I finally have a line on a carrier to convert to DI. Also getting an H buffer to have just in case. Should have both by next week (trading the former pistol barrel and pistol buffer tube).
In the course of continued "investigation" until I get the proper parts I chambered one of the rounds and obviously it was difficult to extract as I mentioned previously. Upon close inspection there were lands marks (it was easy to see with the sealant) all the way to the case mouth. My buddy is a retired SgtMaj from SF and is a gunsmith. He looked at it and said "Your problem is you don't have any freebore". He expalined that there should be a c-hair's distance that the bullet should travel (the freebore) until it engages the lands and grooves. He said the lands should NOT extend all the way to the case mouth. Now, the case lot of Wolf that is easier to extract manually doesn't have the sealant like the other one does, which no doubt isn't helping, but you can see lands marks on those too up to the case mouth.
[speculation] Ballistic Advantage isn't reaming their chambers for 5.45 deep enough, as they did say they've had other complaints of this problem with Wolf sticking with manual extraction. Their explanation was that the Melonite didn't "like" coated cartridges (?).....but surplus is coated too. Also, Melonite is supposed to be slicker. Sounds like they know there is a problem but may or may not know exactly what it is. If they DO know then the cost of replacing existing 5.45 barrels could be prohibitive. There answer was that it needed to be "shot in".
Now a carbine buffer spring (not the cut down pistol one) seems to have better luck at pushing the carrier all the way into battery, and firing WILL extract the spent cartridge. However, I don't want to go to a carbine class and be required to manually unchamber a round with the ensuing acrobatics it takes to get it out.
At any rate, the plan is to convert to DI and then an H buffer if necessary, then see if this combo can overcome the "sticking" on the way in without having to send the barrel back. I'm sure there will be flak about it as I've already shot it 100+ rounds as well as perm-attaching an extended FH.
Last edited by ABNAK; 04-12-13 at 23:31.
11C2P '83-'87
Airborne Infantry
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