Bullet Suggestions: 357 Mag Range Load

[murf]

have you slugged the barrel? you can slug the throats with a bullet if you smash it a bit with a hammer.

here is another bullet option: https://www.bearcreeksupplybullets.com/price-sheet

luck,

murf

 

[WrongHanded]

Yeah, I'm thinking a little leading is the least of your concerns with that gun. And this is a NIB Smith? Wholly Labor Issues, Batman!

I know! Quality control just isn't what it used to be. But it's okay now. I've had it most of the way apart (not the trigger group), and started remembering how S&W revolvers work. The b/c gap is about 0.009", which seems a bit much to me. But I bet S&W consider that within specifications, this side of the year 2000 anyway.

 

[film495]

for us novices and lurkers, how did you observe the leading? did you run a bore scope, eyeball it, or patch color was the first tell?

 

[WrongHanded]

for us novices and lurkers, how did you observe the leading? did you run a bore scope, eyeball it, or patch color was the first tell?

After every range session, I give the gun (whatever it is) a light cleaning. Brush the powder residue out, run a bore snake through the barrel (and chambers on a revolver), and generally give the gun a quick look over. I looked down the barrel with my finger at the other end to catch the light, and there it was.

 

[WrongHanded]

have you slugged the barrel? you can slug the throats with a bullet if you smash it a bit with a hammer.

here is another bullet option: https://www.bearcreeksupplybullets.com/price-sheet

luck,

murf

No. I haven't slugged the barrel. I don't think I've ever slugged any barrel. If the issue persists with this new bullet I ordered, I may have to change that.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Wrong Handed, You said you were getting some leading at lower velocities.
No further explanation is needed.

What I meant by my comment was that the 12-13 brinnell flat based bullets that MBC sells is really everything that is right about a lead bullet for around 1000 fps or lower. If they lead your barrel then chances are you have another problem other than obturation.

I get lead streak's in my barrels now and then, but they usually come out with a dry brush and that's after 100 rounds or so.
The coating off the bullets will streak up a barrel also and sometimes it looks the same as lead streaks and can be hard to get out.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Well, I should be clear about the issue. It's not major leading, it's just significant enough to make me uncomfortable/displeased. I can't say I noticed it whilst shooting the same bullets at around 1250fps, but I was distracted at that point with the strain screw backing out and the ejector rod unscrewing. Still, I don't recall it happening with that load. But at around 1000fps things are different. And as I was down to my last 100 bullets anyway (and therefore needed to order more) I thought I might as well try something different to see if I could eliminate the issue entirely.

It's not like lead is just smeared all over, choking up the barrel. But there was a noticeable amount down the full length of the grooves.

Being NIB. It might be rough enough it's cutting through the coating. Unlikely, but possible.

My first guess is what @Walkalong suggested.

 

[LaneP]

I know! Quality control just isn't what it used to be. But it's okay now. I've had it most of the way apart (not the trigger group), and started remembering how S&W revolvers work. The b/c gap is about 0.009", which seems a bit much to me. But I bet S&W consider that within specifications, this side of the year 2000 anyway.

I sent my 4" bbl 686 to S&W to have a 7" bbl installed in Dec '20 and it came back to me with a .009" b/c gap, which I was a little disappointed with. There is a definite performance loss the greater that gap is, and my 6" bbl Security Six from 1982 with a .005" b/c shoots faster than the 686 does with the same loads, despite being at a 1" bbl length disadvantage.

But I believe you're right, that .009" b/c is probably well inside their acceptable tolerance range.