How much forcing cone wear?

Kayser · June 30, 2002, 09:48 PM

I'm wondering what's considered "ok" for forcing cone wear.

This is in the continuing saga of the Python. Had it out at the range for the second time, picked up a drop rod and checked everything out, and got it properly sighted in.

My only remaining concern is the forcing cone. I bought the gun "new" froma guy on gunbroker with a very high rating. In addition to suspicious tracks on the cylinder indicative of lots of hand-spinning at the very least, I'm now seeing what appears to be a good amount of erosion in the forcing cone.

I've put ~300 rounds through it since I've had it, 1/2 of which have been lead nosed 38's.

In any case, after cleaning there really appears to be a decent amount of crud in the cone. Primarily in the form of thin concentric rings, not evenly spaced along its length. When shining a light down it, the brightness difference between the ringed areas and the flat areas are significant. Feeling it out with a thin piece of plastic reveals that they're not particularly deep but they're certainly visible. At one point, they appear to have even picked up a little copper buildup. If my stupid digital camera's batteries hadn't died I'd post a picture.

I guess its also worth adding that I can't put a full 6 rounds through it without having the cylinder rod become completely loosened to the point where I have to righten it manually. Can this become unsafe?

Anyway, my best guess now is that this gun has been made available for use at the store range where it came from. Kind of annoying if that's the case.

AC · June 30, 2002, 11:26 PM

Its hard to tell without looking at it but concentric rings on a forcing cone are typically from the cutter, not wear from shooting. Probably a dull cutter causes it. Forcing cone erosion looks like sandblasting and you loose sharp edges.

A drop of locktite or linseed oil (will slowly die and have the same effect) should fix your unscrewing ejector rod.

If the forcing cone continues to bother you any gunsmith that does much revolver work will have cone cutters and yours probably wouldn't need much to take out those rings. If it shoots well you might not want to worry about those rings, but it is hard to tell how bad they are without looking at it.

Kayser · June 30, 2002, 11:31 PM

Got off my butt and took some pictures. By losing sharp edges, do you mean at the entrance to the cone at the cylinder gap, or at the transition from cone to barrel?

Again, thanks for the advice. Me <-- still a'learnin.

C.R.Sam · July 1, 2002, 12:16 AM

That is one ugly forcing cone. Probably came that way tho. Does not look like erosion.

Like AC said....if it is causing leading or accuracy problems, get it smothed out by a COMPETENT smith.

Sam

Kayser · July 1, 2002, 12:25 AM

By leading do you mean throwing lead or causing buildup after many rounds?

Assuming this isn't going to cause some kind of "exciting" event unexpectedly while shooting, or otherwise damage the gun over the long term, I guess it doesn't bother me too much. Would 1000+ rounds tend to smooth this kind of marring out, or is this a lifetime kind of thing?

I talked with the guy I bought it from and he claims it came straight from Colt through the wholesaler and was unfired once it got in his hands. I tend to believe him because his gunbroker record is impeccable. He said I should take up any quality control issues with Colt. On a $1000 gun, I'm tempted to write them a letter....

WESHOOT2 · July 1, 2002, 10:00 AM

How does it shoot?

If it shoots well shoot it.
If it shoots poorly fix it ( www.americanpistol.com )

Either way, no whining, please.

Me, I prefer Rugers, 'cause I KNOW they ugly..........

C.R.Sam · July 1, 2002, 10:45 AM

Quote:

By leading do you mean throwing lead or causing buildup after many rounds?

Either or both. Looks like that rough cone area could gather lead and jacket material.

Tim (WS2) would call me a whiner. I won't accept that level of workmanship on a new gun. Especially on a $1,000 six gun.

Sam

AC · July 2, 2002, 09:31 PM

Kayser, By 'losing sharp edges' I meant at the back of the barrel not where the cone ends up front.

