Jim Watson
Member
There is such a thing as a lead removal reamer, seems to be a regular reamer, at or just below minimum spec diameter. Doubt they make one in .44 Russian, though.
If that turns out to be a crack in the cylinder, I would not chance shooting the other five chambers.
Although I did know a guy who managed to crack a 1917 cylinder. Being a machinist with spare time in the company shop, he bored a cylinder diameter hole in a block of steel, cut away a corner to just expose the hole, drove the cylinder into the hole to close the crack, and welded it up through the opening. He then reamed the chamber and turned the outside, voi'la, a functional revolver. I did not see him shoot it, though.
If that turns out to be a crack in the cylinder, I would not chance shooting the other five chambers.
Although I did know a guy who managed to crack a 1917 cylinder. Being a machinist with spare time in the company shop, he bored a cylinder diameter hole in a block of steel, cut away a corner to just expose the hole, drove the cylinder into the hole to close the crack, and welded it up through the opening. He then reamed the chamber and turned the outside, voi'la, a functional revolver. I did not see him shoot it, though.
