Quote:
Originally Posted by ptf18
Fellows. Some what "new" to reloading handguns. How can you tell if your getting FLAME CUTTING?
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Magnum calibers operate at very high pressures and use a lot of very slow (slow for handgun propellant) powders. What you will see is a thin line of metal removed from the top strap of the frame, just above the gap where the cylinder ends and the barrel extension begins. That is what is usually referred to when flame cutting is discussed. It tends to be self limiting.
The other area to watch is the entrance to the barrel. With these high pressure rounds, you will begin to see the relatively sharp edge of the forcing cone begin to round off. In severe cases you will see this edge take on a rough surfaced, bevel shape. With the K-frame 357's (excluding the current production "Classic" 19 and 66) there is a flat spot at the bottom of the barrel extension for cylinder crane clearance. This is the spot where cracks can develop. This cracking is most often linked to using magnum loads with bullet weights of less than 140 grains.