Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Cowboy Action Shooting looking for a gunsmith - open up .38-40 revolver cylinder throats

I recently purchased a Ruger buckeye special Blackhawk .38-40/10mm convertible. .38-40 factory cowboy ammo won't quite chamber, sticks about 2/3rs of a rim thickness from going clear into the cylinder. Empty cases go in fine. I'm pretty sure the cylinder throats are under-diameter.

Does anyone know of a pistolsmith who has the tools (and know-how) to open the throats? If so could you post their contact info?

Thanks!

http://www.bozemantrailarms.com/

Give Tom a call.

DF

Thanks!

I talked to him yesterday. He doesn't have tools for .38-40 so I'm back looking for additionial suggestions.

I would have recommended Tom Sargis as well. If factory ammunition won't fit, send the gun back to Ruger. They generally make guns to sell, not necessarily to shoot...

Yep, dealing with Ruger would probably be the least expensive.

I'm amazed Tom doesn't have a .38-40 reamer.

DF

Are you sure it is the throats? My same gun has zero issues but I have seen issues with sizing dies not setting back the shoulder sufficiently. I would measure the throats or push a known diameter bullet through and see. You can send the cylinder to Hamilton Bowen to be throated. Usually a pretty quick turnaround.

It's not an issue with sizing dies ... this is factory ammo, remember?

It's definitely cylinder throats. I didn't have time to slug the throats but ... lets see if I can describe this clearly enough ... with the cylinder out, I tried poking the bullet end of a loaded round into the cylinder from the front. It hangs up on lead, won't go in far enough to hit the brass case, so clearly the bullet in the factory ammo is bigger than the throat diameter.

Then send it to Hamilton as I suggested.

Yep, probably. I'll have to talk to him 'bout whether he has the tools, cost, and turn-around time. I slugged the cylinder throats this morning ... .397 - .398

Try Doug Kunz ("Diamond Jack") at Diamond J Gunsmithing , 2909 Bel Air Pl NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone 505-350-6690, URL: diamondjgunsmithing.com.

Doug is a great guy that I have used a lot, and he is deeply into cowboy action shooting of all kinds. If you cannot reach him by phone, he is likely refereeing a match. He knows most of the players in the mountain states, too.