03-16-2019, 12:32 PM
m1a convert Wrote:I am having a hell of a time getting this cartridge to be reliable in my AR15. Here is the Saga:
I built two rifles. One is built with a Satern barrel and one is a Faxon barrel. Both have type II bolts. I purchased 10 E-Lander mags as well. I have some of the old 123 gr Wolf Gold softpoint ammo I wanted to use up. Both guns have FTF's multiple times per mag with this ammo. The jam is always the nose of the round hitting into the top of the chamber with the base of the round still in the mags and usually below the mags feedlips. The bolt is pressing against the middle of the cartridge case. This has the round that is trying to chamber stuck at 45 degree angle.
I thought that maybe it is the blunt shape and lead nose of the 123gr soft point that was causing the issue so I bought a case of Hornady Black 123gr match rounds with the polymer tip. Both guns would have the exact same FTF with that ammo as well. So I thought, maybe I need to use a lower grain weight and FMJ to get better results. I ordered a case of Wolf 100gr FMJ. Again the same jams. So, I thought maybe I need to increase the reliability by running a VLTOR A5 stock system. So I installed it to replace the Carbine buffer. The FTFs are still happening.
So what I have is two different rifles with two different buffer styles tried. Three types of ammo and multiple mags of what are supposedly the most reliable magazine option and I am getting the same FTF with all of it.
What am I missing. I really really want to like this cartridge but this is killing me. Any ideas what is causing this and how to fix it?
M1AC:
A couple of things. First off -- this goes back to the early days of the Grendel when this was happening. Alexander uses a carbine feedramp and not one made for the full length rifle. I have a feeling this detail is the problem since it was the major problem with feeding when the Grendel came out. You can also polish the feedramp but I do not know the process.
I do not think it the magazine but magazines are cheap and you can buy a different brand and try it. I still think it is a rifle feedramp and not a carbine feedramp.
It will not make a bit of a difference what bolt you use as long as the barrel is headspaced for that bolt.
Do not shoot the Wolf 123 grain Soft Point through your rifles. This was the only round of ammo that John Paul wrote was dangerous in his rifles and it is dangerous. The jacket fowls horribly and the powder finishes up the job. This is the only round of Grendel ammo I know of that fowls so badly that it will cause a build up of gilding metal and carbon in your barrel which will lead to high pressures and a severely damaged rifle.
LR55