Cylinder throat reaming

[Longone]

Looks good, and you're right, hard to say until a range trip. I don't know if something like JB would be of any advantage, guess you'll just have to shoot it and evaluate the results. Did it give you the desired dia.?

 

[Brad]

I ended up at .3585, about perfect. Instructions say it is supposed to give .358 to .3585 so it did what it is intended to do.
Bullets sized for my GP100 are a nice fit in the recut throats. Not needing ammo segregated by revolver is a huge plus.

 

[Longone]

Indeed, not having to size for a specific handgun is a plus. Will be looking forward to a positive range report.

 

[Brad]

Success!
Loaded 100 rounds today. Sized to .358, lubed with LLA. These bullets were lubed a few years ago but never sized. The lube was a bit thick in spots and crumbly. Load was 4.5 gr HP38 in 38 special brass with a CCI small pistol primer.

No leading at all. Wife was a bit off today so hard to say if it shot better. I do know the 18 mag loads with the MP359640 HP shot way better than before. Most in 2" at 10 yards offhand, before it was as more like 5".

These photos are of the forcing cone. I ran a single wet patch thru the bore followed by a couple dry one. No brushing at all. Other than a dry spot about 3/4 down the bore towards the muzzle it was a smooth, easy push. That dry spot went away with a few strokes of the patch. No lead was seen on patches.

This was a very worthwhile exercise!

 

[Ian]

Sweet!

If it doesn't lead using LLA for lube, you're set.

 

[Brad]

Sweet!

If it doesn't lead using LLA for lube, you're set.

My feelings exactly. If old, dry, crumbly LLA doesn't lead then a good lube sure won't.
Now I need to get in gear in cast up a heap of bullets.

 

[Ian]

If only you had a decent lead furnace with large capacity and pid control.....

 

[Brad]

It is a mould issue at this point. The old Lee 6 cav is giving me flashing on bases. I really need to replace that mould.
Leaning towards this one.
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/produc...cts_id=1951&osCsid=t7n0c46054u9h1gl1itkg8jaq6
Now it it would cast .359 I would be excited.

 

[gman]

I don't think you will have to worry about it being any less than .360. Every NOE mold I have cast a bit fat.

 

[Brad]

I know. I just would like a .359 so it sizes down less. The Star prefers it too.

 

[Brad]

http://arsenalmolds.com/bullet-molds?product_id=136&limit=99999999999

Maybe this one? A review said it cast at .359. I know the NOE will likely go .360-.361.
I would like an SWC in the 150-158 gr range.

 

[Rick]

Just as in the other thread you might consider SAECO #382. It's a plain base but I doubt you'll be trying to turn the wife's gun into a hand cannon so should work quite well with the throats fixed.

 

[Brad]

I could get a Saeco mould. Don't own any.
Seeing that this will be used for large volume handgun shooting a 4-5 cav mould in Al is a real consideration.

 

[Rick]

Don't know if Al makes that bullet and SAECO only makes iron 2 and 4 cavity though I do have an older 6 cavity SAECO.

 

[Brad]

A 4 cav iron would wear me out. I have a couple 4 cav brass and they are a workout to use.
Older I get the more I appreciate aluminum moulds.

 

[Brad]

If only you had a decent lead furnace with large capacity and pid control.....

Using the old Lee mould I cast 625 of the 158 swc and never added any ingots. Pot still isn't close to empty.

 

[gman]

I'm thinking Accurate Molds if you want it to drop at a specific diameter. You already know you won't be disappointed.

 

[Brad]

I'm thinking Accurate Molds if you want it to drop at a specific diameter. You already know you won't be disappointed.

That is true. It will be cut right, cast to the right size, and drop bullets easily.

 

[gman]

Glad to help out there Brad!

 

[Brad]

Always somebody helping spend my money.