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Post by bradshaw on Jul 14, 2022 22:40:33 GMT -5
Stan.... this one’s a fine shooter. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 14, 2022 22:03:32 GMT -5
Should be a 6", but with S&W you never know. ***** Smith & Wesson presented me a Model 629 at the first International Revolver Championship. Came with a finely serrated Combat Trigger. Width of the Combat Trigger is between narrow and Target Trigger. At presentation the revolver showed the roughest action I’d felt on an S&W... A factory mechanic made it smooth as cream. I’d been told the M-629 would mark introduction of 6-inch barrel----and the end of 6-1/2”----on .44 Magnums. Roy Jinks made the presentation on the podium. Later, at a visit to the factory, I suggested a small lake we should swim, wearing 629’s. Glad he didn’t take me up on it, as Roy went to college as a swimmer. Asked which sight I would prefer, I selected the spheric McGivern gold bead. Should have selected the flat-with-light-bevel Call bead. Nevertheless, the square corners of the Patridge blade allow for exact shooting with the McGivern. The revolver came with 6" drop forged barrel, broach rifled with 1:20” twist. Medium 11-degree forcing cone. As I recall, the barrel was pinned. Cylinder countersunk for rims. Hammer & trigger case hardened carbon steel, flash chromed. (S&W’s drop forged stainless hammers & triggers weren’t hard enough, especially to hold single action; lesson learned on .38/.357’s.) Told at the time (fall 1980) the first 100 or so guns would have the serrated Combat Trigger, after which all Combat Triggers would be smooth. Stainless steel guns were exotica in 1980. Whatever Model 629’s and Ruger Redhawks entered circulation by early 1981 did so quite inflated. The first 629’s came in 6-inch only, just as the first Redhawks came in 7-1/2” only. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 13, 2022 7:16:50 GMT -5
Bought a Ruger blackhawk 4 5/8" barrel in 45 colt in a consignment sale for a reasonable price, should have done a better inspection, but finish was good, lockup was tight and cylinder looked good, after a range session, I found accuracy to be quit poor. I looked at the barrel, and thought it was badly leaded , took it to the bench for a thorough cleaning, not much lead came out, just a few shavings, looked through barrel to find almost zero rifling left, after talking to a friend, forum member encore64, we came to the conclusion that someone must have shot some powder coated bullets through it, with the wrong type of powder coat for cast bullets. Apparently there is some that are really abrasive, that can ruin a barrel very quickly, this gun is heading to Texas very soon for either a re-barrel, or a caliber conversion, something that starts with a 5. Has anyone experienced this before, with powder coated bullets? ***** Sounds like revolver holds secrets of its past life. Without gun in hand, to assign cause of wear, or damage, invites a bark up the wrong tree. Ray Chapman, whom in 1975 shot his way to the first World Practical Pistol Championship, told me he shot out the barrel on an early Super Blackhawk in 2,000 rounds. I’d never heard of such a thing. I suppose one of those barrels from George Wilson (made barrels for Bill Ruger), could have been soft. One does not easily “shoot out” the barrel of a Ruger, whether chromoly or stainless. The Super Blackhawk which won the first IHMSA International Revolver Championship has the factory .44 barrel broached by George Wilson. Groove diameter grew from .428 to .429-inch, Ruger has set the barrel barrel back to eliminate barrel face erosion (aka forcing cone erosion). In fact, set back the barrel immediately prior to the first Revolver Championship. If the lands of the Blackhawk .45 Colt in question are barely visible, the question is, were they ever there? If the bore has been lapped with corse abrasive, the lands, and to a lesser extent the grooves, may have been worn, with shoulders of the lands rounded. Measurement of lands (bore) and groove with a hole micrometer may help. Powder coat material may contain abrasive; rubbing the powder coat on glass or polished steel may scuff the surface to provide a clue. A hot or erosive propellant, or suitable propellant at high pressure, can erode the barrel face. the championship Super Blackhawk mentioned above has a concentric, SHORT FORCING CONE. By the competitor’s order, the forcing cone remained untouched when Ruger set back the barrel. And, at