I bought a Model 14-3 that looked good in the photos from a seller who should be a used car dealer. The doubts started when I opened the box and saw the finish was two different colors-the barrel and cylinder one shade of blue and the frame another. There was a small nick at the barrel pin. Anyway , went to the range with some 158 LSWC in front of 3 gr. of Bullseye, a superb load in my Model 67. At 15 yards, bench rested, it was a good day to see it put 6 rounds into 4 or 5 inches. Tried various other powders and bullets including Hornady and Speer 148 HBWCs without any luck. Then I got some of the loads I use with my Model 52, 3.2 grains of W 231 and a Remington 148 HBWC. They all shot into a one hole group in the X ring when bench rested. I suspect a very worn barrel that shoots good with the Remingtons because they are a very soft, large diameter bullet (.360"). What do you folks think? I'd slug the barrel but the S&Ws are difficult to measure accurately.
Model 14 Reloading Question
- Thread starter PeterM
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I bought a Model 14-3 that looked good in the photos from a seller who should be a used car dealer. The doubts started when I opened the box and saw the finish was two different colors-the barrel and cylinder one shade of blue and the frame another. There was a small nick at the barrel pin. Anyway , went to the range with some 158 LSWC in front of 3 gr. of Bullseye, a superb load in my Model 67. At 15 yards, bench rested, it was a good day to see it put 6 rounds into 4 or 5 inches. Tried various other powders and bullets including Hornady and Speer 148 HBWCs without any luck. Then I got some of the loads I use with my Model 52, 3.2 grains of W 231 and a Remington 148 HBWC. They all shot into a one hole group in the X ring when bench rested. I suspect a very worn barrel that shoots good with the Remingtons because they are a very soft, large diameter bullet (.360"). What do you folks think? I'd slug the barrel but the S&Ws are difficult to measure accurately.
john traveler
Member
A wuick-and-dirty way to check bore diameter is to slug the bore, and then drop the slug through a chamber throat. If sized correctly, the slug with rifling marks can be pressed through the chamber throat with just a little bit of pressure. Too loose, and the throat/bore relationship is not optimum. Too tight, and the bore/throat relationship is not good.
66TAS
Member
I think you nailed it. I would shoot soft .360 bullets until I could find a good 4 inch barrel...or an ugly 6 inch with a good bore and have it cut to 5 inches...but I'm weird like that.
One of the ugliest, most misrepresented gun I have ever bought was a great shooter with the right bullets, but it was practically absent of its finish. It was a Uberti SA in 44/40 and they are finicky anyway so I keep multiple sizes on hand. Loading something special wouldnt bother me if I liked the gun.
One of the ugliest, most misrepresented gun I have ever bought was a great shooter with the right bullets, but it was practically absent of its finish. It was a Uberti SA in 44/40 and they are finicky anyway so I keep multiple sizes on hand. Loading something special wouldnt bother me if I liked the gun.
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