rhmc24
Absent Comrade
Does anyone have experience with frame stretch in these old guns - said to be the cause of cyl/bbl gap by shooting modern ammo?
Frame Stretch - .44 DA Top Breaks
- Thread starter rhmc24
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Alk8944
US Veteran
The latch is the weak point, not the frame. Yes, you can easily loosen one with the wrong ammunition. My Frontier loosened with just a few rounds loaded with a moderate load of Bullseye. It was tight and got just loose enough to notice the slight shake. I have shot hundreds of full power black powder loads after that with no additional problem. When it was re-Nickeled the plating was sufficient to tighten it up again. As I said, it was just perceptible that it was loose.
This is not the reason for a large B-C gap. Black powder is erosive and the gap will, very literally, burn out over time. Every Smith I have seen that had been shot extensively with black powder loads has exhibited erosion of the barrel breech and cylinder face, as well as flame cutting of the top strap. This applies to both top breaks and hand ejectors.
This is not the reason for a large B-C gap. Black powder is erosive and the gap will, very literally, burn out over time. Every Smith I have seen that had been shot extensively with black powder loads has exhibited erosion of the barrel breech and cylinder face, as well as flame cutting of the top strap. This applies to both top breaks and hand ejectors.
Frame Stretch??
I discount the notion of frame stretch because if it occurred it would load the latch link and cause problems there - which I do not have. I have a 44-40 with cyl/bbl gap of .020". Others claim frame stretch and I measured it compared with another in EXC condition and found the frames within .002" of same. Cylinder of worst is .008" shorter than best. I'm assuming the usual close S&W mfg tolerances but will have to check against some others for confirmation. I haven't yet measured from barrel to recoil shield. I have 5 in 44-40 mostly in vg to exc condition. I have never fired one of the 44-40s.
I think I will try fixing my problem gun by placing a .010" washer under the star which will push the cyl forward by that amount and preserve headspace.
Subject shift - I have one I reamed from .44 Russ to take .44 Special and have fired about 50 rounds each of cowboy and Winchester round nose lead without evidence of change.
I discount the notion of frame stretch because if it occurred it would load the latch link and cause problems there - which I do not have. I have a 44-40 with cyl/bbl gap of .020". Others claim frame stretch and I measured it compared with another in EXC condition and found the frames within .002" of same. Cylinder of worst is .008" shorter than best. I'm assuming the usual close S&W mfg tolerances but will have to check against some others for confirmation. I haven't yet measured from barrel to recoil shield. I have 5 in 44-40 mostly in vg to exc condition. I have never fired one of the 44-40s.
I think I will try fixing my problem gun by placing a .010" washer under the star which will push the cyl forward by that amount and preserve headspace.
Subject shift - I have one I reamed from .44 Russ to take .44 Special and have fired about 50 rounds each of cowboy and Winchester round nose lead without evidence of change.
cgt4570
Member
I sent my both my NM#3 and 44DA to Dave Chicoine in NC for tune-ups. Now they lock up like new. He STRONGLY advises only shooting black powder in them from now on. He replaced the latch screw in the NM with one of his custom replacements. I'm not positive of his method, but it works. Don't know if it's just an oversided screw shank or if he adds a bushing.