all hazards, Ruger was forbidden to replace the original barrel. Having led a life burning Hercules 2400, IMR 4227, H4227, Winchester 296, and Hodgdon H110, this “Silhouette Super” shows barely a trace of actual forcing cone erosion. Barrel face erosion, yes. The revolver hasn’t fired one round of Hodgdon Lil Gun. Any inclination I had to try Lil Gun was stopped by reports of severe erosion from Freedom Arms, and a report of extreme heating from Lee Martin. It may be that the Blackhawk .45 was fire-lapped or hand-lapped with coarse abrasive, or abrasive coating of bullets----or all three. But, it would take a gross overdose of lapping to wear away lands on modern, heat treated steel. Note, however, injudicious fire lapping or hand lapping can ruin a barrel. I have seen barrels from Ruger and S&W which should have been used for jack handles, not trying to shoot straight. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 12, 2022 21:09:33 GMT -5
Did some more Trading, Among other things I ended up with a box of 125 grain Speers. I don't think I ever loaded anything that light in .357. To me that is a great personal defense load , in the city, or better for stopping 2 legged varmints. But other than that and maybe coyote , not good for much ? Am I wrong ?...tj ***** ....except as life insurance to collect while breathing... and, to blast a tossed water jug. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 12, 2022 10:51:54 GMT -5
Lee Martin knows the history of Sig Himmelmann revolvers as well as anyone, with detailed articles here on Singleactions. I fired and dry-fired various Himmelmann single actions quite a bit. Sig compromised some excellent barrels with excessive forcing cones. I peened the frame pretty good on a Mossberg Abilene .44 Mag. I described the result to Bill Ruger, with a question, “What sort of heat treatment was used?”
“What makes you think it’s heat treated?” said Bill.
Peening of frame around firing pin caused the frame to pinch the pin forward when dry-fired. Live ammo always reset the firing pin. Thus, revolver operated normally until dry-fired. In doing a couple of trigger jobs, I found variance in hardness of the sear tip.
To get around Ruger’s transfer bar patent, Himmelmann fashioned a rocker arm (called an “anvil”) in the hammer. For the Seville, Himmelmann agreed to pay Ruger for adoption of Ruger's New Model transfer bar system. I liked that better than the anvil, but I still didn’t trust the lockwork to match durability with Ruger’s single actions. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 10, 2022 20:48:39 GMT -5
EXCELLENT BULLET AND SHOULD EXPAND WELL UP CLOSE IN SMALL DEER AND BLACK BEAR (MAYBE?) THEY ARE HOWEVER NOT HALF-JACKETS AS THE ENTIRE BULLET IS IN A COPPER CUP AND LEAD NEVER TOUCHES THE BARREL. EARLY HALF JACKETS WERE NORTORIOUS FOR LEADING. I know we’ve been over this before but remind me/us how to crimp these bullets please? ***** Roll crimp over forward edge of jacket. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 10, 2022 7:48:54 GMT -5
I Just traded an old set of dies for an unopened box of Speer 160 grain Half Jacket SWCs. I used to shoot zillions of the 146 grain HP version. But I would think these 160 grainers might make a very good bullet to carry in the woods. Would it be good for mule deer ? maybe even black bear ?...tj ***** Old Walter Verge of the mountain pounding Verge clan had ten brass studs in the grip of his 6-inch Model 28 Highway Patrolman, each stud representing a whitetail buck slain afoot in the Northwoods. His favored slugs? The Speer so-called “half-jacket” which, as John states, allows no lead-to-bore contact. (Thus, we don’t consider it a true half-jacket.) Walter Verge shot the Speer .357 160 SWC, but for more penetration switched to the 146 SWC Hollow Point, into which hole he set a sheet metal screw. To my knowledge, Walter Verge did not care for shooting bears. Had he gone for black bear, I think it safe to say he would have taken his 6-1/2” Model 29 .44 Mag. Mule deer are generally great fun to hunt, often possessed of fatal curiosity utterly lacking in a mountain whitetail. However, a mule deer with his traveling britches on may cut as straight a line as the whitetail or elk. During a hind leg hunt, distance, presentation, and disposition play a huge roll in the effectiveness of a revolver. Assuming marksmanship, the resistance of a whitetail to hot lead has much to do with size, and plenty to do with the deer’s disposition at moment of impact. The same applies in Technicolor to a black bear, and wounding one should bring shame to the hunter. When it comes to expansion, I count the old Speer “half-jacket” high on the scale of predictability, whether .357 or .44, SWC or SWC HP. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 9, 2022 14:23:25 GMT -5
