cartridge snug fit in barrel

[PA USPSA]

The bullet grain does matter.  The Blazer Brass 9mm 124 grain RN and Freedom Munitions 9mm 124 grain RN (new) both passed the plunk test in my Accushadow 2 barrel.  I'm told most 124 grain RN will work, but I personally have only tested these two. 

I don't believe most 147 grain would pass the plunk test, but I haven't tried it myself.  I did plunk Federal Syntech PCC 130 grain FP, and only half of the rounds passed the plunk test.  I shot them in my Sig with no problems.

[Matthew Rauh]

Here is the sharpie test...

[Wobbly]

I did think of sending it in to CZ so I don't have to worry about it again.  But I am hesitant to do that.  Not sure why.

The blazers fit perfectly.

As far as the Fiocchi is concerned, I will trade with someone else or hang on to them.  I may purchase a second handgun in the Spring because my youngest son is interested in shooting.  From what I gathered on other posts, it sounds as though other manufacturers have more liberal space in the barrel (sorry, don't know all the technical terms).  The Fiocchi was and is on sale at Scheel's for $14.99 a box.  That is why I bought several boxes.

Quick question.  Does the bullet grain also play into this?  I have been shooting only 115 grain (breaking in as suggested elsewhere in the forum).  I am tempted to bump up to 124 grain.  Will that increase the chance of the problem?

1. Reaming the chamber is like cutting off your toes because your new shoes don't fit !! Reaming may fix issues with OAL, but as the article points out... there are 4 distinct areas problems can occur. Will it solve yours ? Who knows ?

2. No better proof than that the Blazer works.

3. Just hold onto the Fiocchi and mark it up to experience gained. There will be a gun that it will work in someday.

4. As explained in the article, bullet weight can sometimes force the OAL to be longer. So yes, SOME heavier bullets can give trouble. But not all. It's usually a combination or extra weight and special shape.

5. Your photo looks to be an expanded case head because the scraps are way down near the rim. Those cases weren't sized properly before loading. Or, maybe they buckled during loading. They may shoot fine in a Gen 1 or 2 Glock.

Welcome to the Club

[Matthew Rauh]

Thanks.

[SoCal]

The 147 Federal Syntech work in all of my CZ's.

[Mods Added: Great info. If we had the Federal PN, then we could add that info to the Preferred Ammo List.]

[Wobbly]

I take that back. Your Fiocchi seems to have 3 areas of contact. One at the OAL and 2 at the case head.

[Matthew Rauh]

Does that mean anything special?

[Wobbly]

Yes and No.

• Yes: 3 distinct places is why slamming the slide forward didn't remedy the issue. Sometimes with just 1 "touch point", the ammo can be hammered into shape good enough to where the shooter doesn't notice.

• No: It's proof of how tight the fit between cartridge and chamber really is. We shoot all day long and don't ever think about the clearances required to make modern guns work. Clearances as fine as 0.001 to 0.002" (smaller than a human hair) in a lot of places. Look into the history sometime. You'll see that ALL modern machining and production has its roots in gun and ammo production. It's really a miracle of modern manufacturing that more shooters aren't hurt OR guns aren't jammed on a daily basis.


If you have a pal who reloads, these could most proabably be opened up, re-sized, and re-assembled for the cost of powder (proabably about $5)... if every other idea fails.

[bonj]

Return your gun to CZ for a free warranty repair, where they will lengthen the barrel throat and you will no longer have any issues with any brand of ammo. They will send you a free Fedex return label as well.

Exactly what would this option do ?

The OP has already conclusively proven that the issue lies in the ammo. How will permanently loosening the chamber tolerances help with this temporary ammo issue ?

Lots of options are FREE, but that doesn't make them Wise. IMHO, this would not be a moderate, well-reasoned, or even a sensible response.

This option would PERMANENTLY fix the issue FOR all AMMO LENGTHS, as it is the very same thing I did and was recommended by CZ to do so, which was 100% effective.

[Matthew Rauh]

Is it a quality control problem, a bad day with the presses?

[Wobbly]

Is it a quality control problem, a bad day with the presses?

I don't know their manufacturing process, so I can't say.

[bonj]

Is it a quality control problem, a bad day with the presses?

I have no idea as to why the longer throat length would not be a standard as shipped condition, but apparently it should be.

[Dan_69GTX]

I have no idea as to why the longer throat length would not be a standard as shipped condition, but apparently it should be.

Throat length/bullet position can affect accuracy.   How fast do you want the projectile traveling before it enters the cone/rifling?

I know that some guys in precision rifle know exactly what that distance needs to be - for their rifle.

I'd rather keep the tight tolerances and maintain accuracy.

[Matthew Rauh]

I did contact CZ USA and they are willing to check out the barrel under warranty.  I intend (when the current Minnesota winter warning blows over) to go to larger gun shop and ask if I could plunk several brands into my barrel.  If I find more issues, I may have CZ check it.  If not, I'll chalk it up to some bad ammo.  Thanks again for the interest and advice.  Your willingness to help is appreciated.

[Wobbly]

I intend (when the current Minnesota winter warning blows over) to go to larger gun shop and ask if I could plunk several brands into my barrel.  If I find more issues, I may have CZ check it.

• While you may find a source for several brands of ammo commonly available, you may also find a know-it-all gun store expert who has never seen a CZ, but never-the-less knows everything there is to know about everything 9mm. This even though he doesn't reload, doesn't shoot pistol competition, and believes you need to trade that pistol in on the same brand he shoots (albeit only once a year). What I'm saying is that gun stores are hurting right now, so you'll most proabably get the full-court-press to leave the gun for his gunsmith and/or buy lots of his expensive ammo and/or buy the pistol he has in the show case.

He may also want you to test ammo like Hornady Critical Duty or XTP which is not FMJ. The place to start is on the phone. Make sure you're going to a store with lots of 115gr FMJ in stock from several makers.

• CZ is not going to spend much time "checking" it. They may get 40 of these each day. And sadly their go-to answer is going to be ream and then check. No one (including them) is going to be able to quantify the dimensional increase. But, I can give you the one and only FACT that all parties can agree upon: Once material is taken off, it can't be put back on.

• Here's another option you may like better:


When you are able, then send me your full name and mailing address in a PM. I will send you several samples of known-good FMJ ammo. You'll then be able to try those in your chamber without leaving the comfort of your home.
How does that sound ?