a short block kit so I'm not sure if they are responsible for the comp coming loose. I'll have the person that finished the gun fix it. Thanks for the info on the springs. That's good to know

[Neomet]

What Eric said. Call Bobby, get the comp squared away and get to ground zero. What you have is a good combo. Avoid the Open division's siren on the rocks song of changing lots of stuff because you can. Been there, done the, got the scars. After that play with powders. If you want uber-flat (not saying that is the be all-end all) get some 115 projectiles and either N105 if the cost and a messy shellplate don't bother you or 4756. Beyond that work on technique.

Just my .02.

Edited September 6, 2012 by Neomet

[hvsmith]

My FGW 38 sc with 4 popple holes loves 10.9 gr. N105 with MG 124's - flat as a pancake - like Neomet said it gets a little messy but well worth it to me.

[latech15]

I have seen other guns come out of that shop with poorly fitted barrel/comp setups were the bullets were striking the comp and causing tumbling issues. Just saying......

Check crimp though. How about posting pics of your loaded rounds? That may tell a tale in itself.

Is the bottom of the comp relieved where the front end of the guide rod won't hit it in recoil? I have a tanfo that did that pretty bad. Made a ball cut on the underside of the comp and it cleared up the tumbling issues.

[finz08]

I'll post a pic of my loaded rounds tomorrow. I'm using the exact same round (with less powder) from the same machine that my friend uses on his trubor which shoots way flatter than mine custom gun.

[surfmaster]

It could be the titanium comp; it may be too light for your shooting style. I changed my race gun from a titanium Bedell to a steel M2i comp and that made all the difference.

[finz08]

I thought that might be it. I had a open glock with a titanium comp and it shot better so I'm still hoping I can get some more performance out of it

[Desmo412]

I can tell you that Bobby does not put threadlocker on the comp, although he does recommend it. Apparently some customers wanted the ability to remove the comp. Also, try running the power factor up to the 175 range. My dot bounces all over the place with 124gr bullets at a 165PF, but with 115gr bullets at a 175PF, its flat as can be