Who is producing a quality LS? under 1500.00 Thanks for the help ***** At the time, When I asked about a 6-inch barrel long slide .45 ACP, Les Baer told me to stick with his standard 5-inch, as it is more accurate. Whether Baer’s advice applies to the 10mm Auto, I cannot say; At the time, Les was not making a 10mm. Having not shot a pistol more accurate than my Les Baer 1911 .45 ACP Super Tac, and another Super Tac, and a Premier II, can only imagine the job he would do with the intrinsically accurate 10mm Auto. My Colt Delta Elite 10mm stormed out of the gate utterly reliable and ready to play at silhouette. Hardly a slouch in the 5-inch, ballistically, the 10mm should take fine advantage of a longer barrel. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 6, 2022 20:46:48 GMT -5
Agree with that. Some folks have their S&W 25s rechambered to 460 Rowland. But, no way I'd shoot a 40k load in mine. The 23k +P Loads are absolutely max in mine. I'm just curious what could be done in a tightly chambered 5-Shot 45 ACP. I've seen some insane 45 Auto Rim loads in certain guns. Correctly chambered 45 AR, 45 ACP or +P and 45 Super would all be usable... ***** One way to find out. Fetch on to a Model 83 .454 Casull with auxiliary .45 ACP cylinder. Keep up-loading until you blow the primer pocket. Make the next, hotter load, in new brass.... Keep stuffing powder until you braze the breech face.... or, some other catastrophe shapes up. May want to lay off bullets of jacket-forward construction for said experiment. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 6, 2022 13:33:58 GMT -5
I'm needing advice from members... Completely disregarding auto loading pistols and only interested in the use of 45 ACP Brass in revolvers. How strong is this brass when used in a revolver cylinder? We've all suffered through the weak brass myths of 45 Colt, 44-40 and 38-40. Plenty more too. Has anyone actually tested this or is it like so many other rumors that become fact when unquestioned? ***** .45 ACP loads from my bench interchange without issue between auto and revolver. My warmest are still within book, although slightly heavier charges of medium burn-rate powders aren’t used in aluminum frame pistols, especially the Colt Officer’s Model, Commander, and SIG/Sauer P220. In general, brass life is shorter, usually much shorter, when fired in an autoloader. The stresses aren’t just about chamber dimension. Brass made for .45 ACP is not intended for magnum pressure. Whether fired in Ruger Blackhawk or Freedom Arms M83, longitudinal split of thin case wall registers most common failure. Sierra Bullets president Bob Hayden told me decades ago that nickel plating weakens brass. In this regard, I’ve had what I consider premature splits in nickel plated Reming .45 Colt brass; while nickeled .45 ACP splits at about the same rate as brass .45 ACP. Federal and Starline make my favored.45 Colt brass. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 3, 2022 7:14:00 GMT -5
***** A recoil buffer can be a good thing, especially if the gun is designed for it. OVERTRAVEL is a important concept in autoloading design, but requires adding length to receiver or shortening bolt, etc. Bolt or slide overtravel is an easy way to accommodate cycling with a wide range of loads, exemplified by the supremely reliable Heckler & Koch G3/91 .308 rifle, which bolt overtravel exceeds cartridge length. Buffers for the 1911 are a consumable, replacement dictated by wear. I’ve used Bill Wilson’s and others, and made buffers from hard leather. All cushion but should be watched. Never had buffer-related stoppage, but have heard of pieces breaking off to impede cycling. A buffer which seats on the recoil spring guide of a 1911 e shortens slide travel 1/16 or 1/8-inch. Magazine must raise cartridge fast enough for breech face to catch it----essentially without overtravel. Carried an early Colt Commander for a period. With standard spring and without recoil buffer. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jun 29, 2022 5:50:50 GMT -5
"I may have it looked over by a gunsmith. When in doubt, hand it to a professional, am I right?” ----Quick Draw McGraw
*****
“Professional” is term subject to abuse.
