Ruger forcing cones

[Grayfox]

Yeah I know, this is the S&W board. But I know we have some Ruger folks here so I've got questions.
I recently bought one of the new Flat top .44 Specials. It had problems. Mainly shooting bad low and left. Sent it back to Ruger and they fixed it. Shoots to point of aim now.
But a new problem has come up. It don't like lead bullets. With jacketed bullets its a tack driver, couldn't hope for better. Lead bullets group about 4" at 25 yards. If you can call it a group. The vast majority of my shooting is done with lead bullets. So this is unacceptable.
As I understand it, Ruger's 5 degree forcing cone is known to cause just this sort of problem and recutting it can cure it. I also seriously doubt if Ruger will open it up for me under warranty.
So before I cut this thing, I need some info from those who know.
Has anyone here ever done this and how did it work out?
Should I go with 11 degrees or 18?
Will it affect how it performs with jacketed bullets?
Any information will be both helpful and appreciated.

 

[Boxhead]

I have cut a number of both Ruger and S&W forcing cones to the 11 degree cut offered by the Brownell's kit with nary a problem, cast or jacketed. In fact, when I buy such guns it is the first thing I do before taking it to the range.

 

[primersp]

before cutting cone are you sure than the lead bullet are at the good size ruger like marlin are know for large cylinder and barrel

 

[tomcatt51]

Before you mess with the forcing cone check the more common problems Ruger has.
1. Cylinder throat diameters. If they're undersize, they can be reamed. If they're oversize you send the gun back to Ruger, they will replace the cylinder with one that probably will have undersize throats that need to be reamed.
2. Barrel constriction at the barrel/frame threads. VERY common in Rugers. Requires firelapping or cutting a Taylor Throat to remove the constriction. Unfortunately Clymer discontinued the Taylor Throat reamers.
Check and fix both and you should have a gun that shoots lead very well.

 

[992B]

About half the handguns I own are Smith's and the other half are Rugers. It is my opinion that all Ruger revolvers could use a forcing cone that opens the factory cone dimension to at least 11 degrees. Only had one that had to go to 18 degrees, a 1957 vintage 44 flattop. Only ever had one Smith revolver require the treatment, a 1946 vintage 38/44 Heavy Duty 4".
Gary

 

[Boxhead]

The throats on these 44 Specials have shown to be dead on (for a change) so that should not be your problem unless you are shooting undersized bullets.

 

[tomcatt51]

The throats on these 44 Specials have shown to be dead on (for a change)

That would be a nice change. Now if the barrels weren't "squished down" by the frame threads we'd be good to go.

 

[Boxhead]

That would be a nice change. Now if the barrels weren't "squished down" by the frame threads we'd be good to go.

The ones that friends own have been very fine shooters.

 

[tomcatt51]

The last one I really spent some time on was a .44 SBHH. It had a considerable barrel constriction and shot my usual 1050 fps 240 gr SWC loads into ~2" at 25 yds but shot 18" groups with some bullets completely sideways at 100 yds. This was with a red dot. After about 150 firelapping rds, most with 280 grit, (Ruger SS barrels are TOUGH) it shot 3 1/2" 100 yd groups with the same ammo. The constricted barrels usually shoot well close up with noticeable leading but really deteriorate accuracy wise as the distances get longer. I wanted to shoot silhouettes with the SBHH so 100 yd accuracy was necessary.