Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading
o

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-24-2022, 09:21 AM
BillBro BillBro is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Communist maryland
Posts: 799
Likes: 228
Liked 1,151 Times in 325 Posts
Default GT Bullets

Anyone? My 696 has some small chambers and although I have not accurately measured them a .430" bullet will not push through and I see GT buets will size down to .429" and as much as I like to shoot bigbores I need something economical to shoot in it. If their QC and products are up to it Id have no issue using them for other than just something to shoot at the range.
I did search the forum a little and didnt turn much up about them so yes, Im asking what has probably been asked before and Im sorry.

I ordered about 1500 bullets from Statelune and they are fantastic in my other 44's including the Henry but the 696 needs special attention. I either ream the chambers or get bullets sized to .429", this is all assuming that I am understanding the correct way to size lead bullets to YOUR revolvers chambers.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-24-2022, 09:26 AM
colt_saa's Avatar
colt_saa colt_saa is offline
SWCA Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cocoa Beach, Florida
Posts: 10,559
Likes: 3,037
Liked 22,450 Times in 5,824 Posts
Default

If it were me, I would fix the chambers

I like to have all of my ammunition in a specific caliber work in all of my firearms chambered for that caliber
__________________
"Acta non verba"
Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
  #3  
Old 06-24-2022, 09:27 AM
LoboGunLeather's Avatar
LoboGunLeather LoboGunLeather is offline
US Veteran
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 7,518
Likes: 19,273
Liked 32,340 Times in 5,474 Posts
Default

GT Bullets offer excellent quality. In addition to different sizing, many bullet designs are offered in different alloys/hardness for specific uses. Suggest you let them know what you are dealing with, and what your goals are, and they can probably help you get there.
__________________
Life of the party until 8:00PM
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #4  
Old 06-24-2022, 11:48 AM
41 Rem-mag 41 Rem-mag is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Northern Wisconsin
Posts: 1
Likes: 3
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

GT makes fine bullets, I've used them in several calibers.

I believe the solution to your problem though is to have the chamber throats reamed to the proper size that fits your barrel. Shooting undersized bullets because of tight chamber throats can lead the barrel up and seldom gives best accuracy.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-24-2022, 12:37 PM
mikld's Avatar
mikld mikld is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: May 2012
Location: S. Orygun
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 1,962
Liked 1,827 Times in 987 Posts
Default

I believe you need to find the gun's critical dimensions, groove diameter and cylinder throat diameter. If the throats are .429" and the barrel is .429" (SAAMI standard), you may get poor accuracy and barrel leading. Slug the barrel and slug the cylinder (yep you can get very accurate measurements slugging a cylinder). "Drop through", "push through" are not measurements, and for me and my guns barely better than a WAG...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-24-2022, 03:48 PM
Alk8944's Avatar
Alk8944 Alk8944 is online now
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 1,554
Liked 8,602 Times in 3,450 Posts
Default

GT Bullets are an excellent product and have some items no one else does! Excellent service too.
If the Stateline bullets are .430-.431 just shoot them, there is no issue with .001-.002 oversize cast bullets! I seriously doubt the throats in your gun are under .429". I use .432" in all my .44 revolvers except .44-40. I have sizing dies all the way from .427-.435".


From the Stateline web site: Note: We are now default sizing these bullets to a diameter of 0.431″. Previously they were sized to 0.430″, if you want your order sized to 0.430″ let us know, call (570) 871-7900) or email
__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

Last edited by Alk8944; 06-24-2022 at 04:01 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #7  
Old 06-24-2022, 05:59 PM
jubela#4 jubela#4 is offline
SWCA Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Central Kentucky
Posts: 691
Likes: 184
Liked 514 Times in 106 Posts
Default

GT Bullets are excellent I shoot them .45,.44,.41 and .38. They have authentic Keith designs and I’ve used their bullets for several years.
__________________
SWCA #2421
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-25-2022, 08:33 AM
BillBro BillBro is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Communist maryland
Posts: 799
Likes: 228
Liked 1,151 Times in 325 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by colt_saa View Post
If it were me, I would fix the chambers

I like to have all of my ammunition in a specific caliber work in all of my firearms chambered for that caliber
See my thread entitled "Im no gunsmith" because Im not and while I did mess around with the internals a little I felt more comfortable attempting that than I would about reaming the cylinder.
Had I screwed up the internals those are something more easily replacable and at least academically I "knew" how to fix those.

You do however make an excellent point about having all caliber specific ammo work in all of those guns. Thats something I had not even considered but I only have one gun that's an actual 44Spl, thats not to say I couldnt load those bullets into 44mag cases though. Something to consider. Thank tou.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-25-2022, 08:40 AM
BillBro BillBro is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Communist maryland
Posts: 799
Likes: 228
Liked 1,151 Times in 325 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikld View Post
I believe you need to find the gun's critical dimensions, groove diameter and cylinder throat diameter. If the throats are .429" and the barrel is .429" (SAAMI standard), you may get poor accuracy and barrel leading. Slug the barrel and slug the cylinder (yep you can get very accurate measurements slugging a cylinder). "Drop through", "push through" are not measurements, and for me and my guns barely better than a WAG...
No, push through and drop through are not measurements and I dont believe I indicated they were but they have worked before well enough to help people make an initial assessment and from everything Ive ever read neither is slugging a barrel or chamber when youre dealing with measurements as small as we are talking about.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-25-2022, 08:50 AM
BillBro BillBro is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Communist maryland
Posts: 799
Likes: 228
Liked 1,151 Times in 325 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alk8944 View Post
GT Bullets are an excellent product and have some items no one else does! Excellent service too.
If the Stateline bullets are .430-.431 just shoot them, there is no issue with .001-.002 oversize cast bullets! I seriously doubt the throats in your gun are under .429". I use .432" in all my .44 revolvers except .44-40. I have sizing dies all the way from .427-.435".


