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Thread: Ported 44 mag with cast bullets?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Ported 44 mag with cast bullets?

    I just acquired a S&W 629-5 "Trail Boss" revolver. It is a short ported barrel and I'm curious if there are going to be any issues with flame cutting of a plain base bullet? Probably a nonevent but curious if anyone has experience with this setup. I do have a GC mould I can use. I guess the real answer is going to be just go out and shoot it.
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  2. #2
    Boolit Master fastdadio's Avatar
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    My .44 Bisley is ported. I have had no problems shooting cast through it. What little leading I have found in the ports cleaned out easily.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
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    No problems with cast in my 629-4 Magnum Hunter Plus with Magnaport. Makes the front sight a little dirtier

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by AKtinman View Post
    No problems with cast in my 629-4 Magnum Hunter Plus with Magnaport. Makes the front sight a little dirtier
    Are you using plain based or gas checked bullets?

  5. #5
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    The gas check is a "skid stop" not a lead scraper. Just shoot harder boolits. We are shooting PB from a ported .500 S&W with no problems.
    Hardly anyone understands the GC. Your boolit is past the ports when the gas jets so the only way to lead the ports is to open gas channels when engaging the rifling past the cone. Skid a boolit and the rifling marks are wider then rifling, gas avenues.
    I was making my molds for GC's until I found they are not needed, My .475 and .500 boolits are PB. The alloy cures it so I just WD WW boolits. I get no accuracy from air cooled.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master


    Bookworm's Avatar
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    I have a Taurus M44, it has factory porting, and shoot cast all the time through it. Mostly lighter/midrange loads, because, well, Taurus.

    No problems with leading in the ports. Or in the barrel, for that matter.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    I shoot plain based in several 629 Magnaported barreled guns, you'll have no issues.

    Go have fun!
    Bob

  8. #8
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    Why would you think that the port would possibly lead to flame cutting?

  9. #9
    Boolit Master 243winxb's Avatar
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    My plain base makes the front sight dirty/black so you cant see the orange insert.

    Some lead will form near the mag na port, not in it.

    Accuracy is good in my M29 8 3/8" barrel, using hard cast.

    Shorter barrells may be different. Pressure is higher, burn is hotter.

    Shoot it, let us know.

  10. #10
    In Remembrance


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    Been shooting a 6" Model 29 that I had ported about 30 years ago with no problems other than a little more cleaning on the sight.Robert

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by shoot-n-lead View Post
    Why would you think that the port would possibly lead to flame cutting?
    Just seems that long narrow port is going to be tough on a plain based bullet. I've read a lot of reports where lead ends up on the sights with PB bullets. I figure that lead is probably coming from the bullet. Being burned off rather than shaved off, hence cutting the base of the bullet by flame escaping at a tiny part of the bullets base.


    I wish I had one of those bullet tanks I see on the CSI movies to capture a bullet intact. I'd love to see what the base actually looks like...

  12. #12
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    I know I'd be very interested in knowing what you find with your gun. Please, report what your findings are with it, if you can, with both GC and PB bullets. I think a lot of us would like to know how it goes for you.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by arlon View Post
    Are you using plain based or gas checked bullets?
    Plain Base.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master

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    I have or have owned about about 10 revolvers with either magnaport or compensators , no flame cutting encountered with cast bullets in any revolver .
    With magnaport the sides of the front sight base will show some powder /lead build up that can be easily removed with a pre 1982 copper penny

  15. #15
    Boolit Master


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    I used to shoot an early M29 6 1/2" with Magnaports. After a few plain based rounds, the area around the ports and the front sight would be plated with lead. Haven't fired it in years and, in fact, have another barrel for it in the wings.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    I sent my 629 in to mag na port circa 1990. So far the only thing is the afore mentioned cleaning of the front sight. Mostly powder residue, with a slight bit of lead. It's not a problem. Would do it again.
    NRA life member

    LB

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check