I need help, 357 mag

[Lefty Dude]

Before you waste more Ammo you need to slug your bore. Or make sure it is a proper barrel for the chambering marked on the barrel.

In the early 1990's my Brother bought a Marlin 94/ 41 mag lever rifle. He could not get it to group at 25 yards.
After must fustration, he found the barrel to be a 45 colt barrel with a 41 mag chamber. He sent it to Marlin and they replaced the barrel.

Last year I bought from the Colt Custom shop a pair of SAA 44-40's. To make a long story short one came in with a 45 colt cylinder, fitted to the 44-40 frame. It had the proper serial number the whole enchilada. Colt made it right for me.

[Hank in Indiana]

I did slug both ends. .3515 and.3565 bore and rifling.

[petemi]

Lefty, that's pretty scary.  Screw ups like that could kill you or worse.

Pete

[Lefty Dude]

Lefty, that's pretty scary.  Screw ups like that could kill you or worse.

Pete

How I found the wrong cylinder. Before I ever shot the Colts I pulled the cylinders to check the chamber throats. I took a 200 gr. sized  .429" bullet and dropped it in a chamber, it zipped right thru and ended in my lap.
Determined that was odd. Took a loaded 44-40 and inserted it in a chamber, lots of slop. Then with a 45 colt it chambered like they were made for each other. Colt stamps the last three digits of the S/N on the cylinders.
This 45 cylinder was fitted to the frame of the 44-40 with the same S/N.
When you pay money for a Custom shop gun you expect better QC than this. Colt also marks the cylinder with the caliber, 44-40 is marked 44, 44 Special marked 44S and 45 Colt stamped with 45. The wrong cylinder was marked 45.
I returned the piece to Colt, they fit a new Cylinder and told me to just keep the 45 colt cylinder. Last year I sold the 45 cylinder for $200.00.

I have always wondered if there is a Colt SAA 45 out there some where with a 44-40 cylinder.

[petemi]

It's a good thing you were savy about guns.  Someone else could have had real problems.

Pete