From the Stateline web site: Note: We are now default sizing these bullets to a diameter of 0.431″. Previously they were sized to 0.430″, if you want your order sized to 0.430″ let us know, call (570) 871-7900) or email
I do shoot the Stateline bullets, have been for about a year now. I have other 44's and they like them too. On my last order I bought 500 of the 200gr RNFP to shoot in my Henry and they do fine. I like Statelines service too.

How do their hollowpoints work? Just curious.

I may check out GT's stuff too though. Sounds like everybody here who have used them likes them.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 06-25-2022, 08:56 AM
rkrcpa rkrcpa is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 167
Likes: 45
Liked 155 Times in 57 Posts
Default

My 696 has .429 inch throats. I think every reference to throat diameter for a 696 I have seen has been .429 inch. I don't know if that was an attempt by the factory to protect the thin forcing cone or if that is the current factory spec for throats.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 06-25-2022, 09:10 AM
BillBro BillBro is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Communist maryland
Posts: 799
Likes: 228
Liked 1,151 Times in 325 Posts
Default

Appreciate all the responses. Seems to be well liked bullets by those who have tried them. I was just curious about the hollowpoint and if anyone had actually done any type of testing to see how that aspect actually performed or if you just shoot them for fun/practice. And theyll size down to .429".
Their prices are good too. I was looking at Rimrock again and theyre spendy for lead bullets. I guess once Buffalobore pick them up they had an advertisement and a claim to fame so the price reflects that. I dont know. Ive ordered from them but it was the .38hp for the FBI loads.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 06-25-2022, 09:21 AM
teletech teletech is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 757
Likes: 99
Liked 708 Times in 347 Posts
Default

My experience with throats in .44s made by S&W has been that it is often the case they often have a slight constriction for the fist handfull of thousandths from the front of the cylinder and the rest of the throat is larger. A reamer fed gently from the back scrapes off this upset metal very easily and uniforms the throat.
If you insert a pin gauge from behind, you might find it fits into the throat but won't *quite* pass the front edge of the cylinder and then you know.
Sadly, my experience is usually that they run large rather than small, so consider yourself very lucky!
It's really best to slug your bore before making any decisions, but assuming that's fine I would find a bullet that I liked for price and profile and start reaming those throats in .0002" increments and shooting groups until magic happened or at least until the bullets were a firm push out from behind.
I believe the factory used a gang-drill/reamer, so by using the same reamer in all chambers you would get a more uniform cylinder out of the deal.
Norma JHPs are sized to .429 FWIW.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 06-25-2022, 10:43 AM
pantannojack's Avatar
pantannojack pantannojack is offline
US Veteran
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: the ready line, N. Idaho
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 918
Liked 1,752 Times in 729 Posts
Default

Get a Lee Precision push thru bullet sizing die. they work on your reloading press.
__________________
"Don't Give Up the Ship"
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-25-2022, 11:28 AM
colt_saa's Avatar
colt_saa colt_saa is offline
SWCA Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cocoa Beach, Florida
Posts: 10,559
Likes: 3,037
Liked 22,450 Times in 5,824 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BillBro View Post
See my thread entitled "Im no gunsmith" because Im not and while I did mess around with the internals a little I felt more comfortable attempting that than I would about reaming the cylinder.
Had I screwed up the internals those are something more easily replacable and at least academically I "knew" how to fix those.

You do however make an excellent point about having all caliber specific ammo work in all of those guns. Thats something I had not even considered but I only have one gun that's an actual 44Spl, thats not to say I couldnt load those bullets into 44mag cases though. Something to consider. Thank tou.
All of your 44 Special ammunition can be fired in your 44 Magnum revolvers

If fixing the chambers is beyond your skill set, take the revolver to a gunsmith
__________________
"Acta non verba"
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 06-25-2022, 12:31 PM
mikld's Avatar
mikld mikld is offline
Member
GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets GT Bullets  
Join Date: May 2012
Location: S. Orygun
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 1,962
Liked 1,827 Times in 987 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BillBro View Post
No, push through and drop through are not measurements and I dont believe I indicated they were but they have worked before well enough to help people make an initial assessment and from everything Ive ever read neither is slugging a barrel or chamber when youre dealing with measurements as small as we are talking about.
No, I did not mention you're using "drop through", "push through" as a method of determining cast bullet diameter. Perhaps I should have said they are too much of a WAG for me. I like to know my guns, and I slug every new to me handgun after the initial cleaning and record the measurements. I usually start with bullets the same diameter as the throats and tweek the diameter if needed. This actually simplifies my reloading cast bullets and almost always works from the start (99% of the time). I have done this to my 9 revolvers from 38 Special to 45 Colt...
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
FS: S&W Vapor Paper and .38 / .357 Cast Bullets (Bullets are Sold) ADP3 Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 0 08-26-2018 01:26 PM
Lead lubed bullets compared with Hi Tek coated bullets Nightowl Reloading 22 01-05-2018 02:33 PM
FS/FT: Missouri Bullets .45ACP Bullets. 230gr, LRN - St. Louis area. Jeff423 Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 0 10-10-2017 10:19 PM
WTB: Remington 38cal 148gr HBWC bullets - Have Star bullets to trade! Black_Talon WANTED to Buy 1 09-09-2011 09:38 PM
WTS:SOLD OUT PLEASE CLOSE Bullets .224 Bullets Price Reduced (MO) frank_1947 Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 3 10-06-2009 10:17 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:41 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)