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December 23, 2014
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I've had this Blued 8", DW, Model 44 since about 1983-84, and have very rarely fired lead bullets thru it. Accordingly, I have almost exclusively used the ported SS barrel with jacketed ammo. Just recently I decided to slug the throats and barrels to see what lead bullets it would handle. Wow, was I surprised to find these measurements:
cylinder throats: .4299"
non-ported steel barrel: .4296-.4299"
ported SS barrel: .4276-.4278"
Is it coincidence that the ported SS barrel is just right for jacketed bullets, and the non-ported barrel and cylinder throats are perfectly matched for .430" lead bullets?
I have 450+ SNS Hi-Tek coated bullets sized to .430". They will pass thru the throats with a bit of a push/tap but without scratching or damaging the coating. Based on this nearly perfect/ideal configuration, I am working up numerous test loads with various powders and am looking forward to pushing some lead in the 1400-1500fps range without leading.
To be clear, I am pretty much sitting here pinching myself, especially considering all I have had to do to shoot lead out of my 44mag Redhawk.
Dan Wesson, still putting smiles on this shooter's face 31 years later.................
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I've never measured any of mine but I can tell you that shooting lead from the ported barrels will make a huge mess inside the shroud quickly. I only shoot my non ported barrels, simply because it doesn't foul the shroud like the ported barrels do. Bad execution of a good idea IMO.
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December 23, 2014
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SCORPIO said
I've never measured any of mine but I can tell you that shooting lead from the ported barrels will make a huge mess inside the shroud quickly. I only shoot my non ported barrels, simply because it doesn't foul the shroud like the ported barrels do. Bad execution of a good idea IMO.
my recollection of the manual clearly stated do not fire lead bullets in the ported barrel due to lead flowing into the ports. That shroud can become pretty snug after firing a bunch of jacketed ammo. I shudder to think what it would be like after a lot of lead. something like being silver soldered in place, or so me thinks.......
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December 4, 2011
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Exactly. I've had a few I've had to heat with a hair dryer and have an assistant pull on the frame while I pull on the shroud to get them apart. Usually find a bunch of lead and black, tar like deposits fused to the shroud.
BTW welcome to the forum from PA!
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
December 23, 2014
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SCORPIO said
Exactly. I've had a few I've had to heat with a hair dryer and have an assistant pull on the frame while I pull on the shroud to get them apart. Usually find a bunch of lead and black, tar like deposits fused to the shroud.
BTW welcome to the forum from PA!
thanks, originally from West PA, Village of Westford, pop 52.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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When I owned a 744, bought used, I inherited a pretty massively packed shroud, it was a real problem to get the shroud off, and there was definitely copper jacket material plugging up all the barrel ports.
.44 Mag was not my deal, sold it after about a year.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
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Dans Club
April 18, 2014
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Welcome to the DWF from the Bluegrass. Glad to have you aboard.
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February 28, 2009
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When I bought my 744, new, there was no ported barrel included, so I bought one. I learned very quickly not to shoot the gun with that barrel. However, I did find that a 12ga. bronze barrel brush was perfect for cleaning out the expansion chamber; it's just something that had to be done after each range session.
IMO, the ported option didn't help with recoil in any significant measure.
-Mike
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