Surprised that Colt Cobra slugs at 353?

[Low Budget Shooter]

Fellars,

I recently shot some hollowpoints out of my two Colt Cobras into wet paper. These are Colts from about 1970. The base of the recovered bullets consistently measured .353" out of one gun and .354" out of the other. The bullets had been sized .358" You gentlemen who have been around revolvers for a while, does that surprise you, or seem normal? Accuracy has been fine, but should I be sizing smaller for best accuracy?

Thanks,

LBS

[Outpost75]

It is NOT the barrel groove diameter that determines bullet size!

It is the diameter of the cylinder ball seat or throat ahead of tbe case mouth. Bullets should fit the cylinder throats and push through with slight hand pressure, fitting closely enough to wipe a film of lube on the cylinder walls. For most Colt. 38s this is. 3575-.3580"

[Low Budget Shooter]

Thanks!

[454PB]

Not surprising to me. I slugged the barrels on a Colt Trooper and a Python that I used to own. Both ran .354" to .355".

[MtGun44]

Later Colts seem to run tight. Some report choke bored - barrel tighter at the front
than the back, too. As has been posted, size to throat size to guide the boolit
from the case to the cylinder straight.

Bill

[Low Budget Shooter]

Thanks for the info!

[enfieldphile]

Colts seem to run tight in the barrel. Choke boring has also been observed. My 1973 Dick Special is this way

Another interesting point is Colt chamber mouths often are larger then say, S&W or Ruger.

There is a rumor Colt plans to introduce a revolver in 2015. No, it most likely won't be the original Python design. It will have to be a design comparable w/ CNC production, and be priced within the mainstream market.

Colt, if they do make it, would be well advised to have production in the business friendly south or west.