.430" Lead Bullet OK In A Colt .427" Barrel?

[durco]

Howdy, boys:
My Colt SAA .44 spl. has .430" chamber throats and the barrel slugs right at .427". Is it going to be okay to shoot .430" bullets down that barrel? Currently loading 6.5 gr. UnClays behind 240 gr SWC, BB. (I'm not pleased with the leading at the forcing cone end of the barrel when using these .429" bullets..... and, yes, they drop through the cylinder throats.)
Much obliged.
Mike

 

[bmcgilvray]

Yes, it can be done and might even be accurate. The slightly oversized bullet might contribute to leading which you hope to avoid. You'll just have to try it. I'm not familiar with the powder you are using. You might avoid gut-bustin' max loads with such bullets.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Should be OK but don't use any Elmer Keith loads. Not familiar with your powder but would try something slower.

 

[durco]

Should be OK but don't use any Elmer Keith loads. Not familiar with your powder but would try something slower.

Thanks fellows. Universal Clays @ 6.5 gr. is yielding right at 900 fps. - it is similar to Unique, although I do not automatically substitute one for the other. However, I'm going to drop back to 5.6 gr. and go from there.
Mike

 

[Dale53]

The "rule of thumb" is to use the largest diameter bullet that will easily load in the cylinder. There should be NO leading.

I don't have any Colts but use .430" in my several S&W's (both Specials and Magnums), a Cimarron Colt Clone, and several Rugers (both .44 Special and Magnum) with excellent results. Really good accuracy and NO leading whatsoever.

I cast my own - use WW's + 2% tin for alloy in the light and medium loads and a good bit harder for the magnum loads. I lube with Lars White Label Carnauba Red.

Dale53

 

[durco]

The "rule of thumb" is to use the largest diameter bullet that will easily load in the cylinder. There should be NO leading.

I don't have any Colts but use .430" in my several S&W's (both Specials and Magnums), a Cimarron Colt Clone, and several Rugers (both .44 Special and Magnum) with excellent results. Really good accuracy and NO leading whatsoever.

I cast my own - use WW's + 2% tin for alloy in the light and medium loads and a good bit harder for the magnum loads. I lube with Lars White Label Carnauba Red.

Dale53

Thank you for the good information, Dale.
Mike

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Just curious, but the barrel sounds like it was designed for a 44-40 chambering with a .427 bore, but the cylinder is cut for 44 SP. Was the cylinder recut at some point, or is Colt routinely putting 44-40 barrels on their 44 SPs?

 

[5BeansintheWheel]

Pretty sure Colt uses the same barrels for both the Special and the .44 WCF, as they did and do offer convertibles. I have also read second gen. barrels were .427 and thirds are .429, again I have only read this.

In his excellent book Loading The Peacemaker Colt's Model P, Dave Scovill mentions a .44 WCF from 1994 that measures .4725 which goes against what I said earlier. Interestingly, he mentions Winchester rifles being .429 through out.

Getting back to the .44 Special, my gunsmith slugged my 3rd NF in .44 Special and said .429 it is. Taking his word I have always used .430 cast with no problems as of yet. Scovill mentions while shooting .429 and .430 slugs in .4275 barrels is not recommended, it appears to do no harm.

I trust my measuring skills much more now compared to 20 years ago and will try slugging my NF to see if it really is .429 or not.

 

[durco]

Just curious, but the barrel sounds like it was designed for a 44-40 chambering with a .427 bore, but the cylinder is cut for 44 SP. Was the cylinder recut at some point, or is Colt routinely putting 44-40 barrels on their 44 SPs?

It seems most colt .44 barrels are .427+/-. Maybe these third gens are .429, but I have owned half dozen 1st and 2nd gen SA .44 spls. and all slugged about the same - right about .427. That's the nature of the beast.....
In my opinion S&W makes the best .44's and Colt makes the best .45's. I'm basing the latter on my experience with the inaccuracy of the two Model 25's I used to own. (I've heard they are better now - but I've had enough of them.)
Mike

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Thanks. I thought that might be the case.

I hear you about the S&W 45 Colts. I have a pinned 25-5. As much as I like the gun itself, those big throats (.456) and a .451 barrel leave me less than impressed. But it'll make good trading stock, one day, when I get around to taking it to the show...people seem to like them. My 25-13 Mountain Gun, eventhough it has the lock, has proper throats and barrel and is a great shooter. It ain't going anywhere.

 

[BUFF]

One of the first .44 Specials I bought was a NIB Colt SAA that I got in January, 1981. I routinely size my home-cast 250 grain .44 bullets to .430" and have shot plenty of them in this Colt. Most have been loaded over 7.5 grains of Unique but about a dozen were 17.0 grains of -2400. I have never seen any signs of high pressure, so I doubt it (.427" vs. .430") matters with lead bullets.

The Elmer Keith Memorial Loads kicked pretty hard but still fell from the chambers when I elevated the muzzle.

 

[durco]

One of the first .44 Specials I bought was a NIB Colt SAA that I got in January, 1981. I routinely size my home-cast 250 grain .44 bullets to .430" and have shot plenty of them in this Colt. Most have been loaded over 7.5 grains of Unique but about a dozen were 17.0 grains of -2400. I have never seen any signs of high pressure, so I doubt it (.427" vs. .430") matters with lead bullets.

The Elmer Keith Memorial Loads kicked pretty hard but still fell from the chambers when I elevated the muzzle.

Great information. Exactly what I needed to know. Thanks.
Mike

 

[Jellybean]

The leading is probably coming from the .429 bullet in the .430 throats. Gas is getting past the bullet and blowing lead into the back of the barrel. Using a larger bullet should cure this problem.

And, as others have noted, it shouldn't be too much of a problem using larger bullets in the .427 bore, it's been done quite often. (Look at the .41 Colt for instance.) However, one word of caution. You can't reliably gauge over pressure in a .44spl by the usual techniques, (ie. flatened primers, hard extraction and etc.) The .44spls modern cases and primers can easily be loaded to the .44 mags 40,000 cup pressure with no sign of excessive pressure but will still be far over the .44spls 14,000 cup max.

 

[durco]

The leading is probably coming from the .429 bullet in the .430 throats. Gas is getting past the bullet and blowing lead into the back of the barrel. Using a larger bullet should cure this problem.

And, as others have noted, it shouldn't be too much of a problem using larger bullets in the .427 bore, it's been done quite often. (Look at the .41 Colt for instance.) However, one word of caution. You can't reliably gauge over pressure in a .44spl by the usual techniques, (ie. flatened primers, hard extraction and etc.) The .44spls modern cases and primers can easily be loaded to the .44 mags 40,000 cup pressure with no sign of excessive pressure but will still be far over the .44spls 14,000 cup max.

All true. Thanks
Mike