I've had this conversion for a week now and I thought it was time to share my experiences.
The first day started well with many different brands of ammo to test and evaluate:
Velocinators worked well.
Thunderbolts worked well.
38gr AE worked mostly.
Fiocchi SV didn't really function that well, but that was to be expected given they are not HV rounds and the gun was getting dirty.
You will note that neither of the recommended ammo types were used as I can't get Golden Bullets or Mini-mags here easily. The gun was also quite fouled and had begun to double feed fairly regularly by the end of the day. A thorough cleaning was done and the gun was reoiled as per the usual Glock routine (IE: pretty dry, one drop per rail).
I wasn't going to go back to either the Thunderbolts (dirty) or Velocinators (expensive). My ultimate goal was to get the kit functioning on bulk-pack stuff.
Next range day:
333 36gr HV failed to function.
Dynapoints failed to function.
These stopages were nearly 100% double feeds every round. Changing mags and cleaning did little or nothing to assist the function. Ocasional 3-5rnd strings shot fine but then it was back to jamming. All the rounds seemed to have enough power to completely cycle, but something wasn't working well.
Disappointed, I went home to clean and thought that bulk-pack just wasn't going to work.
Off to the store and back with some more ammo to try.
Win 37gr HV failed to function.
Dynapoint GT failed to function.
At this point I was pretty darn discouraged. I sent off an email to AA and got a response within the hour. I told them I thought the extractor spring was too weak and causing the double feeds. Appearently it isn't supposed to actually remove the casing, just keep it on the breechface until it hits the ejector. I did clean as well as possible behind the extractor and ensured it moved freely.
They did tell me that the kits likes to run clean and wet, the complete opposite to the 9mm upper. Especially the small ridge on the underside of the slide that runs along the cartidges in the mag. Due to the weakness of the .22lr rounds, reducing friction is critical.
Back to the range today with the same ammo as previous.
Dynapoint GT functioned, yay!
Didn't even bother with the Win 37gr HV yet.
Although not 100% (probably 95%) it did function very well. The conversion does have to be kept clean and well lubed. I ran about 350-400 rnds through it and paused roughly half-way through for a quick cleaning (chamber and ejector) and relubed whenever a double feed occured.
I am now searching for a lube which will stay on that ridge a little better (used CLP and Hoppes 9).
So I can honestly say that it runs well now. I am happy I bought it and it does work with the cheap stuff. There is also a period of break-in during which its more sensitive to low-powered ammunition.
Although cleaning every few hundred rnds sounds like a chore, keep in mind that this is no Ruger pistol; takedown is easy and fast.
Those are my thoughts for now. I'll keep everyone up to date on how it functions now that I've found how it wants to be lubed.
Cheers,
Grant
The first day started well with many different brands of ammo to test and evaluate:
Velocinators worked well.
Thunderbolts worked well.
38gr AE worked mostly.
Fiocchi SV didn't really function that well, but that was to be expected given they are not HV rounds and the gun was getting dirty.
You will note that neither of the recommended ammo types were used as I can't get Golden Bullets or Mini-mags here easily. The gun was also quite fouled and had begun to double feed fairly regularly by the end of the day. A thorough cleaning was done and the gun was reoiled as per the usual Glock routine (IE: pretty dry, one drop per rail).
I wasn't going to go back to either the Thunderbolts (dirty) or Velocinators (expensive). My ultimate goal was to get the kit functioning on bulk-pack stuff.
Next range day:
333 36gr HV failed to function.
Dynapoints failed to function.
These stopages were nearly 100% double feeds every round. Changing mags and cleaning did little or nothing to assist the function. Ocasional 3-5rnd strings shot fine but then it was back to jamming. All the rounds seemed to have enough power to completely cycle, but something wasn't working well.
Disappointed, I went home to clean and thought that bulk-pack just wasn't going to work.
Off to the store and back with some more ammo to try.
Win 37gr HV failed to function.
Dynapoint GT failed to function.
At this point I was pretty darn discouraged. I sent off an email to AA and got a response within the hour. I told them I thought the extractor spring was too weak and causing the double feeds. Appearently it isn't supposed to actually remove the casing, just keep it on the breechface until it hits the ejector. I did clean as well as possible behind the extractor and ensured it moved freely.
They did tell me that the kits likes to run clean and wet, the complete opposite to the 9mm upper. Especially the small ridge on the underside of the slide that runs along the cartidges in the mag. Due to the weakness of the .22lr rounds, reducing friction is critical.
Back to the range today with the same ammo as previous.
Dynapoint GT functioned, yay!
Didn't even bother with the Win 37gr HV yet.
Although not 100% (probably 95%) it did function very well. The conversion does have to be kept clean and well lubed. I ran about 350-400 rnds through it and paused roughly half-way through for a quick cleaning (chamber and ejector) and relubed whenever a double feed occured.
I am now searching for a lube which will stay on that ridge a little better (used CLP and Hoppes 9).
So I can honestly say that it runs well now. I am happy I bought it and it does work with the cheap stuff. There is also a period of break-in during which its more sensitive to low-powered ammunition.
Although cleaning every few hundred rnds sounds like a chore, keep in mind that this is no Ruger pistol; takedown is easy and fast.
Those are my thoughts for now. I'll keep everyone up to date on how it functions now that I've found how it wants to be lubed.
Cheers,
Grant
