Bore diameter/ Chamber diameter

[D Sanders]

I have an ASM .44 cal Walker revolver that has chamber diameters of .444 to .445. The groove diameter in the barrel is .459. The land diameter is .441. That means the ball would only have about .0015 to .002 per side to "grab" the rifling. That makes about .007 per side that it does not seal. Accuracy is marginal at best ( 6" groups at 15 yds. with sand bags). My Ruger Old Army does not have this problem.( 3" at 25 yds.) Has anyone else run into this problem? Can I open up the chambers to fit the grove diameter? Will this cause any problems with pressure or accuracy? :idunno:

HH60

 

[kwilfong]

I've run into similar situations. My Pietta Target Remington had chambers smaller than groove dia.(unlike the Ruger as you mentioned) I bought a 29/64" reamer & opened the the chambers to .453+" and had very good results, loading .457" roundballs. That said; I don't know if it would be a good thing for your ASM Walker. I also have one of those & it's been a real pain with several broken parts. There's been some discussion here about the possibility that the undersize chambers are there to reduce pressures.

 

[curator]

I have an ASM Walker I bought from Dixie as a Kit in '84 it has a groove diameter of .468, land diameter of .444, and a twist of about 1 turn in 60 inches. The chamber diameters were .447. It wouldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the "recommended" ball size of .451. I had the chambers reamed to .470 and load .475 diameter balls in it. It shoots substantually better. Chambers now hold 65 grains of FFg powder and still have room to seat a ball. I don't shoot that heavy of a load preferring 50 grains of FFg and filler of Cream Of Wheat to bring the ball flush with the cylinder face when loaded. After adding a taller front sight I can easily shoot beer cans at 25 yards (assuming I didn't empty all of them myself)

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Wow! That is a huge bore and of course it takes a huge ball to fill it. Most replica .44's have groove diameters of .451-.454", same as modern .45 caliber handguns. Best accuracy requires chambers at least as large as full groove diameter of the bore and the ball must be a few thousandths larger than the chambers. If the maker recommends a .451" ball you can assume the chambers will need reaming to shoot well.

 

[wulf]

I reamed all my 36 cal out to .380. Big difference

 

[D Sanders]

Thanks for the input guys. Since I am a tool and die maker, I can make the chambers any size I need. I can also make a ball mold to suit. I just needed to find out what others did to correct this same problem. Again thanks. :wink:

HH 60

 

[hmeier4799]

Where I can send my cylinder for enlarging the chambers?
Somebody close to Greenville, SC would be convenient.

 

[D Sanders]

Where I can send my cylinder for enlarging the chambers?
Somebody close to Greenville, SC would be convenient.

I would have no idea where you could go, I live way too far from you to be of any assistance. Any work I do would be for myself only. My suggestion would be to find a machinist/ toolmaker that works in a shop around your area that could help you.

Good luck

HH 60