,44 Russian rounds in .44sp..future cylinder problems ?

[Marshal Deadwood]

Would shooting .44russian in a cylinder chambered for .44sp cause some type of 'ringing' inside the cylinder that would be permanate or cause problems in shoot longer case .44specials in the future ?

thanks

Marshal Deadwood

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

No different than shooting 38 Sp in a 357 Mag chamber, or 44 Sp in a 44 Mag chamber. When shooting cartridges that have a shorter case length than the chamber, a ring of carbon and lead usually forms right at the mouth of the cartridge.

When a cartridge is fired, the hot gasses can be hot enough to melt and vaporize a tiny amount of lead at the base of the bullet. As the bullet just barely clears the mouth of the cartridge, the pressure is high enough to blast the vaporized lead, and carbon exhaust products against the chamber wall right at the case mouth. As the bullet moves further down the chamber, the effect is less localized. But a ring of carbon tends to form on the chamber wall right at the mouth of the short case. Normally it does not cause any problems. But if a large quantity of short cases are fired through the chamber, eventually the carbon ring can build up thick enough that it becomes difficult to chamber the longer, full sized case the chamber was designed for. Removing the ring solves the problem. There is no harm done to the chamber. If you pick at one of these rings with a sharp object, you will usually pick off dark crusty specs as well as shiny mettalic specs. The dark parts are carbon, the shiny mettalic bits are lead.

It can be tough to completely remove the ring though. Often, a bronze bristle brush doesn't quite have enough purchase to remove the ring. It usually requires a lot of elbow grease. A good bore solvent will help. Some shooters like to chuck a brush into an electric drill to power scrub the ring away. Caution should always be exercised when using this technique, as it is possible to abrade the steel and deform the chamber if the power technique is used too aggressively, particularly if a Stainless brush is used.

It should also be noted that left for too long, the carbon ring can attract moisture from the atmosphere, and when the moisture is held tight against the steel by the carbon, the moisture can cause rust. I have a S&W Model 19 that I foolishly stored away for about 20 years without removing the carbon rings from the chambers. Today, I have permanent pitting in the chambers from the rust formed by allowing the carbon rings to sit undisturbed for 20 years. The damage is only cosmetic; the pitting is not deep enough to affect the strength of the cylinder, and it is localized right at the mouth of a 38 Sp. But the pitting is present and serves as a reminder everytime I get too lazy about putting away dirty guns. But it did not occur over night.

Incidentally, the exact same process occurs when firing any length of cartridge in a chamber, including cartridges the chamber was designed for. The carbon rings still form. But the difference is they are not as noticeable up where the chamber necks down from case diameter to bullet diameter as they are on the smooth side mid way down the length of a chamber.

[Pettifogger]

Since you are shooting .44 Russian, hopefully you are shooting BP.  Don't get no carbon fouling with BP.  You won't get any leading either.

[Church Key]

I shoot Russians in a pair of stainless .44 Mag Bisquaro's, they work fine with minimal ringing. I just drop the cylinders in a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide for 1/2 hour. Gets all the lead and fouling out. Do Not Use this for Blued Guns as it Will Strip the Finish.

[rifle]

Sounds like "Lewis Lead Remover" time. Best mechanical devise know to modern man for working things off the cylinder walls that brushes don't get. Brownells sells them cal. specific. Taylors sells one too as does Midway USA. Cool tools to have around and the cost is minimal.