Wow, that was close!

[Waxster60]

Hey folks,
Took my Glock 30 to the range this weekend for its weekly outing. Shot about 50 rounds when on e sounded and felt like a squib. The slide was jammed tight, partially open with the expended case partially extracted. I could not for the life of me get the slide to budge. My local smith worked on it and got it apart-whew! On closer inspection, there is a completely circumferential bulge in the middle portion of the barrel. Visible internally and externally. Never have seen that before. Lucky the darn thing didn't blow up!

The gun has less than 2K round through it - both factory and reloads. this day I was shooting reloads - 230g plated round noses, 4.5g of Titegroup using standard large pistol primers-my usual load. Casing was fine. The bulge in the barrel seems to have hung up the slide and caused the jam. I'll test it with the barrel from a new G30 to be sure nothing else is amiss. If all is good, will replace the old barrel and see if Glock can look at the old one and figured out what happened. Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[AlHunt]

How many bullets did he remove from the barrel?

 

[steelslaver]

How with a semi auto does a squib with so little power that the bullet stops in the barrel still cycle the action and load another round? Seems unlikely. Possibly the bullet came apart and left the jacket in the bore??

 

[Waxster60]

No bullet in the barrel. Previous round fired fine. Next (final) round was a squib, resulting in the jam. Empty casing partially extracted as the barrel bulge hung up the slide. Strange to say the least.

 

[max]

Sure sounds like there was an obstruction. Maybe the previous bullet came apart?

 

[Waxster60]

Sure sounds like there was an obstruction. Maybe the previous bullet came apart?

Guess we'll never know for sure. This time i'm going with a KKM barrel.

 

[AJ]

Don't think I have ever heard of or seen a bulged barrel that there wasn't a squib involved and another round fired after it.

Who reloaded the ammo?

 

[Waxster60]

I made the reloads. Always check the powder load before seating the bullets and frequently do random checks to weigh the dispensed powder. Case was intact with no damage. Maybe the preceding shot caused an obstruction?

 

[AJ]

How with a semi auto does a squib with so little power that the bullet stops in the barrel still cycle the action and load another round? Seems unlikely. Possibly the bullet came apart and left the jacket in the bore??

I made the reloads. Always check the powder load before seating the bullets and frequently do random checks to weigh the dispensed powder. Case was intact with no damage. Maybe the preceding shot caused an obstruction?

Not jacketed bullet, but a plated one. Anyone seen a plated bullet come apart?

 

[VictorLouis]

OP, is there any CHANCE you took some pics?

When you described the SOUND of a squib, the rest of the story just causes my gears to grind to a halt.

We all know of kB's with too MUCH powder in the case. I recall reading of the opposite, also. I just can't recall if it is merely theoretical, or if it has actually happened. That is, the powder is so UNDER-charged, that the primer causes detonation rather than burn.

Were it me, and I could spare the gun for some time....I'd send it to Glock. You would have to be sure to include the case, as well. Otherwise the FIRST default knee-jerk for them would be a tradtional kB from "reloads".

Regardless of your desire to try a KKM barrel, perhaps they would at least provide you a new OEM barrel. Plus, they might x-ray, or MPI the gun for any unseen damage.

 

[Doug M.]

The only underload I recall being associated with a KB was the old reports of .38 Special wadcutters loaded with ... 2.7 gr. of Unique IIRC.

 

[Waxster60]

OP, is there any CHANCE you took some pics?

When you described the SOUND of a squib, the rest of the story just causes my gears to grind to a halt.

We all know of kB's with too MUCH powder in the case. I recall reading of the opposite, also. I just can't recall if it is merely theoretical, or if it has actually happened. That is, the powder is so UNDER-charged, that the primer causes detonation rather than burn.

Were it me, and I could spare the gun for some time....I'd send it to Glock. You would have to be sure to include the case, as well. Otherwise the FIRST default knee-jerk for them would be a tradtional kB from "reloads".

Regardless of your desire to try a KKM barrel, perhaps they would at least provide you a new OEM barrel. Plus, they might x-ray, or MPI the gun for any unseen damage.

Yes, I have the case. Great advice and thoughts-thanks! I'll reach out to Glock today and let you all now the response.

 

[Pointblank2U]

 WARNING! Do not use reloaded, remanufactured,
or handloaded ammunition because it may not meet
applicable SAAMI, CIP or NATO standards and
could cause death, serious personal injury, and/or
property damage. Only use high quality commercially
manufactured ammunition in the same caliber as your
GLOCK pistol. (Note: Use of reloaded, remanufactured,
or handloaded ammunition will void the warranty).

 

[CH4]

The only way I know to bulge a barrel is to fire a round behind an obstruction, usually a squib. Is there another way?

 

[mckenney99]

I would say that if the bulge is forward of the chamber, then there had to have been an obstructed bore with a followup round fired. If the bulge is in the chamber area, then it could have been an overpressure round that could have been caused by several factors (over charged case or bullet set back). Yes plated bullets have been shown to have plating separations. The most common cause I have read about is over crimping the case mouth into the plating and fracturing the plating. Upon firing the bullet is forced forward by the expanding gases and the rear portion of the plating is dragged off the bullet and remains in the barrel, creating an obstruction.

 

[AlHunt]

Maybe, if the previous round shed it's plating. Possibly the problem round then caused the bulge, while still clearing the barrel. The now bulged barrel stopped the rearward motion of the slide such that the spent casing didn't extract.

We'll never know, really.

 

[Waxster60]

Thanks, folks. The package is off to Glock for a checkover. Will update you when I hear back.

 

[walnutred]

I believe it's Berrys who warn that too much crimp can cause the plating to separate. I would not think the back half would get left in the bore with all that gas behind it but still....

 

[Waxster60]

Well, I stopped in at the local Fedex to ship the G30 remains back to glock per their instructions (overnight or next business day only). Suffice it so say that the shipping price equalled the cost of a new KKM barrel. Same with UPS. Took the package back home, inserted an OEM barrel from my other G30 and headed to the range. Pistol ran perfectly. New KKM on order.

 

[LVSteve]

Is there any chance that this event is tied to polygonal rifling and other than jacketed bullets?