Tight 44 bores & Jacketed bullets

[fm027]

I have a question concerning Colts long known tight bore dimensions for the guys who have experience with guns of their own with this matter...

I've personally encountered 3 single actions in 44special with bores that slug out between .426" & .427" rather than .429/.430 like most other brands seem to fit for barrels on their revolvers. I do understand the LEAD measurement comments that arise all the time about fitting bullets to your chamber throat rather than get concerned with actual bore size when shooting LEAD, but how do things correlate in this department to jacketed bullets???

There is an abundance of loading info out there for XTP's & cutting edge solids etc etc that show Colt New Frontiers and single action army in their "ok" range for pressure rating, but none of it quotes whether actual bore size matters. Colt has long used 44-40 (.427-ish) barrel stock on their 44specials, so I assume the barrels I've measured are certainly not the only Colt guns out there with tight bores.

My question for you guys is, do you shoot jacketed .429 or .430 bullets through bores that measure as low as .426/.427? And what have been your results? Does that extra 3-4 thousandths being squeezed down matter on a copper bullet?

[Encore64]

I doubt it'll matter. Also, if you own a micrometer or caliper, measure those cast bullets. I'll bet you find them smaller than those numbers on side of the box would have you believe.

Not always, but generally they are...

[hunter01]

Ive shot tons of .357/.358 bullets through 9mm with no ill effect. Should be comparable i would think. I wouldnt worry about unless something happens that actually causes concern. A chronograph would help getting started to see if pressure (velocity) is peaking sooner than expected or anticipated.

[Encore64]

A very interesting article in this month's Shooting Times on 375 Magnum vs 9mm Barrel Bores.

This is just the kind of article we're lacking today. It's nice to gun writing is completely dead...