Questions regarding a new 40S&W service barrel - XDTalk Forums

JustSomeGuy · 07-05-2009, 04:01 AM

I have a lot of rounds through my 40S&W Service model (over 15000) and it still shoots pretty well, but the feed ramp is a bit narrow for wide mouthed hollow points like the Berry 180grn or Rainer 200grn and they don't feed well. I am contemplating a new barrel from Pistol Gear after looking at the barrel in 3D online at the Storm Lake sight and seeing that the feed ramp looks a bit less encumbered than the stock XD barrel. Can you tell me anything about my prospects with those fat nosed hollowpoints?

Also, I am a bit concerned about the "point of aim/point of impact" of a new barrel. Does it come with some instructions should it require some modification to bring it into line with the sights? I reload my ammo, and after extensive testing have found loads that will shoot to point of aim pretty much so I can hit the little "A" zone in the head of a standard USPSA/IPSC target at 15 yards. I would certainly want to be able to do that with a new barrel.

I posted this here so anyone else contemplating a new barrel might also be able to benefit from any information that might come from Old School or his cohorts.

**Old School** · 07-05-2009, 09:48 PM

It is possible that your POI may change with a new barrel, but more likely to be an issue with loads. That said, if you are going to reload and if you are concerned with such matters, you are better off installing adjustable sights that you are trying to fine-tune a barrel to line up with your sights.

As for flat-nose bullets, I can tell you have we have tested that barrel with all bullets type. I personally run flat-nose in 9mm and round nose in 40SW.

OS

JustSomeGuy · 07-06-2009, 12:58 AM

Hi Old School, and thank you for your response! I do have adjustable sights on my XDm but not my Service Model 4", but would certainly like to put some Dawson's on it too. The problem is that it costs almost as much to ship a gun out as it does to acquire the sights. I wish someone sold a decent sight pusher for a reasonable cost and I would install them myself. As for the barrel I think I will just go ahead and order one. At least this way I can play around with the feed ramp on the old one without fearing laying the gun up since it is also my carry piece. I will go to your site now and order the barrel.

**Old School** · 07-06-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustSomeGuy

I will go to your site now and order the barrel.

Thanks for the order and I am certain you will be happy with the barrel. I would also be surprised if the barrel hits differently than the stock barrel. What you should see if an vast improved in your group sizes (e.g. smaller).

OS

JustSomeGuy · 07-07-2009, 12:42 AM

Thanks again for your prompt reply OS... I will give you a report about my experience with the barrel when it gets here. I'm very anxious to receive it!

**Old School** · 07-07-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustSomeGuy

Thanks again for your prompt reply OS... I will give you a report about my experience with the barrel when it gets here. I'm very anxious to receive it!

It ships today. You should have it before the weekend.

OS

JustSomeGuy · 07-10-2009, 01:15 AM

Ok... received it today! It did indeed "drop in" and seems to feed ammo hand fed from the magazine. Tomorrow I will take it to the outdoor range and test fire, chrono, and group it and let you know how it goes. Thank you for your speedy responses and quick delivery!

PS... It's SHINY!!!

JustSomeGuy · 07-11-2009, 03:31 AM

I tested this barrel at the IPSC range today and here are my findings:
1) The barrel is VERY accurate. Aside from a couple of called blunders on my part, the load of 5.8gns of Silhouette with an S&S LFN bullet would shoot pretty much on top of each other at 15 yards. Of the 20 shots fired over the chrono, about half were touching and they were at point of aim!
2) The Rainer 200grn hollowpoints that I had problems feeding with the old barrel did feed with this new barrel. Also, I was able to put a full magazine of them into the head "A" zone of a standard IPSC target at 15 yards from a standing position. shooting fairly rapid fire. I was never able to do that with the old barrel.
3) Last week, this same load for 20 shots averaged 921.4fps from the old barrel when it was 97 degrees out and barely made major at 165.9 power factor. Today, at 85 degrees, it made 961.1fps at 173 power factor with the new barrel, which I would consider a perfect power factor for IPSC/USPSA, in that it gives a nice cushion of power factor over the required 165. There was some minor leading but its a new barrel and I expect after a few hundred rounds it will polish itself and remain bright.
4) One reason it may have increased the power factor is the chamber is somewhat tighter than the old barrel, which also probably contributed to the increase in accuracy... but there is a cost! More than a couple of my lead handloads would not chamber. Lead bullets, as you know, are nominally .001 larger than plated or jacketed in any caliber. A few might be slightly larger and that seemed to be enough to tie up the gun a few times, as the cases had slight bulges in them from that increased width. My XDm, which is a pretty accurate gun, could fire these loads without problems though. My solution will be to run these loads through a Lee Factory Crimp Die which resizes the entire case AFTER the bullet is loaded in it and see what happens. Hopefully it will not affect the excellent accuracy I just got with those lead bullets, nor cause leading with a too small bullet. Even if it does, I have several thousand plated and jacketed bullets which I can use in this gun should it come to that.

So overall, I am a happy camper! There is great potential with this barrel in this gun. Thank you for your attention, quick shipping, and advice you have given so far. Now if I could just find that sight pusher and put some Dawson's on this and a few of my other XD's my summer would be complete!

**Old School** · 07-13-2009, 07:46 AM

I shoot 100% and use the Lee Factory Crimp Die.

Glad you like the barrel. Great review. I tell people they are more accurate, even the drop in barrels, but they are slow to listen to just me.

OS

JustSomeGuy · 07-14-2009, 01:45 AM

Again... thank you for your response. I hope other people will see the review. I was surprised, really, by how much the new barrel did increase accuracy and still remained "on the sights". It has been a pleasure doing business with you... I look forward to future dealings as well.