gp-100 357 forcing cone

Nothing like good customer service to turn a sad situation into a happy one.

stonebuster said:

I appreciate the tip. I don't want to create any more issues. Glad I found this site. Thanks.

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Lot of GREAT info on this site.

PM me and I'll turn you on to another one.
Not sure what the link-back rules are here.

First time I ever heard about messing up a. 357 by shooting. 38 wadcutters....I hope to hear more on the topic.

ColtPythonElite said:

First time I ever heard about messing up a. 357 by shooting. 38 wadcutters....I hope to hear more on the topic.

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I've read his post three times, and still can not fathom what the issue is/was...

Big7 said:

Easy. Flush lead wad cutters are to short.. Cylinders are NOT tapered.

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While the accuracy of a .38 lead wadcutter in a long .357 chamber might be slightly less than ideal, it certainly won't harm anything. Thousands of cops have run millions of rounds of .38 WC practice ammo through their .357 service pistols in the last century.

How about you offer a clear explanation of your experience so we can understand what you're talking about.

I have. Best I can.

What I can tell you for sure is the will trash your gun.
Maybe we are thinking about different "wad-cutters,
What I'm talking about are the one's that are flush mounted
with the case mouth, I would not even shoot them in a .38, much less a .357.

They are to short. Have no taper, and unless you do a custom, you have NO forcing cone in the cylinders.

Take it for what it's worth. It will not blow up in your face but it WILL destroy the cycling lug.

I guess Rugers must be the only ones that get trashed by. 38 wadcutters. Never saw it on a Smith or Colt.

Big7 said:

destroy the cycling lug.

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You mean the lugs marked in red? Cylinder ratchet dogs.
Takes high pressure to slam the cylinder back into the frame, from repeated firing , to damage the lugs.

The blue marked area may flow so the center pin sticks.

If damage was done shooting 38 special with 148 gr full wad cutters, your load was way over pressure.

Your typical hollow base wadcutter is the same length, if not longer, than any other 38/357 bullet option. It is just seated into the case deeper to provide more consistent pressures due to typically smaller powder charges used in target shooting. Also, that longer bullet allows for the cylinder to line up with the forcing cone in a much more forgiving manner than a hot loaded, light weight (shorter) bullet. It also mitigates top strap erosion.
I have a PPC gun that has probably seen tens of thousands(if not more) of wadcutters in its life. Its in perfect mechanical condition. I have also fired thousands of wadcutters in other 38 and 357 guns. Not a single ill effect yet.

I hate to just tell someone that they are flat out wrong, but this is the first time I have ever heard of a wadcutter being detrimental to a gun. If you have a better way to explain what you experienced, or can provide more reasoning, I'm sure we would all be glad to hear it.

243winxb said:

You mean the lugs marked in red? Cylinder ratchet dogs.
Takes high pressure to slam the cylinder back into the frame, from repeated firing , to damage the lugs.

The blue marked area may flow so the center pin sticks.

If damage was done shooting 38 special with 148 gr full wad cutters, your load was way over pressure.

View attachment 233940

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No.

I mean a cylindrical projectile that WILL cause shear with no tapered forcing cone.
I have disposed of all the ones I had left,

If I can find a pic on the net, I will post it.

Mail all your wadcutters to me, boys. I will donate a Python to the cause and see how many she will eat until she's "trashed".

You are thinking of a different wad-cutter.

I have a Python BUT if a Ruger can't take them, NOTHING can.

243winxb said:

You mean the lugs marked in red? Cylinder ratchet dogs.
Takes high pressure to slam the cylinder back into the frame, from repeated firing , to damage the lugs.

The blue marked area may flow so the center pin sticks.

If damage was done shooting 38 special with 148 gr full wad cutters, your load was way over pressure.

View attachment 233940

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NO.

Loads were store bought· Musgrave Ammo. Flush with the case mouth.
I load and shoot a LOT of paper punchers.

Only thing is warning about is that type ammo. To short. NO taper on the projectile or the cylinders or the gap.
Not a good situation to short no taper for a .357.

Shoot what you want.
My comments are from first hand experience.

Yes, I'm an expert.

Link up a pic of the wadcutter you are talking about.

If your barrel doesn't have a tapered forcing cone, that is the problem, not wadcutters.

Here you go.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/musgrave-38-wadcutter-ammo.258230/

Looks like the kind of wadcutter I was thinking of.

Revolvers are not generally tapered in the cylinders.
Unless you have it done by a Smith or do it yourself.

None that I know of have tapered gaps.
That makes no sense.

ColtPythonElite said:

I guess Rugers must be the only ones that get trashed by. 38 wadcutters. Never saw it on a Smith or Colt.

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Smith and Colt can't hold a candle to a Ruger.

Shoot a few of flush wad cutters (.38 in a .357) through one and you will see where I'm coming from.
To short, No taper.

Destroy yous if you like.

I have shot plenty of wadcutters and have yet to destroy a. 357....You seem to be the only guy on THR who has.

Yes, I'm an expert.

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Indeed you are!

Revolvers are not generally tapered in the cylinders.
Unless you have it done by a Smith or do it yourself.

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Have you ever seen a typical revolver chamber to start with?!?
Here, let me show you:

big7, what is a "cycling lug"?

murf

Something you might consider is shooting coated bullets to keep the leading away. All my 38 spl reloads are with coated bullets same as my Bulldog 44 rounds. The coated bullets cost me $1 more than plain lead bullets for a 500 ct box.

Ok now I'm confused. Between understanding what a lug might be and what I've always called a simple "wadcutter" I'm confused. Never heard of lead wadcutters damaging a gun regardless of caliber or seating depth - forcing cone or otherwise. There is a lot I don't know, I've just never heard of this phenomenon you are speaking of. No insult intended.