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August 13, 2010
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At an IHMSA match 2 weeks ago, the hand broke on my 10", 44V. I had a heck of a time finding one but finally found one at Gun Parts in Woodstock, NY. Anyway, while apart, I gave everything a badly needed cleaning and decided to check the cylinder throat dia. while it was apart. Surprise! Even though this gun only shoots jacketed bullets and is very accurate with them, the throats are very much undersize. A .429 Speer jacketed bullet will not even fit in the throat! That means all bullets are being swaged down to less than .429. I'm going to slug the barrel today and I'm sure I will have to open the throats. I'll let you know.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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If you are not shooting cast bullets and you are satisfied with the way it is shooting now, I wouldn't worry too much about it. There is no gas cutting with jacketed bullets like there is w/ lead. Just my $.02. Let us know what you find out, though.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
August 13, 2010
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Well, I slugged the barrel and it's between .429 and .4295. Measured with plug gauges, the throats are between .4275 and .4285, very tight for a 44 Mag. Maybe this is why I need a road map to get through an IHMSA match, "hold low on 1 belly on 2, extra low on three, belly on 4 and low on 5", you get the picture. I have an assortment of S&W and Ruger 44s here and all throats are .431 to .432 ! I have shot cast out of the DW. Accuracy was mediocre. SO, I'll keep the DW for Jacketed bullets and use my .431 cast in all the other guns.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Yep, that's tight. I'd have them opened to .430" when you are able.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
August 13, 2010
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Well, I've been thinking about it. I even bought a reamer set from Brownells. The reamer measures .432!!! I'm going to send it to the reamer manufacturer to check it and grind it to .430. The other worry is, I had "Cylindersmith" open my Ruger 45 up to .452 and now instead of a 4 1/2" group at 50 yds I get 3 groups of 2 shots each with a spread of 9". Maybe, "if it aint broke don't fix it" would apply here:>)
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Roogers often have a restriction in the barrel where it screws into the frame. You can check by slugging the barrel- you'll feel the restriction. You may even be able to tell w/ a brush and tight patch. Could be the source of your problem. If you have a restriction, they can be fire-lapped out.
If the cylinder were mine, I'd call Cylinder and Slide in Fremont, NE and send it to them, unless of course you'd rather do it yourself. Nothing wrong with a bit of Kitchen Table Gunsmithing... just be careful that you keep the reamer centered and don't round the front of the cylinder/ throat.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
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