Lead melter
07-29-2008, 09:09 PM
Picked up a nice M44 M/N today at the nearby Gander Mountain store. This is to replace another that I loaned out to some "respectable" person who has never bothered to return it. Problem is, I can't remember to whom it was loaned.:confused:
The new one is really nice once all the cosmoline was cleaned off. All matching serials, no wear on the bolt face, nice crisp rifling, 200lb trigger (I'll work on that later).
I decided to slug the bore to see what diameter boolit it will need. Decided on a pure Lee C312-185-1R beagled to .315", then compressed to .317". I started the slug down the oiled bore, used a 1/4" dowel rod and hammer to drive it in. Naturally at about 3/4 of the way through the dowel broke. Another dowel to drive the rest of the way. Yep, you guessed it...it broke also. Now all I had was some 1/4" steel rod to drive the slug and dowels out. The rod expanded the dowel end as it drove in. I finally got the slug out the other side, but now the dowels were expanded bore size and wedged in tighter than a deacons wallet.
After several attempted methods to get the rods out, (I even thought about loading up a dummy with about 5 grains Unique, but I was afraid to go that far) I finally had to resort to drilling the dowel out at the muzzle, which got rid of some of the frayed dowel rod. I then found a piece of .275" steel rod and used it to hammer the dowels out from the chamber end. About 2 hours of work and I finally got the rods out with the hope I have not scarred up the rifling. The dowel rods have definite rifling marks on them, and I plan to keep them as a reminder why I plan on giving up slugging barrels.
Where did I go wrong? How is this type action done without such a hassle? Each time I have tried this, it has been a near tragedy, but this is by far the worst.
The only good part is that the grooves mic out at .315" which is a lot better than my other M/N at .317"
The new one is really nice once all the cosmoline was cleaned off. All matching serials, no wear on the bolt face, nice crisp rifling, 200lb trigger (I'll work on that later).
I decided to slug the bore to see what diameter boolit it will need. Decided on a pure Lee C312-185-1R beagled to .315", then compressed to .317". I started the slug down the oiled bore, used a 1/4" dowel rod and hammer to drive it in. Naturally at about 3/4 of the way through the dowel broke. Another dowel to drive the rest of the way. Yep, you guessed it...it broke also. Now all I had was some 1/4" steel rod to drive the slug and dowels out. The rod expanded the dowel end as it drove in. I finally got the slug out the other side, but now the dowels were expanded bore size and wedged in tighter than a deacons wallet.
After several attempted methods to get the rods out, (I even thought about loading up a dummy with about 5 grains Unique, but I was afraid to go that far) I finally had to resort to drilling the dowel out at the muzzle, which got rid of some of the frayed dowel rod. I then found a piece of .275" steel rod and used it to hammer the dowels out from the chamber end. About 2 hours of work and I finally got the rods out with the hope I have not scarred up the rifling. The dowel rods have definite rifling marks on them, and I plan to keep them as a reminder why I plan on giving up slugging barrels.
Where did I go wrong? How is this type action done without such a hassle? Each time I have tried this, it has been a near tragedy, but this is by far the worst.
The only good part is that the grooves mic out at .315" which is a lot better than my other M/N at .317"