Is Accuracy Really this Difficult?

Shotgun12 said:

A while back, I looked into some over-size bullets but they were way more expensive and you had buy several thousand of the damn things before they would change tooling to make a "special" run. I'd rather fix the problem and be done with it, and not have to depend on using work-arounds.

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So you never slugged it? Large diameter bullets would not be a work around if it slugs big.

Hartkopf said:

So you never slugged it? Large diameter bullets would not be a work around if it slugs big.

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^^^ This. I also wonder if regular jacketed bullets were ever shot and if they performed better accuracy wise than lead.

I believe Missouri Bullet Company will size to order without a large order and are pretty affordable.

I always love these threads with a "Machinist for years" doesn't have the ability to measure anything, asks for advice, then gets offended at any advice given!!

Shotgun12 said:

I don't believe in jinxes or curses.

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Not a Cubs or Red Sox fan, then?

You got the right answers in posts 3 and 9.

No real machinist I've ever met would consider slugging chamber throats or a barrel to be any kind of challenge. Or would want to leave this work to a gunsmith.

In 45 Colt, these dimensions are key to accuracy. They vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer, and from gun to gun. Too much variation leads to inaccuracy.

Want to measure them for yourself? Want to save some money on gunsmith fees? No special tools required. Just follow this procedure for both your barrel and chamber mouths:



Except that I suggest you measure the slugs with a micrometer, rather than a set of calipers.

This was the comment I was responding to above:

Shotgun12 said:

The cylinder throats were one of the first areas I thought about, but I'll leave that to the smith.

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I was actually wondering why someone that has been reloading for 40 years didn't have the ability or tools to measure the chamber mouths. Maybe the OPs calipers and micrometers are all out of commission.

luzyfuerza said:

Just follow this procedure for both your barrel and chamber mouths:

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Thanks for the video. Great idea. Just one concern. He said lead melts at around 600 degrees F. How hot does it need to be to set off a primer? He probably should have mentioned that it might be a good idea to use a spent casing. It sounded like he was talking about pulling a bullet then using the case for melting lead.

I do like his idea though. I will have to try that.

Thank you luzyfuerza.

Pat Riot said:

He probably should have mentioned that it might be a good idea to use a spent casing.

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Great point! And definitely worth pointing out!

I had a Uberti Cattleman 4 5/8" with the case-hardened finish on the frame and a brass grip frame. It was a nice looking gun that I bought a a LGS that was going out of business many years back. It now resides in Idaho with a good friend of mine, he wears it daily.

It shot a bit differently than my old model Vaquero (Both in .45 C), most of my shots with it were to the left of center. This I blamed on the slightly different sights and the narrower grip of the Uberti.

Hopefully you can get your gun diagnosed and be back in the black.

Stay safe.