That looks like a factory rough cutting job, not like wear. I wouldn't expect shooting to smooth that out, but as folks are saying, see how it shoots.

June 30, 2002, 09:48 PM	#1
Kayser Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Illinois :( Posts: 550	How much forcing cone wear? I'm wondering what's considered "ok" for forcing cone wear. This is in the continuing saga of the Python. Had it out at the range for the second time, picked up a drop rod and checked everything out, and got it properly sighted in. My only remaining concern is the forcing cone. I bought the gun "new" froma guy on gunbroker with a very high rating. In addition to suspicious tracks on the cylinder indicative of lots of hand-spinning at the very least, I'm now seeing what appears to be a good amount of erosion in the forcing cone. I've put ~300 rounds through it since I've had it, 1/2 of which have been lead nosed 38's. In any case, after cleaning there really appears to be a decent amount of crud in the cone. Primarily in the form of thin concentric rings, not evenly spaced along its length. When shining a light down it, the brightness difference between the ringed areas and the flat areas are significant. Feeling it out with a thin piece of plastic reveals that they're not particularly deep but they're certainly visible. At one point, they appear to have even picked up a little copper buildup. If my stupid digital camera's batteries hadn't died I'd post a picture. I guess its also worth adding that I can't put a full 6 rounds through it without having the cylinder rod become completely loosened to the point where I have to righten it manually. Can this become unsafe? Anyway, my best guess now is that this gun has been made available for use at the store range where it came from. Kind of annoying if that's the case. Last edited by Kayser; June 30, 2002 at 11:43 PM.

July 1, 2002, 10:00 AM	#6
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	STOP! How does it shoot? If it shoots well shoot it. If it shoots poorly fix it ( www.americanpistol.com ) Either way, no whining, please. Me, I prefer Rugers, 'cause I KNOW they ugly..........

June 30, 2002, 11:26 PM	#2
AC Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 1998 Posts: 268	Its hard to tell without looking at it but concentric rings on a forcing cone are typically from the cutter, not wear from shooting. Probably a dull cutter causes it. Forcing cone erosion looks like sandblasting and you loose sharp edges. A drop of locktite or linseed oil (will slowly die and have the same effect) should fix your unscrewing ejector rod. If the forcing cone continues to bother you any gunsmith that does much revolver work will have cone cutters and yours probably wouldn't need much to take out those rings. If it shoots well you might not want to worry about those rings, but it is hard to tell how bad they are without looking at it.

June 30, 2002, 11:31 PM	#3
Kayser Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Illinois :( Posts: 550	Got off my butt and took some pictures. By losing sharp edges, do you mean at the entrance to the cone at the cylinder gap, or at the transition from cone to barrel? Again, thanks for the advice. Me <-- still a'learnin.

July 1, 2002, 12:16 AM	#4
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	That is one ugly forcing cone. Probably came that way tho. Does not look like erosion. Like AC said....if it is causing leading or accuracy problems, get it smothed out by a COMPETENT smith. Sam

July 1, 2002, 12:25 AM	#5
Kayser Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Illinois :( Posts: 550	By leading do you mean throwing lead or causing buildup after many rounds? Assuming this isn't going to cause some kind of "exciting" event unexpectedly while shooting, or otherwise damage the gun over the long term, I guess it doesn't bother me too much. Would 1000+ rounds tend to smooth this kind of marring out, or is this a lifetime kind of thing? I talked with the guy I bought it from and he claims it came straight from Colt through the wholesaler and was unfired once it got in his hands. I tend to believe him because his gunbroker record is impeccable. He said I should take up any quality control issues with Colt. On a $1000 gun, I'm tempted to write them a letter....

July 2, 2002, 09:31 PM	#8
AC Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 1998 Posts: 268	Kayser, By 'losing sharp edges' I meant at the back of the barrel not where the cone ends up front. That looks like a factory rough cutting job, not like wear. I wouldn't expect shooting to smooth that out, but as folks are saying, see how it shoots.