xen0ph0n Posted July 22, 2019 Share Posted July 22, 2019 I just shot my second USPSA match today. Shooting limited major, 40, out of a gen 3 glock 35 with the stock barrel. I'm new to all of this, and don't reload, so I picked up some 205gr Syntech between last match and today. On the first stage, we noticed that my rounds were consistently keyholing on targets ~7 yards or more out. The gun was cycling fine though, no malfunctions. Has anyone else had keyhole issues with Syntech? I'm new to action shooting, but not firearms, and I've never seen decent factory ammo keyhole out of a reputable handgun before. Should I contact Federal about getting a new batch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted July 22, 2019 Share Posted July 22, 2019 more than likely a new batch will yield the same results. some barrels just dont like some bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangeride Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 I’d try a aftermarket barrel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 reason most folks , as well as the standard 40 is 180 gr. Heavier the bullet and lower the velocity the more twist is needed to stabilize it. Wasnt all that long ago 147's would key hole with 9mm's when you tried to load em around 130pf 115 and 124 was the standard. Had a walther and a couple hipowers that did this. Had to either increase the velocity or decrease bullet weight to get them to not keyhole. Guessing maybe the industry standard rifling has changed over the last few decades that or I just had some flukes. As 147's seem pretty popular at minor PF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xen0ph0n Posted July 30, 2019 Author Share Posted July 30, 2019 Thanks all. I've been meaning to grab a KKM barrel anyway, so I picked one up. Hopefully it should solve the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davsco Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 i used that 205g syntech for the first time last weekend out of my 5" sti edge barrel at a uspsa match and didn't notice any keyholing. i do need to play around with it a little for groups/accuracy/poi as i didn't do that before the match and i've been using atlanta arms 180g reloads to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 On 7/28/2019 at 12:20 AM, orangeride said: I’d try a aftermarket barrel. Eh, why not just shoot ammo that doesn't tumble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 th 33 minutes ago, Ssanders224 said: Eh, why not just shoot ammo that doesn't tumble? Be my choice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpaw Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Yeah using different ammo would be a much cheaper solution than a new barrel. That Syntech stuff is overpriced anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scduckman03 Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 What were you shooting it out of. Looking at getting a 2011 40 cal and looking at Ammo options. I have shot a lot of syntech in the past in pcc and never had a problem. I just wonder about shooting a 40cal in a 2011 that is loaded “long”. Was wondering if you were shooting a 2011 if that could be the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HCH Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 12 minutes ago, scduckman03 said: What were you shooting it out of. Looking at getting a 2011 40 cal and looking at Ammo options. I have shot a lot of syntech in the past in pcc and never had a problem. I just wonder about shooting a 40cal in a 2011 that is loaded “long”. Was wondering if you were shooting a 2011 if that could be the problem. OP Says a Glock 35 Gen 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scduckman03 Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Just now, HCH said: OP Says a Glock 35 Gen 3. Sorry.. brain fart I guess. So has anyone on here tried these bullets in a 2011 that could answer my question about feeding? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HCH Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Just now, scduckman03 said: Sorry.. brain fart I guess. So has anyone on here tried these bullets in a 2011 that could answer my question about feeding? Probably have better luck in the 1911 section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davsco Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 (edited) As noted above, 205 syntech works fine in my .40 edge, as does Atlanta arms regular, not long, .40. Haven't tried aa's long ammo. Edited December 29, 2019 by davsco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetownsend Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 Shot my first Fed Syntec 205gr, G35 Gen 4, four rounds out of 15 keyholed at 7m. Fed Action Pistol 180g, one round out of 15. I'm still breaking in the G35, only up to 150 rounds or so. Will clean it tonight and try again tomorrow, but having almost a third of the rounds keyhole against the price? I might just stick with reloading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetownsend Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 Took the G35 back to the range with my P16.40, my first USPSA pistol. It's got probably 5,000 rounds through it and shoots with zero problems. No keyholes with this ammo but it did low-jam on a full mag, did ok with only 14 rounds. Another 14 out of the G35 and two keyholes. So far I'm not happy with this ammo, especially given the CPR. flickr album of test shots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braxton1 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 Given the frequency of this complaint, I would start to think that the issue is the coated bullet interacting with polygonal rifling. You rarely hear complaints from folks who are using conventionally-rifled barrels with this ammo. I saw where the OP was going to get a different barrel. I wonder if he did and how that affected the results, but he hasn't visited the Forums since 2020... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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