leading and mbc 240 coated BH18 swc 44 mag

[243winxb]

If gun fires factory ammo ok, Ruger will not care about cast, painted bullets. Just my guess. But check the diameter of throats first. They are not easy to measure, unless you have the correct tool. Good luck.

 

[Sam1911]

I'll check if our lgs has pin gauges and if they are undersized shouldn't it be ruger that fixes it?

No. Ruger and the other manufacturers will almost invariably say that your throats are within acceptable limits. And, if you're only shooting jacketed bullets, you'd never have a problem.

I'm sure you're familiar with many products for which there's the RIGHT way to set them up and then there's the "acceptable" or "good enough" way that works well enough for most buyers (and is a little cheaper to produce) and so that's how the manufacturer does it. Cars, guitars, computers, guns, ... you name it. Products asked to perform at their peak almost always require or benefit from fine tuning beyond what the manufacturer provides.

And asking your revolver to shoot cast bullets accurately, across the broadest range of pressures/velocities, and without leading is a bit above the level of "perfection" the makers produce.



But I've never seen a local gun shop that carried pin gauges, or even knew what they were. And I doubt you'll want to spend that kind of money.

Consider slugging the throats and measuring the slug you've swaged through each throat with a micrometer, if you want to be sure.

Or, contact someone who offers the service and send the cylinder off to be reamed, and don't worry about it any more.

It's good to be super-sure before you make a decision...but it's also nice to just have it done and move on with life.

 

[35 Whelen]

I'll check if our lgs has pin gauges and if they are undersized shouldn't it be ruger that fixes it?

The simplest way is to drive a slightly oversized pure lead ball through the throats then measure its diameter. Your LGS may stock them or you can borrow a few from someone who muzzleloads. I even use the same ball over and over by just putting it on a hard surface and tapping it with a hammer to increase its diameter after driving it through a chamber.

35W

 

[roval]

I may try that if the lgas doesn't have pin gauges. They do have a huge lathe in the back of the shop so maybe they'll have the gauges. Fishing sinkers are pure lead right?

 

[Sam1911]

Fishing sinkers are pure lead right?

Yes. Fishing sinkers are sometimes used, if you can find some smooth round ones close to the right diameter. Otherwise, a shop that carries muzzle-loading stuff will often have round balls which are pure lead, in a variety of sizes.

And, like 35 Whelen said, a quick whack with a hammer will "upset" one to be just a hair larger in diameter (fatter as it gets shorter) so you get a snug fit.

 

[Blue68f100]

Fishing sinkers are pure lead right?

Some are zinc these days so make sure you get the lead ones.