forcing cone erosion? bad, ok,?

[old fart]

i have a service six made in 1985, i just recently found out about forcing cone erosion. i checked mine and it has some, but i wasn't able to get a pic of mine that was viewable. so i found one online that looks kinda like mine, mine isn't hardly as bad as this pic but is close. i shoot 158 grain hollowpoints and softpoints from federal. so with mine similar to this pic what should i do? keep it and shoot as it's not bad, sell or trade to another newer gun that doesn't have erosion? i am not able to have something like this fixed as money is too tight right now. thanks for any help

 

[joem1945]

If you want to sell or trade it that will cost you some money anyway. why not talk to a gunsmith and get a price to clean it up. Them you can make a informed decision about what to do.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I wouldn't worry about it. You did not notice a problem until you read about forcing cone erosion, right? If you hadn't read about it, you would have been happy, right? It doesn't look too bad to me.

 

[jbauch357]

As the cone continues to erode it will eventually open up so much that the spray will chew away at the frame. I sent a ~13 year old GP100 back to Ruger for the same but more severe forcing cone erosion, just to see what they thought and if it could be repaired. They said it could not be repaired, and replaced it with a new one for free. It can't hurt to call and see what they say, you might end up like me and only be out shipping to them and an FFL transfer fee on the way back.

 

[old fart]

can't send to ruger, they won't touch it. they won't service the six guns anymore, all they will do is offer a gp100 or a sp101 at a reduced price, i don't have the money to get another gun even a few hundred. since seeing this i can keep and carry this or sell this and save till i can get another as i can get more from a sale than ruger will offer. just hate not having a carry gun for several months while i save. thanks

 

[Vern Humphrey]

How does it shoot? If it shoots satisfactorily, forget about what you read and keep shooting it.

 

[old fart]

gun shoots great, most accurate handgun i've ever owned. doesn't spit or anything. cylinder gap is .003, and at lockup it has zero endshake and lockup is nearly like its frozen. a friend was telling me how older guns have erosion and when i looked mine does. he said it could cause a cone to crack. but i wanted to others advice that have seen this before.

 

[JWR]

just hate not having a carry gun for several months while i save.

Don't despair. Carry that dog for your protection just don't practice with it. There's enough play there left to take out a varmint or two if need be until you get your savings done. At least you know that way you have some protection with you.

I operated with a baseball bat with duck tape holding it together until I could afford a gun. If I would have had something like yours I'd felt like I had won the lottery. Hang in there you'll be shinning new in no time.

 

[kcofohio]

old fart, I doubt it will effect your guns performance. I bought this Model 65 used a few years ago with the erosion already there. I have shot quite a few SWCs down the tube with no noticeable accuracy or lead shaving issues.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I would keep on shooting until it got worse, then have the barrel set back.

 

[PapaG]

What barrel length? I have a 4" security six barrel like new that I have $40 in. Was going to put it on my 2 3/4 but found a 4" gun instead.

 

[old fart]

my service six is 4 inch, but i don't have the money to spare to have this one fixed or another barrel installled. it will be several months before i could do anything. thanks

 

[gamestalker]

I've been aware of FC erosion for a number of years, and I keep an eye on my revolvers, yet I haven't been able to detect any sign of erosion.

What's even more interesting, is that I only load and shoot full throttle loads. A couple of good examples of this is a K frame 66-2 that has had thousands of H110 / 296 jacketed loads run through it, and a 66-5 that's had at least 3K of the same loads logged. Neither of those revolvers have any sign of erosion.

I also have a SBH 44 mag. I bought in the early 80's NIB, that's had easily double the number of H110 / 296 jacketed loads put through it, not a visible sign of erosion to be found? And none of my other revolvers have any FC erosion either, and they've been fed an almost exclusive diet of punishing H110 / 296 jacketed loads.

But in contrast, all my wheel guns have clearly visible top strap gas cutting, however, the cutting never gets any deeper after the first few hundred rounds.