A gunsmith with talent, experienced knowledgeable on subject, should be able to sort out the problem. A small deviation in dimension or angle, etc., changes behavior of the whole. If the frame is off in some way or, for instance, the slide stop, or the spring housing has come unstaked, the slide stop could pop up. Holes drilled in the wrong place, cuts made wrong, etc. Job starts with making the frame right, then the parts, and then putting them together. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jun 24, 2022 8:50:24 GMT -5
Is it safe to carry the FA 97 .22 with 6 rounds in the cylinder? ***** I trust only Bill Ruger’s New Model lockwork to carry full up. Ruger’s New Model transfer bar system specifically prevents at-rest hammer from contacting firing pin with trigger reset. Intrinsic to Bill Ruger’s New Model, the PASSIVE SAFETY, which eliminates manipulation of hammer & trigger to engage safety. To carry a Colt Peacemaker with a round under the hammer, I would lower the hammer on a leather (part of holster) tab with hole punched. Hammer therefore doesn’t rest all the way forward but on leather. Cock hammer slightly to draw. All fast draw requires careful specific practice of the COORDINATIONS. It is a dangerous activity for the uninitiated or undisciplined. Useful to those who know, dangerous to those who don’t. Whether draw is slow or fast technique remains same, muzzle forward at final cock. Target before Trigger always. David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jun 21, 2022 6:59:19 GMT -5
magnum wheelman.... .30-06 U.S. military head stamp show year manufactured and arsenal (TW----Twin Cities; LC----Lake City, etc). As Nichols indicates, certain to be potassium chlorate or some such corrosive primed. Warm soapy water to dissolve salts, as oil-base solvents do not dissolve salts. Dry & oil bore after. Tracer with phosphorous compound in jacket. Much WW II tracer still capable of starting fire in materials supposedly difficult to ignite. Don’t know much about incendiary, may have metallic compounds for pyrotechnic effect as spotter rounds.
Eric.... .30-06 black tip has .25 cal steel penetrator. More recoil in M1 Garand than regular ball. Used often by WW II riflemen for accuracy at long range, i.e., sniping. Heats barrel faster than ball. My coach Doc Carroll advised against using it in my M1 Nation Match, saying it would wear the accuracy faster. Doc Carroll knew a bit about accuracy, as he went on to shoot 99x100 in the Leech Cup 1,000 yard match at Camp Perry with his M1 National Match (.30-06 173 grain FMJ National Match ammo). David Bradshaw
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Post by bradshaw on Jun 15, 2022 8:34:53 GMT -5
“.... the right person and parts to get it up and running at its best.... Parts that will likely need replacing... [cylinder] stop.”
A very long time on the firing line can wear the S&W stop. Usual result: stop drops, then pops up before cylinder rotates, locking trigger. Subjecting revolver to abuse, of course, causes negative effects outside normal wear. Such as a sprung yoke.
“..... have throats checked and corrected if need be...”
A vintage K-22/Model 17 has precisely tapered chambers of extraordinary accuracy potential. Proceed with extreme caution. Which means, prove each step on the Firing Line. David Bradshaw
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