Picky on ammo.

Hunter709

Hunter709

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I recently got a used SL8 from a member on here and it is extremely picky on ammo, something I probably should have researched a little more before I bought it. I'm seriously debating selling/trading it in on a new XCR-L in .223. It sounds crazy in my head to want to trade in a HK... so anyone here go from a SL8 to an XCR or own both? Just wondering what the comparison is like.

Cheers,
Mitch
 
SL8 is much more accurate and reliable.
The 1:7 twist barrel will make it prefer heavier bullets but mine shot everything well and just shot 62gr and heavier better. The best results I had were with 77gr match and it would do sub moa with those out to 300yds (furthest I shot it on paper).
The XCR has more tacticool factor but the SL8 is a better rifle in my opinion.
If you do sell it you can buy an XCR and a case of ammo with the money though.
 
Define picky. Are you sure it's an ammo issue and not a firearm issue?

My SL8 has been trouble free so far with a few different kind of ammo........

Paul
 
Hunter709 said:
I recently got a used SL8 from a member on here and it is extremely picky on ammo, something I probably should have researched a little more before I bought it. I'm seriously debating selling/trading it in on a new XCR-L in .223. It sounds crazy in my head to want to trade in a HK... so anyone here go from a SL8 to an XCR or own both? Just wondering what the comparison is like.

Cheers,
Mitch
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Let me guess, 55gr bulk ammo is 3 to 4" at 100 yards? If so, try some decent and heavier ammo (60gr+) and you should see a huge improvement in accuracy. I find the same thing with my SL8. It doesn't like the lighter stuff, but with heavier bullets it even beats my Swiss Arms (and some guys here know how much of a hard on I have for the Swiss rifles). I know some don't buy in to the whole over-stabilization thing, but I do, and my experiences with my SL8 vs. Swiss Arms with lighter ammo cements my belief.
 
Sorry, I should have been more clear about the picky part. When I say picky I don't mean accuracy wise, I mean what it will fire. It will gladly accept premium Hornady, Winchester and Federal. However if I go to use something cheep such as American Eagle Tactical or Norinco 5.56 it will have multiple failure to fire's. There will be a dent in the primer but it doesn't go off. I have brought it to an experienced gunsmith and even he can't really figure out what it causing it.

Mitch

Edit: I should also mention that this is like 5 rounds per 20 and that the "dud's" ran fine in a different gun.
 
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Hunter709 said:
Sorry, I should have been more clear about the picky part. When I say picky I don't mean accuracy wise, I mean what it will fire. It will gladly accept premium Hornady, Winchester and Federal. However if I go to use something cheep such as American Eagle Tactical or Norinco 5.56 it will have multiple failure to fire's. There will be a dent in the primer but it doesn't go off. I have brought it to an experienced gunsmith and even he can't really figure out what it causing it.

Mitch

Edit: I should also mention that this is like 5 rounds per 20 and that the "dud's" ran fine in a different gun.
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Did you try them in the SL8 a second time? Sounds like a light primer strike due to hard primers in the Norinco and AE. Definitely not something I would sell a gun over...
 
Weird, mine ate everything. AE tactical and Norinco ammo weren't around back when I had mine though. I did run milsurp through it though and never had a failure to feed, fire, or eject with it or anything else.
 
At the sake of sounding like a smart ass, running lower grade plinking ammo (let's be honest, that's what Norinco and AE are) defies the point of the SL8, which is a precision oriented rig. Gotta feed it match ammo or reloads preferably.
 
Thanks for the input guys, I know it was meant for more accurate/premium ammo but I assumed it would also be able to run the cheepy stuff for when I just wanna have a laugh with my buddies. I'm still a student and bought a new truck last year so I don't really have the cash to be banging off premium stuff all the time, much as I would like to :D. Unless I can get it to run the cheep stuff I have a funny feeling it'll be going up on a new XCR-L.

Mitch
 
Hunter709 said:
Thanks for the input guys, I know it was meant for more accurate/premium ammo but I assumed it would also be able to run the cheepy stuff for when I just wanna have a laugh with my buddies. I'm still a student and bought a new truck last year so I don't really have the cash to be banging off premium stuff all the time, much as I would like to :D. Unless I can get it to run the cheep stuff I have a funny feeling it'll be going up on a new XCR-L.

Mitch
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There are many different types of cheap bulk ammo, and I'd be shocked if they all have the same issue. Have you tried Winchester white box or S&B? These can both be had for under $10/box.
 
Well if anything you didn't cut corners on cost by going for an SL8 and being a student with a new truck that's for sure!

I say you keep it, save a bit more for better ammo and have a better (albeit heavier) rifle all around; there's no question about the better quality.
 
Ar180shooter said:
There are many different types of cheap bulk ammo, and I'd be shocked if they all have the same issue. Have you tried Winchester white box or S&B? These can both be had for under $10/box.
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I haven't seen any of theses around here, although I haven't really looked for em. I'll check at the local Canadian Tire tomorrow and see what I can find, thanks for the info! :D

Mitch
 
BenL said:
Well if anything you didn't cut corners on cost by going for an SL8 and being a student with a new truck that's for sure!

