Hornady Leverevolution .44 Magnum issue in Revolver

Taun421 · May 27, 2011, 09:42 AM

Having a problem with the cylinder rotating when loaded with Hornady leverevolution ammo, and back of the casings are being scratched. Made a video about the issue here:

http://youtu.be/aai1-oeGKmk

Smaug · May 27, 2011, 10:12 AM

Seems like they're too long for your revolver's cylinder.

sandman31774 · May 27, 2011, 10:17 AM

aren't the case trim lengths shorter for those bullets than other bullets? did you check that?

edit: i think you may have bought them new..thought i was in the reloading section of this forum...sorry...didn't check the video first like i should have...but yeah...they seem too long anyway

odoh · May 27, 2011, 11:20 AM

My guess would be an ammo issue w/a gun having min/tight headspace. Did you try all the cartridges in the box? is it limited to the same chamber each time or same cartridge?

I handload myself but have had issues w/hornady brass having an occasional thicker rim/head that was detected by not easily slid into the shell holder but is rare. Me think I had one like issue w/starline brass also.

As I'm writing this, I just noticed its a Taurus and vaguely remember my bro having an issue w/his Tracker. IIRC it had something to do w/a screw loosening relative to his cylindr/crane assy. I'll make it a point to chk when I see him next week.

DWFan · May 27, 2011, 04:06 PM

That's a headspacing issue. Either the rims are too thick or you don't have enough gap at the rear of the cylinder. If it's only happening to one chamber, the cylinder/extractor might not be true.

big al hunter · May 27, 2011, 09:16 PM

The leverevolution has a plastic tip correct. I believe the plastic tips make the overall length longer than the cylinder on your revolver. Check to see if the tip of the bullet is sticking out of the front of the cylinder. The tips are designed for lever action rifles. I noticed that the 200 gr was less problematic than the 225 gr. The 225 gr bullets are longer than the 200gr.

Ozzieman · May 27, 2011, 09:26 PM

Taurus
I have used them in my Ruger Super Blackhawk with no problem. The only problem I have with the levervolution bullets that I hand loaded was that they are to long for a Ruger 44/77 carbine magazine.
With my past problems with the small number of Taurus's that I have owned my bet would be on the Taurus.

Taun421 · May 28, 2011, 10:28 AM

Like it says in the video the bullet tips are still well within the cylinder, nothing is sticking out. Also I measured the thickness of the case rims with no detectable difference between the problematic FTX and less problematic XTP.

Ozzieman · May 28, 2011, 11:32 AM

44 mag
Neck diameter .457 in (11.6 mm)
Base diameter .457 in (11.6 mm)
Rim diameter .514 in (13.1 mm)
Rim thickness .060 in (1.5 mm)
Case length 1.285 in (32.6 mm)
Overall length 1.61 in (41 mm)
http://www.handloads.com/articles/cartridge.htm

You need to measure Rim thickness and see if they are in spec.
Also take a feeler gage and measure the opening at the back of the gun.
I had a 44 special Taurus that the front of the cylinder was not cut straight and made contact with the barrel. A gun smith opened the gap by grinding off the end of the barrel. This might be the problem with the rear of your cylinder.

s&w500 · May 30, 2011, 03:06 PM

I shoot those exact rounds out of my Super Red Hawk all the time. Not one hang-up, not one glitch. VERY fun to shoot

You may have a "bad batch" of ammo

or a problem with your firearm

. But I went through my 10th box of them as of last Wednesday...Noth'n but fun!

Kentucky_Rifleman · May 30, 2011, 04:36 PM

Someone gave me a box of them, and I shot them through my Bisley Blackhawk with no issues.

They were long in the cylinder, but they cleared.

KR

RETG · May 30, 2011, 06:45 PM

I just tried to shoot two boxes of these through my .44 and had the same problem, but not with all the rounds, just one or two. In addition, compared these, 225 gr and Cor-Bon in 320 and the 225's grew more in OAL then the Cor-Bons.

nefprotector · May 31, 2011, 12:23 PM

Well if memory serves me correctly. This ammo is/was made for Lever action rifles. Not revolvers.

Ozzieman · May 31, 2011, 07:39 PM

Well if memory serves me correctly. This ammo is/was made for Lever action rifles. Not revolvers.

That is true only because the soft plastic tip allows you to can carry a ballistic tipped bullet (pointed) in a tube magazine safely without having the worry about setting off a round in the tube caused from the tip hitting the next round. The tips are soft enough.
That’s also why you don’t see spire point bullets in 30/30
Other than that they are loaded to hand gun specs and will work well in both.