GS

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Carry that dog for your protection just don't practice with it.

Don't practice with your carry gun.... Interesting response.

I realize that limiting wear on the gun until the OP can afford to buy a different gun is the reason for this statement, but I kind of think practice is fairly vital for someone who carries.

But what ever.

Old fart, I'd continue carrying and shooting that gun and save my dollars in the mean time. Then take Ruger's deal or sell the gun yourself. The SP101 is a nice carry gun, and the GP100 will shoot for a looooong time. Good luck.

 

[JWR]

Don't practice with your carry gun.... Interesting response.
I realize that limiting wear on the gun until the OP can afford to buy a different gun is the reason for this statement, but I kind of think practice is fairly vital for someone who carries.

The dude is worried sick, he doesn't sound like he's young and impetuses, understand. How much more practice does he really need with this gun ?
He doesn't need to practice with this gun. And if he does, he can still do it without even shooting it. And if he has the urge to throw some lead around he can set up a target and get a sling-shot.

 

[Jim K]

Shoot it and enjoy. BTW, I think .003" b-c gap is too tight and might be contributing to that small amount of erosion. I like to go with .007" myself as about the ideal.

Jim

P.S. If O.F. is "young and helpless" I am a mere toddler.

JK

 

[JWR]

Some are born fools and remain fools even as they age while others grow wise and perhaps prudent.
Always error on the side of caution

 

[rcmodel]

I wouldn't give it a second thought until it's cut clear across the face of the barrel and blowing shrapnel out the sides.

As it stands now, it is not effecting performance at all, and may not even get any worse for thousands more rounds.

rc

 

[ThomasT]

TOO bad you found out huh ? The graphic you show comes outta the BFD file.

The best answer you were given when you posted this same question on TFL.

I would find something else to worry about. This ain't a problem. Good luck wearing a gun out. Especially a ruger.

 

[old fart]

what is really strange is there is no flame cutting at all, i thought so when i first got the gun but it was lead built up above the cone. the top strap is perfect all the way across, so i was surprised to find my forcing cone a little rough.

 

[JWR]

I'm not sure you'll find anyone to give you the confirmations but yourself.
One thing is for certain though, what ever advise you do get you won't be able to use it against us in a court of law. And it could be worst, you could own one of these.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=773000

 

[Shimitup]

I wish mine looked that good, that's just getting started. Like RC said keep on shooting it. Considering it took 30 years to get that much, at the rate you're going it will probably take another 60 before it's really leaking.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The dude is worried sick, he doesn't sound like he's young and impetuses, understand. How much more practice does he really need with this gun ?
He doesn't need to practice with this gun. And if he does, he can still do it without even shooting it. And if he has the urge to throw some lead around he can set up a target and get a sling-shot.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I disagree with your logic.

Shooting skills need to be maintained regardless of age or experience, especially if you are going to employ a firearm for self defense. Choosing to use a firearm for defense outside your home or off your property makes the need for live fire practice even more important.

Dry fire practice can and will take someone a long way, but it does not negate the need to fire the gun regularly.

Anyway....... Don't panic Oldfart! You've got time.

 

[TimSr]

As it stands now, it is not effecting performance at all, and may not even get any worse for thousands more rounds.

x2


I doubt you can finish wearing it out in your lifetime. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[JWR]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I disagree with your logic.

... and we know what they say bout opinions right, everyone has got one. It's called a 'diminishable skill' and shooting falls under that. Then we get to the part that if his skill falls by that much by the time he gets another gun he may have even bigger issues than just the gun. Secondly, when he gets another gun he'll have to become proficient with that one and not the one he has now. And finally it wasn't so much logic as it was 'common sense'.

Now having read another post above it appears this person has posted this same question on other forums, so it leads one to wonder if perhaps he's just wasting everyone's time. Who's to say, and I personally don't care if that gun blows up in his face.
And please don't try to sell me 'your logic', the gun club is ripe already with enough b.s. and pseudo intellect as it is.