|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jan 15, 2022 12:35:50 GMT -5
The older I get, the less I know or understand.
I really like the Freedom Arms 97s. Hands down my favorite factory revolvers and the 44 Special leads the pack.
I bought mine a few years ago and it has proven to be perfection. It has never seen a jacketed bullet and runs just fine with .430" cast, but .431" is a no-go. That's fine with me as their web specs say it requires a .4295".
I also have one in 45 Colt. It too is cut for cast bullets and works fine with .452".
The same can be said of my 327 Federal/32-20 WCF.
However, the 357 and 41 Magnums are a different animal. Their respective throats are true .357 and .410". This makes cast bullets a bit more challenging.
In fact it's a pain that I'm not dealing with anymore. Both cylinders are going to get opened to cast bullet specs.
A few have cringed at the suggestion. But, the Coated Cast Bullets have changed a lot of my thinking.
It's time to get the guns modified for what I actually bought them for. I'd rather shoot jacketed bullets thru throats .001" oversized than fight the reverse situation.
|
|
|
|
Post by leadhound on Jan 15, 2022 14:22:52 GMT -5
I wonder if they didn’t anticipate using cast bullets in those calibers?
|
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jan 15, 2022 14:25:44 GMT -5
I wonder if they didn’t anticipate using cast bullets in those calibers? That's what I was referring to in the first line of my post. Wasn't very clear I suppose. Luckily, it's an easy fix!!! |
|
|
|
Post by callmaker on Jan 15, 2022 15:02:01 GMT -5
My 97 in 45 Colt accepts .452 bullets perfectly. Its a dream to load for as long as the bullets fit the cylinder length. And I'm finding plenty that do.
My 97 in 44 Special has throats that apparently measure to 0.4295". The typical 0.430 cast with a nice forward driving band is a very firm push fit. So firm I prefer not to. My Lee push through sizing die in .429 has been getting a work out. Gun still shoots great and no excessive leading.
Just not as fun to load for. I've been considering getting them opened up, but really hate to...it shoots fine...it would just be for my convenience at the loading bench. All my other .44s run .430 bullets.
|
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jan 15, 2022 15:05:18 GMT -5
I have the same issue with my 44 Special when using SWC Bullets. I've started using the RNHP Bullets from GT and they work perfectly.
Super accurate and no leading...
|
|
diddle
.30 Stingray
Posts: 469 
|
Post by diddle on Jan 15, 2022 19:03:26 GMT -5
I shoot LSWC 0.430’s in my FA M97 44 Special and 0.358’s in my 357 and 38 Special M97. I mounted a 4X Leopold LER scope to do load development. It took a bit of effort to find just the right combinations of bullet design, powder and charge preferences but now all will shoot 5-shot groups under 2” c-t-c at 50 yards. Couldn’t be happier.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigmuddy on Jan 15, 2022 20:30:01 GMT -5
I can shoot .430 SWC Keith bullets just fine in my M97 44 Special. However when I shoot LBT WFNGC I have to size them .429 or they won’t chamber. The wider ogive just won’t go.
Dan
|
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jan 15, 2022 20:32:04 GMT -5
I can shoot .430 SWC Keith bullets just fine in my M97 44 Special. However when I shoot LBT WFNGC I have to size them .429 or they won’t chamber. The wider ogive just won’t go. Dan It's definitely according to who sizes to .430". When I run bullets thru my Lee .430" die, they all fit. I just rather avoid the hassle... |
|
alamogunr
.30 Stingray
IGNORE PREVIOUS MESSAGE
Posts: 294
|
Post by alamogunr on Jan 17, 2022 15:25:07 GMT -5
My 97 has all throats at .429. I haven't had it long but what I've shot so far have been a couple of gas check bullets from RCBS molds. I sized and lubed in a .431 die. They weren't sized much if at all. I had no problem chambering.
I've been looking at several designs on the Accurate site. I would prefer not to have the FA cylinder opened. One other .44 is a S&W 28 converted to .44 spec. Its' throats are .430. As long as I don't encounter any problems, I'm not going to fix anything that's not broke.
|
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jan 17, 2022 15:31:53 GMT -5
As I've already posted, my 44 Special is just fine as it came from the factory. I'm in total agreement with you on that.
Ditto on my 327 Federal, 32-20 and 45 Colt Cylinders. They're fine for cast bullets.
The 357 and 41 Magnum are a different story.
|
|
|
|
Post by harold89 on Jan 17, 2022 19:41:39 GMT -5
I got tired of pushing lead bullets in with my thumb fast lol. I either run lead through a Lee sizer or simply seat them in a little deeper. I shoot the guns I can find good affordable JHPs for the most. I’m a big fan of H110 and XTPs for hunting so I’ll make due with the tight throats.
I’d be curious to know if accuracy is much changed with JHPs after opening the throats. I once asked FA about opening the throats up on one of my guns, it was a hard no 😗.
|
|
dhd
.327 Meteor
Posts: 941
|
Post by dhd on Jan 17, 2022 20:50:13 GMT -5
My 357 killed my thumb and while there getting an action job that I thought was already done (read the box label dummy, not the description), they did something to the transition to the throat. Not a thumb buster anymore, but I can't just throw a .358" in there either.
My 327 was a PITA with anything bigger than .312". It liked to smear some all over the cylinder face and barrel. It got some work done to the holes. I'm not hanging my head about it and it shoots like a super star now. I still have to pay attention to bullet size but one of my Lee sizers is marked FA97...
|
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jan 17, 2022 20:53:25 GMT -5
My 357 killed my thumb and while there getting an action job that I thought was already done (read the box label dummy, not the description), they did something to the transition to the throat. Not a thumb buster anymore, but I can't just throw a .358" in there either. My 327 was a PITA with anything bigger than .312". It liked to smear some all over the cylinder face and barrel. It got some work done to the holes. I'm not hanging my head about it and it shoots like a super star now. I still have to pay attention to bullet size but one of my Lee sizers is marked FA97... This is where I'm at as well. It's funny how Ruger does this with their 45s almost every time. Yet, their 44 and 357s are usually spot on. Thank goodness for competent gunsmiths... |
|
|
|
Post by rjm52 on Jan 18, 2022 8:37:45 GMT -5
...nice to know I'm not alone...
If a cast bullet has a wide front driving band, like an original Keith, it is a no-go unless sized down a thousandths. Just started casting and sizing a new batch of .41s and it seems the throats on even my S&W guns are tight enough to just push through a .409 bullet instead of the .410 die I have been using...
Have two 97s in .327...one will run with .413s and the other won't even take a .412... .411 or a no-go. That one is going to have to be opened up as I have hundreds of reloads already made up for the #1 gun and don't want to have to have two different diameter rounds...
And I'm not sure if it is the actual throats that are too tight or is it a really short steep lead from the end of the chamber into the throat. My Ruger .41s are just about as picky but the S&W are like Mikie on the old commercial...they'll eat anything...but are still real accurate...
Bob
|
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jan 24, 2022 15:13:14 GMT -5
So, my FA97 357 Magnum and 41 Magnum Cylinders are headed to Clements to be opened up. I don't care what a gun cost, I want them right.
I'm shipping a few others to Fermin tomorrow and more to go when he gets done.
With all the problems in the gun industry these days, it's great to have capable gentlemen like these to make things right.
|
|
