Ordered a bare OEM version LW AW 20.3 10mm slide in April and also ordered the flash nitride finish. Took about 6 weeks to arrive, which was within the delivery timeframe for flash nitriding on the website. The finish is very nice. LW was out of 10mm slide parts kit, but I found a parts kit from a third party. Although it wasn’t described as a LW kit, the packaging and printing on the individual parts bags were identical to what you get from LW. Not sure if the third party purchased their kits from LW, or if they both get them from the same distributor/manufacturer.
For the first range trip, I took the LW slide, a LW 10mm threaded barrel, and a LW Timberwolf Large frame. The first outing wasn’t very successful. Had numerous failures to feed and failures to ignite despite a good dimple on the primer. I only had S&B 10mm for that outing, and later found several online complaints about S&B 10mm having hard primers. When I returned from the range, I cleaned the frame, completely disassembled and cleaned the slide, removed the channel liner and installed a new one, making sure I had it fully seated just in case that contributed to the initial problem (didn’t read about the S&B hard primers until a day or so later). I also polished the barrel chamber and feed ramp with Flitz polish and a Dremel with a felt polishing tip.
For the second trip, I took the LW frame, slide, and barrel, but also brought a G20.3. I took Blazer 200 grain and American Eagle 180 grain for ammo. Not a single failure to ignite this time, and no failures to feed. I did have several occasions, though, where the slide failed to completely return to battery. After firing, the trigger wouldn’t engage, and I had to take my thumb and push the slide forward a millimeter or two. This was with the RSA that came with the parts kit, but it also happened with an NDZ 20 lb RSA from the factory G20.3. I did discover, though, that the problem went away entirely if I swapped the LW barrel for a Glock factory 10mm barrel. So . . . second problem solved? I’ll try polishing the rest of the engagement areas of the LW barrel and see if that eliminates the failure to RTB. Maybe it just needs breaking in?
My final issue is the mediocre accuracy of the LW slide compared to the factory slide. (4-5" group with LW slide vs. 2-3" group with Glock slide at 25 feet). It seems there’s slightly more play between the barrel and the slide opening. Not sure if that would be enough to cause. Or maybe the Glock adjustable rear sight I put on the LW slide is bouncing around a bit?
After cleaning, I may install a fixed rear sight and see if that helps. Will also bring a very accurate KKM barrel to try in the slide for next time.
If anyone's interested, I'll try to remember to update with any further progress, but I've been shooting too much 10mm lately, so I'll probably shoot something else the next trip or two, unless 10mm drops some in price.
For the first range trip, I took the LW slide, a LW 10mm threaded barrel, and a LW Timberwolf Large frame. The first outing wasn’t very successful. Had numerous failures to feed and failures to ignite despite a good dimple on the primer. I only had S&B 10mm for that outing, and later found several online complaints about S&B 10mm having hard primers. When I returned from the range, I cleaned the frame, completely disassembled and cleaned the slide, removed the channel liner and installed a new one, making sure I had it fully seated just in case that contributed to the initial problem (didn’t read about the S&B hard primers until a day or so later). I also polished the barrel chamber and feed ramp with Flitz polish and a Dremel with a felt polishing tip.
For the second trip, I took the LW frame, slide, and barrel, but also brought a G20.3. I took Blazer 200 grain and American Eagle 180 grain for ammo. Not a single failure to ignite this time, and no failures to feed. I did have several occasions, though, where the slide failed to completely return to battery. After firing, the trigger wouldn’t engage, and I had to take my thumb and push the slide forward a millimeter or two. This was with the RSA that came with the parts kit, but it also happened with an NDZ 20 lb RSA from the factory G20.3. I did discover, though, that the problem went away entirely if I swapped the LW barrel for a Glock factory 10mm barrel. So . . . second problem solved? I’ll try polishing the rest of the engagement areas of the LW barrel and see if that eliminates the failure to RTB. Maybe it just needs breaking in?
My final issue is the mediocre accuracy of the LW slide compared to the factory slide. (4-5" group with LW slide vs. 2-3" group with Glock slide at 25 feet). It seems there’s slightly more play between the barrel and the slide opening. Not sure if that would be enough to cause. Or maybe the Glock adjustable rear sight I put on the LW slide is bouncing around a bit?
After cleaning, I may install a fixed rear sight and see if that helps. Will also bring a very accurate KKM barrel to try in the slide for next time.
If anyone's interested, I'll try to remember to update with any further progress, but I've been shooting too much 10mm lately, so I'll probably shoot something else the next trip or two, unless 10mm drops some in price.
