44 mag

[Taylor]

I normally don't load for revolver.Is there any particulars I should take note of? I have 2 moulds,one being the Lyman 429421,powders available are titegroup and 231.The gun itself is a S&W 29 classic with an 8 3/8 barrel.Of course their is plenty of info loads.I have read a good article at LASC on sizing nad there has been some good one's in the last couple of Handloader.

I am not sure if I have a specific question or not.I have slugged the barrel and cylinder chambers.The numbers seem odd to me.

barrel--.429

cylinder--
1. .428.5
2. .428.5
3. .428
4. .428
5. .427
6. .428.5

I guess,should the cylinder be smaller that the barrel?

[Flinchrock]

Cyl. should be .430-.4305

[cbrick]

Assuming your measurements are accurate it will be tough to keep the bore from leading. The groove diameter must be at or a tick SMALLER than the throats. When the throats are smaller than groove diameter the throats will size down the boolits no matter how large you size your boolits. When they exit the throats they will be throat diameter and then too small for the groove diameter.

Again, assuming your measurements are accurate the throats will need to be reamed to .430", just larger than groove diameter. Were it me I would double check the measurements before altering a firearm.

Rick

[44man]

100% dead on. Make sure of measurements first. Remember the grooves are 5 and hard to measure.

[Taylor]

I have measured 3X so far.I am not actually convinced I am on target.Yes I plan to measure again.Maybe even slug everything again. One of my errands today will be to pick up some micrometers.Wish I had some plug gauges laying around.It does seem odd that the cylinder would be smaller than the barrel.Cbrick,that has come to mind,and if the measurements are in fact correct...........well...pooh!!!

[cbrick]

The mismatch of throat & groove diameter isn't all that uncommon, that's why the CylinderSmith earns a living correcting it. "If" - "should" the throats need to be reamed it will be well worth having it done. It's neither complicated or expensive but does need to be done correctly.

Absolutely yes. Micrometers for measuring this, never calipers. Calipers are a very useful tool but were never designed for the accuracy needed for the throat/groove match. If your original measurements were with calipers completely disregard them. Also, as 44man said, a 5 groove barrel is tricky to get an accurate measurement.

Rick

[Mal Paso]

S&W cuts the throats for jacketed bullets but that's more variation than I've seen. Usually .428"-.4285. I bought a Manson Reamer with the pilot set and opened them to .431" along with my Colt that has a .430" groove. Cylinder Smith cuts .430" and .432" if I remember but that info seems to be missing from the site. But he did say that most stainless 629 throats are tight. I called Manson Reamers and was put right through to Dave Manson, good people.

Cylinder Smith also stated that it's not necessary or desirable to polish the throats as it can cause problems. I agree.

[44man]

Rick and Mal are right. It is strange why so many throats vary so much. Gang reaming all six can have variations even if every reamer is exact. I have end mills and reamers that do not measure exact so having six the same is nothing I expect. Same as the gang cherries used to cut molds so every mold can be different. It comes down to "tolerances." To make two guns side by side the same has never happened with production unless more hand work is done. New machines are very good but it is still "specs" so none are thrown in the junk pile. No machine ever built can have zero specs or the thing will not turn. Cutters wear.
Then you run into owners that want nothing but profit without costs. To fix a machine cuts deep into profit. Specs are increased.

[Taylor]

I bought a micrometer(cheap--MIT),measurements are different,all showing .430-4305.I measured 3 more times using this tool and used a tool a machinist friend let me have.I am not a machinist and really have issues reading these things.Which is why I have a digital caliper. I will post pics later so that you can look over my shoulder.

[cbrick]

Ok, the throat slugs all measure .430" or .4305" with the micrometer. What does the bore slug measure with the micrometer? If the groove diameter is .429" or no more than .430" Taylor should be a happy camper and shooter of boolits.

Now you see the difference using calipers and micrometers? :mrgreen:

Rick

[Mal Paso]

I bought a micrometer(cheap--MIT),measurements are different,all showing .430-4305.I measured 3 more times using this tool and used a tool a machinist friend let me have.I am not a machinist and really have issues reading these things.Which is why I have a digital caliper. I will post pics later so that you can look over my shoulder.

Ask your friend if he has access to pin gauges. Much easier to use. I bought an inexpensive set from Grizzly ($80). You're limited to .001 increments but Inside Micrometers take a good bit of experience to use.

[Taylor]

_pics didn't work

[Taylor]

heres the gun having problems with pics

[Taylor]

http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/WillTaylor57/DSCN0028_zps7ec089e7.jpg

[Taylor]

http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/WillTaylor57/DSCN0026_zpse5803961.jpg

[Taylor]

http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/WillTaylor57/DSCN0029_zpsf3b35cfe.jpg

[Taylor]

http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/WillTaylor57/DSCN0031_zps91652289.jpg

[Taylor]

I know this is the long way around the barn,but had issues.The barrel slugs are hard to measure that's for sure.I settled around .429,hard to read.Sorry for the inconvience.

friend lives in Rhode Island,gave it to me a while back to check arrowshaft spine. He is coming to visit this month,will ask about the gauges..427-.432 range work?

[Mal Paso]

Looks like you got it right. As long as the Mics are zeroed and the boolit is strait between the anvils your numbers should be good. I'd ignore the caliper readings.

If your friend is a Machinist he will probably want to bring the whole box. Pin gauges under 1/2 inch usually come in sets of 250 and go down to 1/4 inch. My set is a Minus set which is a hair smaller than stated size so it will just fit inside the stated size. You can buy individual Pin Gauges for about $4 each but it's handy to have the set when you want to know the chamber size for instance and you can get the set for the price of 20 individual gauges.

The "other" tool is also an Outside Micrometer, my Inside Micrometer comments don't apply.

SAAMI Specifications for the 44 throat is .4325 but I think .430-.431 is ideal and I like my boolits to just push through the throats.

[Taylor]

Remember when we would just go to the hardware store,buy a box of rounds and call it good? 22's,12ga at 15 years old, all day long.Pin gauges here I come.