What 9mm barrel to use?

[prickett]

I bought a PSA upper and lower for a Glock mag AR-9. After 5 trips to the range and 4 case separations and 1 bullet left stuck in the lands when unchambering, I'm ready to punt and get a barrel with a looser chamber. Who makes barrels that are more tolerant of various 9mm cartridges? Mine are reloads that work in 5 different 9mm pistols, but not in the AR.

I'm looking for an inexpensive solution.

Also, would taking it to a gunsmith for a re-reaming be cheaper than buying a new barrel?

[Lefty223]

Yes, they work in pistols, but have you checked them against a gauge like a Forster or Wilson case gauge?

Where you are with this now, I'd 'spin' the chamber, i.e., copper brush on rod, chucked up in a cordless drill & liberal good oil applied ... have at it w/ the drill. This is often done for other blowback firearms.

[prickett]

Yes, I've run the reloads through a Lee Factory Crimp Die then dropped them in a gauge. Did a sampling - not all. But the sampling all passed.

[IraqVet1982]

I've used Spinta and Faxon barrels without issues.

[prickett]

I saw a video of Kaw Valley barrels and the guy said they were very tight - and they either make Faxon or are made by Faxon, so that concerns me. Do you run reloads or factory? Does the Spinta seem looser than the Faxon?

[IraqVet1982]

Now that you mention it, it's a Kaw Valley not Faxon. But I think they're one in the same. I did have issues with powder coated Lee 356-125-2R cast bullets. However I also had issues with those in my semi auto pistols so I wasn't that worried. I loaded 1000rds of plated 115gr and never had a problem. Also no issues with mil issued 9mm ammo.

Spinta was built for a friend, I asked him how it was going and he didn't have any issues. He's a huge reloader so I suspect all his rounds were reloads as well.

What bullets are you using?

I'd check for setback. I was experiencing that with those 356-125-2R Boolits.

[prickett]

I'm loading round nose 115gr. Blue Bullets (they size to .355"). I figured maybe the ogive was hitting the lands early, so I tried some 124gr. TC Blue Bullets. Very first shot with the TC resulted in a case separation, so it must be the case sizing. As a previous poster suggested, I want to try buffing the chamber. Only problem is I can't get the separated case out of the chamber (did I mention it is a very tight chamber )

[Smokin338]

Ballistic Advantage makes some nice ones as well...

[prickett]

Ballistic Advantage makes some nice ones as well...

Do you shoot reloads through yours?

[JRHorne]

What length are we talking here? I currently have the new 4.5" Ballistic Advantages for a build and the 8" CMMG. I bought the 8" CMMG upper used off here and the previous owner said it was good to go, and that echos what others have said. I generally think Ballistic Advantage and Faxon offer the best value on 9MM barrels, but I also know CMMG and several others have been around a long time.