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October 17, 2017
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As I do not hand load, I'm always shopping around for the best pricing on .357s from various sources. I've had good luck in the past with LAX Ammo. When they occasionally have free shipping promos I usually stock up. I've used their .38 Special plated bullet loads with no issues in my 15-2 and 15-1. The magnums are a different story. I had noticed a few rare instances of some spitting (bits of plating shaving off at the forcing cone) in my 15-2 with the magnum loads, but it is much more prevalent in my 15-1. I have meticulously checked the timing on both revolvers, and they seem fine. Jacketed magnums are no problem in either gun.
It is my understanding that DW barrels have a 5 degree forcing cone angle rather than the more usual 11 degrees. Is this true, and could it be contributing to the issues I'm having with these plated bullet loads?
October 17, 2017
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Guess I'll have to reply to my own topic.
After a thorough cleaning of both of my Dans with the Lewis Lead Remover tool I proceeded to again fire both revolvers using the questionable ammo. Same result. Leading was extreme only after 15-20 rounds in both guns. The 15-1 (six inch) exhibited the worst leading in the forcing cone area, and the 15-2 (four inch) had it more in the barrel. I am of course 'stuck' with this ammo, as I can not "prove" that the ammo is the problem.
In the meantime I decided to try using my 6 inch 15-2 barrel on the 15-1. This of course creates a "FankenDan", but I'm willing to see if the forcing cone leading is less with this rather worn 15-2 barrel. I'll let you know.
Two ways to accomplish this: use an adaptor plate to be able to mount a 15-2 barrel shroud onto a pork chop frame; or, as I have done, use two barrel nuts to secure the 6 inch barrel to the pork chop shroud. The result is an interesting looking DW!
Might be pointless to ask, but has anyone else had leading problems using plated bullets at Magnum velocities, factory or otherwise?
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Usually leading will occur when the chamber throat is smaller than the bore. It's a matter of fit, rather than the construction of the bullet.
I've use Berry's Bullets with no issues in magnum handguns.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
August 8, 2016
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I wonder what brand of bullets LAX uses in their ammo. The fact that you said jacketed ammo is fine makes me think it’s that cheaper LAX ammo that’s the issue.
If you had a bullet puller I’d ask you to measure the diameter of the bullets.
I had some bad leading in my guns when I reloaded some of my buddies coated bullets that were way too hard and they were undersized. I was running them for light 38 spl powder puff loads and this caused some serious leading especially at the forcing cone. This is a bad combo. Especially at low velocities/pressures the bullets weren’t obturating in the bore.
October 17, 2017
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Thanks for your replies to this topic. I'm trying to fully understand how this all works.
First; some specs. Bullets are .357. Chamber throats are .357 on the 15-1 that is leading badly at the forcing cone, and about .356 on the 15-2 that exhibits more leading in the barrel.
Basically; it seems to me that copper plated bullets operate very similarly to cast lead bullets. Not quite sure how much that tiny bit of plating helps anything. Jacketed bullets on the other hand are a completely different animal. The copper jacket doesn't melt as the bullet travels through the forcing cone and enters the rifling. I have a recovered jacketed bullet that was fired from the 15-2 that of course measures .357 and has very nicely cut rifling on it. Since it left the chamber throat at .356 some obturation must have occurred due to compression at Magnum chamber pressure.
So, if these plated bullets were undersized that could possibly explain why they might be leading the barrel, but they aren't. They have to be slamming into the rifling with plenty of obturation potential, so the leading must be from deterioration of the copper plating at Magnum pressures and velocity. Firing plated .38 Specials in either gun exhibits no such leading issues.
October 17, 2017
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Has anyone ever reamed the chambers on their DW .357? I'm looking at the tool available from Brownells, and have watched a couple of informative videos on Youtube. The chamber mouths should end up a uniform .358 in diameter if done carefully. With lead (or plated) bullets this would supposedly increase accuracy and reduce leading. Leading is not a problem with jacketed ammo, but will I see improvement in accuracy with them as well?
October 17, 2017
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OK. Has anyone had this done to their DW revolver, and what were the results?
August 8, 2016
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3ric said
OK. Has anyone had this done to their DW revolver, and what were the results?
No but if it were me I’d just take off the cylinder and ship it to Bob at DW to ream.
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I've not had issues like you describe. I'm wondering about your timing, if it's firing a tad early you could be shaving lead due to the chamber not being totally in line with the bore. I'd also do a good cleaning of the chambers with a wire brush soaked in Hoppes or other lead/copper remover, chuck it in a cordless drill. You may have a carbon ring from someone shooting a lot of 38 special rounds out of it. If these suggestions fail, I think I'd have Bob at DW check the gun and do the reaming if needed.
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If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
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