Measure first!

[dubber123]

A year or so ago I bought a S&W pre-model 14 K-38 5 screw made in 1952. I already had another model 14 made in 1967, that I had tinkered with for quite a while and got shooting really well, but I wanted an older version. I have fooled with it a bit off and on, and have a few loads that shoot pretty well, but it has never been the equal of the 1967 gun. Tonight I decided to do some measuring on it, and the throats all came out at .358", as I have come to expect from all my .38/.357 S&W's. Next I slugged the barrel. The slug started hard, then pushed smoothly down the barrel with hand pressure, and then Thud! dead stop just before the forcing cone, requiring some tapping to push through. Another slug did the same. This one has a healthy thread choke, and is in line for a firelapping which I happen to have done to the 1967 model. I should have done this first, I could have saved a few hundred rounds of ammo..

[waco]

I have a 14-2 and love it as well. My favorite new load is a 148gr DEWC tumble lubed as cast right around .3585" with 45-45-10 loaded over 3.5gr of Bullseye. Quite the tack driver load.

[Low Budget Shooter]

Interesting. I've never heard about that before.

[dubber123]

Interesting. I've never heard about that before.

It's actually pretty common. I have run into it more with Rugers, but Smiths have it too. Firelapping the 1967 M-14 is what finally got me to my goal of sub 2" 50 yd. groups. I can't dependably do much better with iron sights. I have gotten groups as small as .94", but 1.5-2" was the norm when shooting it a lot.

This older gun just isn't good enough to progress past 25 yds yet. I got several 1.5" or less groups at the last outing. Hopefully firelapping will get it under an inch, and then out to 50 yds. to start all over. :)

[dubber123]

A quick follow up. The old hog is firelapped, a slug pushes smoothly from muzzle to breech, and shines like a mirror. I got a chance after work to try it out, and had 2 quickly assembled loads: 5.5 grains of Power Pistol and the Lyman 358311, and the H&G #50 with 3.5 grains of Green Dot. Daylight was failing, but good for shooting, and of the few groups fired I got a 1.03" with the H&G, and a .835" group with the 358311. This is by far the best this gun has ever done. The bore shines like a mirror, and I expect better under better conditions. Firelapping worked again.

[Matt_G]

I assume you are using something like this to fire lap?
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/486249/wheeler-engineering-lapping-compound-kit-1-oz-each-of-220-320-600-grit-compound?cm_vc=ProductFinding

[dubber123]

I assume you are using something like this to fire lap?
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/486249/wheeler-engineering-lapping-compound-kit-1-oz-each-of-220-320-600-grit-compound?cm_vc=ProductFinding

That would work fine, the 220 might even come in handy on some of the Rugers I have done, as their barrels seem harder than many brands. I however have just been using 320 grit valve grinding compound from the auto parts store. I put some on a steel plate, and roll some unlubed lead boolits between another plate to embed the grit.

[Garyshome]

Just found out about fire lapping, soon as I get some time I have a few firearms to try this out on....[can you say Mosin negant?]