[Retmsgt.]

Took that fancy new SA Rob Leatham Legend Series out today for some test runs. Took four different ammo brands with me, Remington 230gr.Match, Remington-UMC 230gr. , Winchester White-Box 230gr., Hornady 230gr. TAP. Disappointment would be the biggest understatement in the world to describe how I felt afterward. I couldn't get it to feed two rounds of any of the ball in a row without a FTF. They'd either get stuck on the feed-ramp(It's a Ramped Barrel) or they wouldn't chamber all the way(About 1/4" shy of going into battery).

Now, where I need help. I know nothing about Ramped Barrels. Never worked on one before. Also, this is, I believe, a Lightweight model with an Aluminum-Alloy frame. Problem isn't magazines either, I tried three different brands I had( Colt SS eight rounders, Wolff Seven-Rounders, and the BS Magazines that came with it) It would feed with the Colts and the Wolffs but it wouldn't even strip off a round with the others. It seems to me that the ramp is way too steep to properly feed the rounds. As I stated above, three of the four ammo types were 230gr.FMJs. By this time I was so frustrated I didn't even try the Hornady TAP.

Anywho, What I need to know is if there's any way to blend in this steep-ass ramp so it'll feed?

 

[Tim Burke]

fancy new SA

There's your answer. Before you void your warranty I'd call them.

 

[Retmsgt.]

Already ahead of ya Charlie, I sent the Customshop an E-mail after I got back from the range.

 

[Charlie Petty]

Well, Tim just beat me to it...

It seems to me that there may be more than just the ramp too.

The reason for using the ramped barrel is the possibility that the normal ramp in the frame may be damaged when it's alloy. If it is failing to go all the way into battery that isn't the barrel but could be the extractor or breech face.

Charlie's law sates that one should NEVER put more than 5 rounds in a magazine until it is well used. If the failures to feed happen on the first or last round it is almost always the magazine.

But my best guess is that the LAST thing you want to do is go whacking on the barrel ! :!:

 

[William R. Moore]

Besides what's above, strip the barrel out of the thing and make sure the ammo drops in full depth. Wouldn't be the first barrel to leave the factory without finish reaming. I strongly suspect magazines also.

 

[Retmsgt.]

It fed out of the Colt SS mags, problem was it either jammed up against the ramp or didn't go into battery almost every time. I did manage to get it to fire about eight rounds. I'll check to see if my 45ACP gauges are unpacked and check the headspace. Pathetic, this is the top of the line for Springfield Armory, a TGO.

The four mags that wouldn't even feed have a wierd stamp on them. Looks like a circle with a short bar coming up the center from the bottom and the right side of the circle forms something like a checkmark on the top.

 

[HankB]

So it would seem that SA doesn't even testfire it's "fancy" guns. Pity - this sounds like a problem that would have shown up immediately.

See how they address the problem before you start messing around with it yourself - I've heard that SA actually does fix their guns under warranty. (Good thing it's an SA - if it were a Colt that needed warranty service, you'd probably be SOL.)

 

[Charlie Petty]

Diagnosing problems on guns you can't see is tough.

Obviously the chamber is complete or no rounds would go in and it is unlikely that it was never test fired. It's too late now, but you can always tell if a gun has been shot because the factories never clean them...

While I am not sure that magazines are the only problem they can contribute indirectly. If a gun is new and tight and the magazine full it can slow down the cycle enough to induce a feed failure.

Extractors that are too tight or rough and an uneven breech face can cause feed failures and very often it is the extractor that prevents the gun from going the last little bit into battery.

If the feed ramp is responsible you should be able to see that in rub marks of jacket metal. That doesn't mean you should automatically cut it.

Finally you can't rule out the possibility that it worked just fine at the factory and infested by gremlins in transport... :wink:

 

[Retmsgt.]

Charlie, problem solved. The guys at the local Gun-Shoppe went to bat for me. Called Dan, one of the owners this AM and told him what happened. He immediately told me to bring it back and they'd refund my money. Stated this wasn't the first time he's heard of trouble with SA Customshop Guns. Well, I wasn't going to look a gifthorse in the mouth and I wasn't going to reward his fairness by grabbing my money and walking out either. I walked out of the store the owner of a brand new Kimber Pro-Carry II and two spare Kimber magazines. Already cleaned and lubed it and ran first, snapcaps, then a mix of snapcaps and empty cases through it. Fed everything!! Course it's NOT a Ramped-barrel although it is bushingless. Kinda leery about that but, we'll see. All in all, a so-far happy ending

 

[Charlie Petty]

Well, that's the simplest solution although I'd still like to know what was wrong.

Good gun shop though. Hopefully they will send it back and find out.

You needn't worry about the bushingless thing. Reliability will be fine and it isn't a target pistol anyhow.

 

[Retmsgt.]

Yeah, Dan said he was going to send it back. I'll let you know what it was.

 

[Joe Forte]

it isn't a target pistol anyhow.

Someone should have told my Kimber Eclipse that. I was amazed how accurate it is. I also never had an issue with the bushing-less factor. Well worth the money.

 

[Retmsgt.]

If it does 2-1/2" or less at 25 that's plenty good enough. It's a carrygun. Like the 4" Bbl, have to see if it fits in my Mitch Rosen or my FLETCH.

 

[Charlie Petty]

That shouldn't be a problem on either account.

I just got a new Kimber Super Carry Custom with the Bobtail backstrap. I really like the way those feel and I've been carrying an Ed Brown ever since they came out.

So far all I've done is funtion test but I'm sure accuracy isn't going to be an issue.

 

[Retmsgt.]

I tried one of the Bobtails out, my hands aren't especially long but my palms are kinda wide and my hand seemed to hangout where the Bobtail angles in. Didn't like the feel. Good idea though, do they really print less?

 

[Charlie Petty]

I sure think so. I carry mine in an ARG sometimes with just the shirt tail pulled out.

My hands are pretty big but my palm seems to fit just right on the bobtail. Funny too, because I really prefer an arched msh.

 

[Retmsgt.]

Like I said Charlie, I have wierd hands. Along with my palms being a little wider than normal, my first fingers on both hands curve in. With an Arched MSH and a short or med. trigger, I have a tendency to pull the gun down when I squeeze. A flat MSH and a long trigger position my hand a little lower and I get a straight pull. I'll take a pic of my hands sometime and you'll see what I'm up against. You ought to see me shooting a Revolver, can't use target stocks( Too big) and magna types are way too small. It's why I like Coke-Bottles so much,the straighter drop at the front allows me to grip a little lower. It's also why I have a hell of a time finding stocks that fit for my Blackhawks.

 

[Kevin Gibson]

Hey, sorry I wasn't around to help, but it's quite apparrent you're in very good hands. They've been working me to death as of late.

 

[Retmsgt.]

S'okay Kevin, sounds like you've been pretty busy. I appreciate the thought sir.

 

[DaninDayton]

Retmsgt.

I have a Kimber compact aluminum that will hold 1 1/2" at 25 yds with my handloads. I also use Kimber mags and have never had any problems, ever with the set up. I have a Kimber stainless TLE II that shoots just as well.

I think that you will be well served with your "mini" Kimber. I know I am.

Danindayton
ilurkalot