I say you keep it, save a bit more for better ammo and have a better (albeit heavier) rifle all around; there's no question about the better quality.
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Yeah, thats what I was thinking in the first place. I've wanted one of these for as long as I can remember and I would hate to have to let it go because of an ammo problem!
 
Hunter709 said:
Sorry, I should have been more clear about the picky part. When I say picky I don't mean accuracy wise, I mean what it will fire. It will gladly accept premium Hornady, Winchester and Federal. However if I go to use something cheep such as American Eagle Tactical or Norinco 5.56 it will have multiple failure to fire's. There will be a dent in the primer but it doesn't go off. I have brought it to an experienced gunsmith and even he can't really figure out what it causing it.

Mitch

Edit: I should also mention that this is like 5 rounds per 20 and that the "dud's" ran fine in a different gun.
Click to expand...

The SL-8 / G36 operates on a "direct" firing pin system. So , when bolt is in battery, the firing pin is resting on the back of of the primer

If you are getting light primer strikes, then you should first check if the pin is moving freely, and so what the maximum protrusion is when you push it all the way in by hand

I can measure for you later what the protrusion should be. I good guesstimate is the protrusion is at least the diameter of the firing pin hole ( just looked on 2 carrier assemblies in my pile of stuff )

I would guess that is where your problem is ( debris causing it not to extend fully in the bolt , tip broken off etc )

A bad hammer spring is also possibility but unlikely . The SL-8 / G36 hammer spring is pretty stout ! Secondly, it doesn't take much to fire off primer if your protrusion is correct. The big exception is if anyone took the FCG apart. It is easy to assemble incorrectly.

If your firing pin protrusion is ok then check right side hammer spring to see if its installed correctly.

The LHS hammer spring rests under the front pin

The right side of the spring tail is gainst the front plastic wall of the housing. Common mistake is the RHS spring rests on the front pin like the LHS ( go figure its not symmetrical ! ) . Result is less hammer spring tension

My SL-8 and by buddies both fire 100% reliable all ammo
 
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TRG-42 said:
The SL-8 / G36 operates on a "direct" firing pin system. So , when bolt is in battery, the firing pin is resting on the back of of the primer

If you are getting light primer strikes, then you should first check if the pin is moving freely, and so what the maximum protrusion is when you push it all the way in by hand

I can measure for you later what the protrusion should be. I good guesstimate is the protrusion is at least the diameter of the firing pin hole ( just looked on 2 carrier assemblies in my pile of stuff )

I would guess that is where your problem is ( debris causing it not to extend fully in the bolt , tip broken off etc )

A bad hammer spring is also possibility but unlikely . The SL-8 / G36 hammer spring is pretty stout ! Secondly, it doesn't take much to fire off primer if your protrusion is correct. The big exception is if anyone took the FCG apart. It is easy to assemble incorrectly.

If your firing pin protrusion is ok then check right side hammer spring to see if its installed correctly.

The LHS hammer spring rests under the front pin

The right side of the spring tail is gainst the front plastic wall of the housing. Common mistake is the RHS spring rests on the front pin like the LHS ( go figure its not symmetrical ! ) . Result is less hammer spring tension

My SL-8 and by buddies both fire 100% reliable all ammo
Click to expand...

Thanks for all of the information man, my gun is in with the local gunsmith at the moment. A HERA Arms conversion was done to the gun before I bought it and I was told about the possibility of one of the hammer springs being in the wrong was just this weekend so I ran in to see the gunsmith today and he is going to have a look at the springs at some point this afternoon. If that is not the problem then I think it is a firing pin issue, however the firing pin does float freely inside of it. (I can easily make the pin move by shaking the bolt.) I guess the only thing for me to do if it's not the springs is to try and get my hands on a new firing pin. While I'm getting the pin I might order a spare set of springs as well if I can get them....just in case.

Cheers,
Mitch
 
So I got the new springs and firing pin and had them put in the gun by my local gunsmith. Took it up today and I'm still having the same problem. Out of 40 Norinco rounds, 20 didn't go off and had light primer strikes. Any ideas guys?

Mitch
 
Hunter709 said:
Thanks for the input guys, I know it was meant for more accurate/premium ammo but I assumed it would also be able to run the cheepy stuff for when I just wanna have a laugh with my buddies. I'm still a student and bought a new truck last year so I don't really have the cash to be banging off premium stuff all the time, much as I would like to :D. Unless I can get it to run the cheep stuff I have a funny feeling it'll be going up on a new XCR-L.

Mitch
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I have shot tons (literaly thousands) of rounds of AE out of an SL8 without any problem at all, friends have experienced the same with theirs and even shoot norinco regularly. There must be some other problem IMO
 
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