Variations in .357 cylinder boring???

[mstarling]

Guys,

I have had a recessed jug K frame Smith .357 forever. Loading for it has never been an issue using RCBS carbide dies of vintage similar to the revolver.

Recently found a much much newer L frame. Jugs seem to be smaller and much of what I've loaded will not go completely in. Last 1/8" or so seems to be the problem.

Anyone else notice that older jugs are larger in diameter?

Are new dies tighter near the rim of the cartridge?

Thanks!

(Newer S&W revolvers are certainly not what they were 50 years ago!)

[Catshooter]

By jugs do you mean chambers?

I have noticed wide variation in 357 bore sizes, I can tell you that. Ones I have slugged have run from .355 to .3595. Age didn't seem to matter.


Cat

[462]

Recessed jugs, poor lady.

[mstarling]

I do mean chambers.

Earlier Smith & Wesson revolvers had cylinders cut so that the rim of the cartridge was inset into the cylinder. This meant that there was only a very small gap between the rear of the cylinder and the frame. Newer revolvers have a gap which is slightly wider than the full thickness of the rim of the cartridge.

I see the same difference between an earlier Model 57 .41 Magnum revolver and a more recently made M657. What I don't see in that pair is much difference in the diameter of the chambers themselves.

[Iron Mike Golf]

...Recently found a much much newer L frame. Jugs seem to be smaller and much of what I've loaded will not go completely in. Last 1/8" or so seems to be the problem.

Is it tight in the chamber or the throat?

[Char-Gar]

I doubt the problem is either the dies or the charge holes. I suspect the issue is your bullets and the cylinder throats.

[GLL]

Have you been running a lot of .38Specials in that L-frame?

Test the cylinder throats with pin gauges in both guns and see if the L-frame is smaller.

Jerry

[Char-Gar]

An easy check is to try some sized cases without bullets in the charge holes. If they enter fine, the issue is the bullets entering the throats.

[mroliver77]

Char-Gar wins the Tootsie Roll! At least in my opinion.;)
J

[Char-Gar]

Char-Gar wins the Tootsie Roll! At least in my opinion.;)
J

Quite often on this board folks tend to overthink something, and overlook the simple solution. PM me for an addy to send the Tootsie Roll...I like em!

[Iron Mike Golf]

Well, that's where I was headed!