Cylinder Throat Erosion

[44mag]

I know about rifle throat erosion and keeping track of OAL in my loads, but was wondering about keeping track of revolver throat erosion. Thanks.

[bradshaw]

Feb 19, 2024 10:20:51 GMT -5 44mag said:

I know about rifle throat erosion and keeping track of OAL in my loads, but was wondering about keeping track of revolver throat erosion. Thanks.

*****

A non-issue.

Chamber Erosion vs Barrel Face Erosion?
Of the three aspects of a revolver CHAMBER----1) chamber, 2) leade, 3) exit hole or throat----none are subject to erosion. Unless the powder produces extreme heat, enough heat that it’s noticeable to the shooter. Nor is the CYLINDER FACE subject to erosion. However, the BARREL FACE is subject to erosion. A sixshooter exposes the barrel face to combustion gas, heat, and particles six times for each chamber so exposed. Steel alloy and heat treatment factor in erosion potential of the barrel face, abetted by such things as cylinder length and the burning curve of the particular cartridge, powder, powder charge, and bullet. Within a given Rockwell C hardness range, stainless steels show better resistance to barrel face erosion than chromoly.

Easiest way to demonstrate comparative erosions is between the blue and stainless Ruger Super Blackhawk , and between the blue S&W M-29 and stainless M-629. No proving ground has demonstrated comparative erosion more thoroughly than seen in IHMSA (International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association) practice and competition.

Forcing cone erosion
Generally, when we say “forcing cone erosion,” we mean barrel face erosion. The term “forcing cone erosion” is used on the factory floor as well as among shooters, and, almost always, it does not include the forcing cone itself. One powder in particular, Hodgdon Lil Gun, has been seen to erode the forcing cone. Lil Gun is spheric, double base propellant, which some in the field suggest contains a higher-than-standard percentage of nitroglycerine.

None of my revolvers which have had the barrel set back to take up barrel face erosion have eroded forcing cones. And none of their chambers have an eroded leade or chamber exit hole (throat).
David Bradshaw

[44mag]

Good stuff, thanks Dave