May 27, 2011, 09:42 AM	#1
Taun421 Junior Member Join Date: May 27, 2011 Posts: 3	Hornady Leverevolution .44 Magnum issue in Revolver Having a problem with the cylinder rotating when loaded with Hornady leverevolution ammo, and back of the casings are being scratched. Made a video about the issue here: http://youtu.be/aai1-oeGKmk

May 27, 2011, 10:12 AM	#2
Smaug Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 3,210	Seems like they're too long for your revolver's cylinder. __________________ -Jeremy "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." - Eric Hoffer

May 27, 2011, 11:20 AM	#4
odoh Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: Boerne, TX Posts: 71	My guess would be an ammo issue w/a gun having min/tight headspace. Did you try all the cartridges in the box? is it limited to the same chamber each time or same cartridge? I handload myself but have had issues w/hornady brass having an occasional thicker rim/head that was detected by not easily slid into the shell holder but is rare. Me think I had one like issue w/starline brass also. As I'm writing this, I just noticed its a Taurus and vaguely remember my bro having an issue w/his Tracker. IIRC it had something to do w/a screw loosening relative to his cylindr/crane assy. I'll make it a point to chk when I see him next week. Last edited by odoh; May 27, 2011 at 11:30 AM.

May 27, 2011, 09:16 PM	#6
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	The leverevolution has a plastic tip correct. I believe the plastic tips make the overall length longer than the cylinder on your revolver. Check to see if the tip of the bullet is sticking out of the front of the cylinder. The tips are designed for lever action rifles. I noticed that the 200 gr was less problematic than the 225 gr. The 225 gr bullets are longer than the 200gr. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

May 28, 2011, 10:28 AM	#8
Taun421 Junior Member Join Date: May 27, 2011 Posts: 3	Length Like it says in the video the bullet tips are still well within the cylinder, nothing is sticking out. Also I measured the thickness of the case rims with no detectable difference between the problematic FTX and less problematic XTP.

May 27, 2011, 10:17 AM	#3
sandman31774 Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2007 Posts: 151	aren't the case trim lengths shorter for those bullets than other bullets? did you check that? edit: i think you may have bought them new..thought i was in the reloading section of this forum...sorry...didn't check the video first like i should have...but yeah...they seem too long anyway

May 27, 2011, 04:06 PM	#5
DWFan Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Posts: 305	That's a headspacing issue. Either the rims are too thick or you don't have enough gap at the rear of the cylinder. If it's only happening to one chamber, the cylinder/extractor might not be true.

May 27, 2011, 09:26 PM	#7
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	Taurus I have used them in my Ruger Super Blackhawk with no problem. The only problem I have with the levervolution bullets that I hand loaded was that they are to long for a Ruger 44/77 carbine magazine. With my past problems with the small number of Taurus's that I have owned my bet would be on the Taurus.

May 28, 2011, 11:32 AM	#9
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	44 mag Neck diameter .457 in (11.6 mm) Base diameter .457 in (11.6 mm) Rim diameter .514 in (13.1 mm) Rim thickness .060 in (1.5 mm) Case length 1.285 in (32.6 mm) Overall length 1.61 in (41 mm) http://www.handloads.com/articles/cartridge.htm You need to measure Rim thickness and see if they are in spec. Also take a feeler gage and measure the opening at the back of the gun. I had a 44 special Taurus that the front of the cylinder was not cut straight and made contact with the barrel. A gun smith opened the gap by grinding off the end of the barrel. This might be the problem with the rear of your cylinder.

May 30, 2011, 03:06 PM	#10
s&w500 Member Join Date: December 18, 2009 Posts: 42	I shoot those exact rounds out of my Super Red Hawk all the time. Not one hang-up, not one glitch. VERY fun to shoot You may have a "bad batch" of ammo or a problem with your firearm . But I went through my 10th box of them as of last Wednesday...Noth'n but fun!

May 30, 2011, 04:36 PM	#11
Kentucky_Rifleman Member Join Date: March 26, 2010 Posts: 26	Someone gave me a box of them, and I shot them through my Bisley Blackhawk with no issues. They were long in the cylinder, but they cleared. KR

May 30, 2011, 06:45 PM	#12
RETG Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2009 Location: Somewhere in Idaho, near WY Posts: 507	I just tried to shoot two boxes of these through my .44 and had the same problem, but not with all the rounds, just one or two. In addition, compared these, 225 gr and Cor-Bon in 320 and the 225's grew more in OAL then the Cor-Bons.

May 31, 2011, 12:23 PM	#13
nefprotector Junior member Join Date: December 3, 2009 Location: SE Alabama Posts: 701	Well if memory serves me correctly. This ammo is/was made for Lever action rifles. Not revolvers.

May 31, 2011, 07:39 PM	#14
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	Well if memory serves me correctly. This ammo is/was made for Lever action rifles. Not revolvers. That is true only because the soft plastic tip allows you to can carry a ballistic tipped bullet (pointed) in a tube magazine safely without having the worry about setting off a round in the tube caused from the tip hitting the next round. The tips are soft enough. That’s also why you don’t see spire point bullets in 30/30 Other than that they are loaded to hand gun specs and will work well in both.