Offset primer hits

[mmande]

I would like to borrow a set of range rods for a .357 mag revolver. Explanation;
I bought the Highway Patrolman discussed in this thread: https://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/712747-offset-primer-hits.html with intentions of trying to fix it. The cylinder does not have an "H" stamped on it so I suspect it has been changed out from the original. I also found that it had an oversized hand and cylinder stop installed in it which gave it zero rotational play in the cylinder when cocked in single action. I replaced those items with standard sized ones and cut the forcing cone to maximum diameter with Brownell's 11 degree cutter. The result was, the primer hits are still off center some with very accurate target grouping at 50 feet. It is too hard to tell by the forcing cone and resultant powder flash on the front of the cylinder if it is lining up centered with the barrel.
I really don't want to buy range rods for a one time check so I was wondering if someone out there would kindly let me borrow one. It is more out of curiosity than anything else. I would pay for all shipping costs involved.
Thank you for your time and consideration;
Mike
P.S. I welcome any additional thoughts on this.

 

[Alk8944]

Just shoot it as-is. A range rod won't tell you a thing. They were never intended to check precise alignment of charge holes to barrel bore, just mis-alignment that is so gross as to cause bullet shaving and possible injury to adjacent shooters! There must be .006-.010" mis-alignment before you will notice anything with range rod.

Some mis-alignment is completely normal, that is the reason for the forcing cone being in the barrel, to accommodate this mis-alignment. The appearance of the firing pin impression in the primer looks much worse than the actual amount of mis-alignment. By replacing the hand and cylinder stop that were in the gun you may have actually made it worse!

 

[Shotguncoach]

I reload range pick-up brass and see off center primer hits frequently. If it goes bang every time, isn't spitting lead, and has good accuracy then just shoot it and have fun.

I didn't see any pictures in the linked thread. If you shoot a cylinder full and post a picture of all the primer hits in the orientation that they would have been with the cylinder closed it would help.

 

[chief38]

You should post a few clear pic's of the spent cases so we can see the off center hits. Slightly off center hits alone with everything else working as it should and accuracy there, no problemo. Lot's of shaved and spitting lead - that's a problem.

 

[mmande]

Thanks guys;
I agree with everything said above. I have never used range rods and as pointed out maybe I am expecting them to be more precise than they really are. The thing that bothered me was that the cylinder was locked solid with no rotational play with the oversized hand and stop. So, with standard sized parts, did I make the alignment better or worse? I can swap the parts back in to see. The firing pin hits were near the edge of the primer and now they are half way between the center and the edge.
As I said it's just curiosity on my part and a forum member has offered to send me range rods but I don't want him to bother if they won't tell me anything in the end.

 

[Alk8944]

Thanks guys;
I agree with everything said above. I have never used range rods and as pointed out maybe I am expecting them to be more precise than they really are. The thing that bothered me was that the cylinder was locked solid with no rotational play with the oversized hand and stop. So, with standard sized parts, did I make the alignment better or worse? I can swap the parts back in to see. The firing pin hits were near the edge of the primer and now they are half way between the center and the edge.
As I said it's just curiosity on my part and a forum member has offered to send me range rods but I don't want him to bother if they won't tell me anything in the end.

There is no problem with zero rotational play as long as the cylinder locks reliably. Remember that there will always be wear on the hand and ratchet and it always causes the lock-up to get looser! I have an old M&P right alongside me that was built in 1950, and 5 of six charge holes have no perceptible rotational play but the gun has been this way for the past nearly 75 years! I have had it for nearly 35 of those years and have never done anything to it except shoot it! That's just how they used to make them!

As long as the gun was functioning properly go ahead and re-install the parts that were in it when you got it, or keep them as spares.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Don't even worry or think about it......A lot of revolvers have somewhat offset hits.