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What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? #6347438 06/25/16 08:35 PM
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Armalite260 Offline OP
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Took my new M15 out for a test run and this was the results. It has an 18 inch barrel 1:8 twist, I was shooting Factory Hornady 60gr bullets. Can the flash compensator cause this? I've already contacted the manufacture. I'm tempted to take it off and see how it shoots? I also put some 70 gr Barns TSX through it and it did the same thing. What do you guys think?

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6347454 06/25/16 08:50 PM
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Either the bullet is hitting something or it's flying apart. But since the twist shouldn't be fast enough to cause the bullets to spin apart, I'm thinking the flash hider is causing it or the barrel is rough enough to tear the bullet apart.

Got to be the flash hider...I think....but do look down the barrel.


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Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6347464 06/25/16 08:57 PM
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Should be able to see where it's hitting Flash Hider but I would remove it and fire.


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Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6347558 06/25/16 10:36 PM
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I would also recommend that you move back a bit from the target.

Just kidding.


Kind regards, charlesb


Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: DStroud] #6347562 06/25/16 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted By: DStroud
Flash Hider but I would remove it and fire.


^^^^^^^^^^^


This.



That the Barnes would behave like that is particularly disturbing. I shoot them in a 1 in 8 all the time and have never seen that....

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6347591 06/25/16 11:28 PM
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Barnes TSX are disintegrating?
That is very strange.
I would not shoot it again send it back to the manufacturer or have a gunsmith check it out. A smith should have rods they can check muzzle device clearance and bore scope the barrel.

Mark

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: MClark] #6347598 06/25/16 11:35 PM
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Make sure there isn't a screw or something in the barrel. Had a 243 and wouldn't shoot well, screw protruding through the barrel.

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6347602 06/25/16 11:47 PM
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At a minimum can't you look through the upper and see what you can see?

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6347614 06/26/16 12:06 AM
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Armalite260 Offline OP
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I looked and swabbed it before and after shooting. I couldn't see or feel anything.

The barnes didn't separate anything like the hornady, but still separated and keyhole.. I'm taking the compensator off to see what happens...

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6347705 06/26/16 01:23 AM
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Looks to me like your bullet is hitting the dirt in front of the target and spraying the target with dirt. LOL! It sounds silly but I have seen it before.

My bet is bullet is striking the flash hider or you may have some burrs from the flash hider causing that as well.

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6347723 06/26/16 01:44 AM
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What was your distance from that target? I guess no matter what the answer is....send it back.

EDIT: What brand is an M-15? Is that an Armalite? I thought
Armalite was pretty good equipment. I would never be happy with that gun without getting it replaced.

Last edited by DannyB; 06/26/16 01:47 AM.
Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6348093 06/26/16 03:06 PM
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Wowza!
I would contact the manufacturer, as I would say it's a machining issue with barrel or flash hider. Perhaps in the threads. Could be something as horrible as bore and chamber centering issue. The flash hider would be the first place I would look. Should see contact wear if it is off center with bore. Otherwise it could be the bore diameter too tight and it is peeling off the bullet jackets.

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6348424 06/26/16 08:46 PM
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Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I took off the flash compensator and sure enough I can clearly see where it's been touched by the rounds.. I'm still going to take this up with Armalite and at least have them send me a new compensator or I might just get something different on my own.. I'm taking it back to the range tomorrow just to make sure.

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6348467 06/26/16 09:26 PM
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Is the flash suppressor obviously warped or bent? If not, makes you wonder why it would be hitting. Bad either way. Curious to see if taking it off solves the problem

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6348492 06/26/16 09:56 PM
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May be threaded wrong. A new one may not fix it. May have to get a new barrel.


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Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6348603 06/26/16 11:23 PM
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Yup, in which case the manufacturer should back you up. Keep us informed, if you would.


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Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6348943 06/27/16 07:32 AM
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Like mentioned, could be that the barrel was not threaded concentric to the bore. That will cause any 5.56 flash hider to do the same thing.


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Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6349108 06/27/16 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted By: Armalite260
Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I took off the flash compensator and sure enough I can clearly see where it's been touched by the rounds.. I'm still going to take this up with Armalite and at least have them send me a new compensator or I might just get something different on my own.. I'm taking it back to the range tomorrow just to make sure.


Several things to check. Since the bullet is striking the muzzle brake, you need to verify several things.
1- make sure the barrel threading is done correctly and not off center
2- make sure the hole in the brake is correct, and not under sized or off center
3- make sure the threading on the brake is not off center, and has run out to cause the impact.

One of those items is the issue, and will need to be fixed/checked by a gunsmith.


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Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6349139 06/27/16 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted By: Armalite260
Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I took off the flash compensator and sure enough I can clearly see where it's been touched by the rounds.. I'm still going to take this up with Armalite and at least have them send me a new compensator or I might just get something different on my own.. I'm taking it back to the range tomorrow just to make sure.


DO NOT try and fix it yourself. Make Armalite correct the whole thing for u. Sounds like you're fond of Armalite but this is a question of safety and liability. Nothing makes a company take notice than pulling the safety card. Whatever is the cause, seems like they need to fix the whole system as this can become a very serious safety issue.


I'm a dude who likes long barrels!
Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: Armalite260] #6349219 06/27/16 03:29 PM
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I'm curious...does Armalite not test fire their rifles? Maybe it got dropped or damaged after quality assurance checks.

Re: What Can Cause Bullet Fragmentation Like This? [Re: BushFamilyNine] #6349244 06/27/16 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted By: BushFamilyNine
I'm curious...does Armalite not test fire their rifles? Maybe it got dropped or damaged after quality assurance checks.


I brought that question up during my conversation with Armalite this morning. I'm shipping it back to them so they can correct it.. I own 4 Armalites and have never had an issue, I know things happen but still.. At least the rep called me first thing this morning assuring me they will correct the issue.. I'll follow up and let you guys know what the "official" post mortem is..

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