Help. Did I Bubba This Cylinder?

[scruffy]

New to me 629-6 and first .44 mag. It was only shot a handful of times. On forums, I was advised in several posts to measure the cylinder throats as they are commonly tight on newer guns. I used a inside digital calipers but got too much variation. I bought a few Vermont Pin Gauges in .426"-, .427"-, .428"- and .429"- to obtain accurate readings.

The .428"- drops right through by gravity when inserted from the front or rear. The .429" was a tight fit in the throat area. Was very difficult to press in from the front. Angle had to be just right and had to wiggle a little and apply a lot of hand pressure. When inserted from the rear they went in but when they reached the throat needed to be tapped with a dowel to get them to pass through. I repeated this multiple times for each chamber and kept the chamber and pin gauge well lubricated with gun oil. The .429"- is basically a press fit, (see pic). I can now put the .429"- from both ends with thumb pressure.

When I cleaned up after measuring I noticed a lot of light scratches in the throat that I don't believe were there before. The edges of the pin gauges are smooth with no burrs and the chambers were clean as I could get them before measuring.

Did I ruin the throats of the cylinder? Would those scratches impact accuracy? Don't want to ream them as they are .429" the factory jacketed bullets I shoot are also .429" or slightly less (Winchester and Magtech). Mad at myself for not seeing this as I was measuring. I'm an idiot.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I doubt those scratches will have any effect on anything, but the only way to know for sure is to load that .44 and shoot it. .44M is nominal .430", so a .429 throat is about perfect, and unless you are plain ham-handed you didn't make those scratches.

I wouldn't drink the internet Kool-aid until I had determined my gun had a problem by shooting it first. If it's grouping like a shotgun pattern, and you get good groups with your other guns (thereby eliminating YOU from the accuracy issue), try other types of ammo before assuming the gun needs anything.

I have a M25-5, which you hear a lot about oversized throats, and mine measure larger than they should be. However, it's as accurate as any other S&W I have, with the ammo I load for it.

 

[Protocall_Design]

They are fine. Shoot it and don't worry. If it bothers you, you can polish them with a strip of green ScotchBrite wrapped around a smaller caliber cleaning brush, and turn it with a drill motor. This would polish the whole chamber, too. Either way, it will be fine.

 

[Pef]

It would have never occurred to me to measure chamber throats.

Just shoot it.

 

[cowboy4evr]

It'll be just fine . Go shoot it and don't give it a 2nd thought . Regards Paul

 

[gwpercle]

De Louisiana Swamp People say ...

CHOOT EM' scruffy ... CHOOT EM' ...

You Good ... a little range time and everything will be fine & dandy

No Bubba
Gary

 

[reddog81]

If the .428 fits and the .429 gauges won’t go there is no reason to smash the gauges through.

I wouldn’t worry to much about the scratches. Shoot some rounds through it and then clean it up and see what it looks like.

 

[stansdds]

Nope, it's totally destroyed and is now a dangerous firearm to shoot. Just put it in a plain brown box and send it to me for .... "disposal".

 

[tominboise]

If the .428 fits and the .429 gauges won’t go there is no reason to smash the gauges through.

This is the answer right here. That's why you bought the selection of pins in the first place.

 

[Luke Duke]

I recently bought a new 629-6 4". It too has tight cylinder throats. Was concerned because the only .44's I've ever owned were Ruger's , and they all had Big throats. Don't have gauges but .429 bullets are a tight fit and have to be tapped through my 629 cylinders.
Concerns quickly went away after a few trips to the range. This is one accurate gun. Stacks most every load I've shot through it. For that matter I haven't found a load it doesn't like.
I size my cast bullets to .429 have no leading using Lee tumble lube 240's .
Agreeing with the others just shoot it. You can always polish up those scratches if it's bugging you

 

[martyd]

My Grand Daddy always said "never use force, just get a bigger hammer".

"If that doesn't work, a can of gasoline and a pack of matches will fix it".

 

[scruffy]

Protocall_Design

They are fine. Shoot it and don't worry. If it bothers you, you can polish them with a strip of green ScotchBrite wrapped around a smaller caliber cleaning brush, and turn it with a drill motor. This would polish the whole chamber, too. Either way, it will be fine.

Protcall - My OCD thanks you from the bottom of it's black heart. Appreciate the tip. Only did the throat and your suggestion worked perfectly.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Those look great! Now you can really enjoy shooting that fine piece of machinery!

 

[Luke Duke]

Those look great! Now you can really enjoy shooting that fine piece of machinery!

Nicely done. Where are your pin gauges now? .001 isn't hard to achieve.

 

[scruffy]

Nicely done. Where are your pin gauges now? .001 isn't hard to achieve.

.429"- goes through all chambers with only light thumb pressure. Nice fit and works for me since I shoot factory semi jacketed ammo.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Protcall - My OCD thanks you from the bottom of it's black heart. Appreciate the tip. Only did the throat and your suggestion worked perfectly.

Is that the same cylinder?? You did a great job. Now shoot that thang.

 

[Luke Duke]

.429"- goes through all chambers with only light thumb pressure. Nice fit and works for me since I shoot factory semi jacketed ammo.

I think I'm going to give mine the same treatment. Had Ruger SBH 10.5 " that had rough cylinders, even light loads would stick brass. Did the same thing with Mothers Aluminum Polish. And the brass just fell out, even with stiff loads.

 

[Luke Duke]

.429"- goes through all chambers with only light thumb pressure. Nice fit and works for me since I shoot factory semi jacketed ammo.

I think I'm going to give mine the same treatment. Had Ruger SBH 10.5 " that had rough cylinders, even light loads would stick brass. Did the same thing with Mothers Aluminum Polish. And the brass just fell out, even with stiff loads.

 

[Luke Duke]

.429"- goes through all chambers with only light thumb pressure. Nice fit and works for me since I shoot factory semi jacketed ammo.

Also, size all cast to .429, just buy a LEE push through die and buy what ever cast bullets on gun broker size them tumble around in some Alox, 8.5 grains of Unique. My 626-6 just stacks'em! No Leading! 240gr flavored stuff. 5.8 gr of TiteGroup was another great cast load.

 

[gym cat]

You are good to go---Shoot that sucker!!!!!!!!!