Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting S&W M69 cylinder throats

Anyone here pin gauge theirs? I'd be interested in knowing what the measurements were, thanks.

Have any jacketed bullets.
Without checking, I think they come .429, .4295, and .430 depending on
manufacturer. Based on my memory!🤪

Thank you DB.
I am wanting to cast a box of bullets for a buddy who lives out of State. He owns a M69, but has no pin gauges. I'd rather not send my own pin gauge set as I use it fairly regularly. May just go with 0.430" as default

Was thinking along the line of using the bullets as pin gauges.
Then measure the snuggish one to confirm.
Or your buddy could slug it.
But I don't know what he has or his capabilities.

You've got to check the individual gun you're trying to match, you can't assume just because one specimen of a particular model measures some X amount that another will do the same. You'll do just as well picking a random number in the range and going with it. So unless you can measure HIS gun, just pick something, probably .430 or .431, and go with it. You're kidding yourself trying to guess otherwise.

I think you fellas are right. I'll cast up a few and size them .429, .430, .431 and send to him to slug his cylinder. Thanks for the help.

The cylinders on my 69 came in right at .430. A .430 sized, lubed and oiled bullet will push through all 5 cylinder throats with just a bit of help and come out the other side at exacly the same diameter they went in. I run clip-on wheel weights + 2% tin for mild to moderate velocity 260 grain Keith style plain-base loads and Lyman #2 for Heavier 260 grain LBT style WFN-GC bulets pushed harder with Lil Gun or H110. The model 69 is a significantly lighter revolver than my old model 29 and I find the heavier 280+ grain LBT style WFN's pushed hard lead to badly climbing POI's relative to moderate velocity practice loads so I tend to stay with bullets of about 260 grains which is plenty for my uses.

No leading issues have shown up.