trouble with barsto barrel install - opinions while i wait for them to

[mumzer]

I recently purchased and had one of Barsto's new match barrels installed in my M&P. The smith is a capable and well trained (E8 or E9 Ordnance soldier) with proper machines. I have had great work from him on 1911's in the past and figured this would be a walk in the park.

The barrel was substantially over-sized (hood length and width) and required material removal to drop into the slide. The lower lug also had extra material that required removal. The work was done quickly and the lock up feels massively improved. Pistol head-spaced fine and passes all plunk test criteria. Pistol passed a function test into a sandtrap at the gunsmith.

On the first outing to the range using a variety of 115gr factory ball loads the pistol will occasionally ftrtb. It will strip a round properly and appear to go into battery, but stops just shy. The typical love tap on the back of the slide does nothing - slide will lock up tight. I can clear the stoppage with a forceful rack or by a 1 handed clearing technique on my holster and continue firing. Every mag or so i get a repeat stoppage. Accuracy is terrific. I come to the M&P from 2011's. I have occasionally run into a 1911 extractor with too much tension or shitty contours that would stop the case lip from sliding up the breech face, but it always happens much earlier in the chambering cycle.

Brass looks fine - no signs of overpressure. There are no apparent chamber flaws. breech face and ramp look ok (although i have to say there is a major tool mark in the underside of the top of the breech hood). There doesn't appear to be any vertical fretting on the barrel or breech face or evidence of the extractor fretting on the barrel.

The smith is suggesting i run more round through to break it in (which might make sense if taxpayers payed for my ammo and sidearm) and barsto is closed for the holidays.

I'd be interested to hear any suggestions or additional things to look for.

thanks

[wgj3]

Answered own question with a little re-reading...

Could just be a fairly tight chamber that is a little finicky on ammo. Might see if you know someone who reloads and runs an undersize sizing die and get them to swap/trade you some ammo and see if the problem persists.

Edited December 29, 2014 by wgj3

[alexmg]

Not sure if this helps, but I had similar FTRTB problem with one of my factory pistols (non s&w), round just would get stuck on way in approximately 90% into chamber... This would only start happening after shooting approx 30 - 40 rounds when chamber starts getting dirty with carbon deposits. I tried 3 - 4 different ammo brands, same thing. Sent back to factory, received back with letter that said "re-throated barrel" Then I ran 150 rounds - no problem.

Edited December 30, 2014 by alexmg

[bountyhunter]

Check the throat with a light: do you see rotary milling lines? many new barrels have them and rounds like to snag on them. As stated, could be that it's just tight enough to start hanging up when the throat gets carboned up and expands from heat.

If this was mine, I would polish the throat BY HAND (not Dremel) using a sanding form and some 400/600 paper and machine oil. You can use the smooth end of a drill bit wrapped with the paper, sand until throat is mirror smooth. Will take a while, keep changing the paper.

[bountyhunter]

I recently purchased and had one of Barsto's new match barrels installed in my M&P. The smith is a capable and well trained (E8 or E9 Ordnance soldier) with proper machines. I have had great work from him on 1911's in the past and figured this would be a walk in the park.

The barrel was substantially over-sized (hood length and width) and required material removal to drop into the slide. The lower lug also had extra material that required removal.

That's what I would expect. They make them oversize so that they can be fitted in perfectly. If you want a drop in barrel, EFK Firedragon would be a better choice. I think Barsto has the warning on their site that their barrels need fitting.

Edited December 30, 2014 by bountyhunter

[Bob Hostetter]

Sounds like you need to run a chamber reamer thru it.

[mumzer]

Sounds like you need to run a chamber reamer thru it.

Winner winner. Material came off rear of hood and tightened chamber. I reamed it, And all is good now.

[horseman]

EFK makes a Smith barrel?