Smith Model 30 Bulge

[EMC45]

I have a new to me Model 30 .32 S&W Long RB 3in. Nickle and I noticed it has a slight bulge about an inch from the muzzle. I am just curious if this is going to be too terribly bad as far as shooting/accuracy is concerned? This is the first revolver I have had that has had a bulge. I paid 140 for it. It is in good shape and I probably would have bought it even if I did know it had the bulge. I have heard they can still shoot and have heard they are done after it gets a bulge. Any advice? I am waiting on dies from a member here and I will shoot it when I get some ammo loaded up. Until then......

[beagle]

It may shoot all right. Only thing is to try.

Had a friend that was a machinist. He bulged the barrel in a Ruger .45 ACP. Pulled it down and got the barrel turned down to where it would function smoothly. Then, he counterbored the barrel down past the bulge and it shot fine but lost a little velocity due to the freebore.

Or try and find a barrel./beagle

[MtGun44]

I have seen a 1911 in .45ACP with a bulge far enough back to not interfere with the
bushing travel work just fine and shoot with normal accy. It was weird but the gun just
didn't seem to care a bit about the bulge.

Give it a try. I suspect the issue will be how much good barrel there is left past the
bulge.

[EMC45]

There is about 1-1.5 in. good barrel beyond the bulge. The bulge is barely visible at that. I have seen some (internet, books/magazines) that look like an anaconda after eating a bush pig. I noticed it when slugging the bore. I am hoping it will shoot good. I saw where Smith has barrels for the Mod 31 (Sq Butt 2 in.) in stock, but I assume they are blue. And I don't have a frame wrench. I am thinking someone years ago was shooting this thing with old ammo and it got a weak old round lodged and of course that was followed by another round!

[StrawHat]

Best way to find out is to shoot it. Hollow base boolits will shoot pretty good out of it, (there are more than a few PPC guns with bulged barrels still winning matches). Plain based bullets may or may not lead because gas gets by.

An alternative to rebarreling would be having someone reline it. The exterior remains the same but the bore becomes new. Good luck, sounds like a neat revolver.

[Bass Ackward]

One other option is to fire lap it. That will take the bore out toward the bulge if it isn't great.

[EMC45]

I have also thought to load it with soft bullets to better obturate.

[EMC45]

Loaded some Lapua 98gr. HBWCs over 2.2gr. Bullseye. Should do good.

[EMC45]

Just got done shooting the Mod 30. Shot the 2.2gr. Bullseye and Lapua HBWC. And I loaded some 75gr. RNs over 2.5gr. Bullseye. The RNs did a whole lot better than the HBWCs. The WCs were all over the place and the RNs where shooting pretty tight, but low. The sights are probably regulated for a heavier bullet. The bulge didn't seem to be a problem. I had a bit of leading in the beginning of the forcing cone. Scrubbed the bore and oiled it up and it's resting in the gun cabinet. I also ran some ammo through the Taurus ultra Lite...148gr. Lee WCs with 4gr. WIN500HS. That is a stiff load out of the lightweight. When I got done shooting I dug all the lead out of the tree with a Gerber Multiplier. Back to the pot for more bullets!

[scrapcan]

Oops now you wil be looking for the next 32 caliber handgun to compliment this one.

You will have loads of fun with the one you have.

[EMC45]

Already thinking on a top break something or another.....

[KCSO]

Many many years ago i bought a Beretta M34 in 380 and the barrel had a slight bulge. I took it to an old gunsmith and he took out the barrel and made a couple of swedge blocks and a rod to slide in the bore. He put the whole works in a press and simply ironed out the bulge and darned if the gun didn't shoot as good as ever. I have used this trick a couple times on minor bulges and it seems to work. You can never tell with a bulged barrel some shoot just fine and some don't the only answer is to try it and see.

[Bret4207]

KSCO tickled a memory. I remember that being done on shotgun barrels and someone telling me they'd done it on rifles too. With a close fitting rod and proper precautions it might be worth a try.

[EMC45]

The load of 2.5gr. Bullseye with a 75gr. .32 ACP bullet is a nice shooter.http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm243/Evansguns/104_2424.jpg

[9.3X62AL]

I had a Model 31 x 3" many moons ago, and it doted on 95-100 grain boolits. Shot right to the sights with boolits running 750-850 FPS.

[EMC45]

Bought my Lee .314 90gr. TL mold yesterday.