Barrel- cylinder gap

[Tequila Jim]

So I need some input on barrel cylinder gap for my Rugers. With the APP powder I have had no problems, however the APP
is about used up. I am going to use Goex because it is readily available locally. I have read several opinions from .005 up to .008.
Goat Lips, Abaline, ect. don't address this subject. Your comments greatly appreciated. Tequila Jim

[Silver Creek Slim]

What model Rugers do you have?

Slim

[litl rooster]

 I had approx. .002 taken off the face of my cylinders of my OM Vaq's.....this has worked for me

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy Jim,

I'd give 'em a try just the way they are first.  I've had RVs that ran bp great right out of the box.  I've had others that had to have gap widened.  For me, it has been about a 50-50 situation.

If you do have to have them opened up, I've had the back end of the barrel cut a few thousandths on some and the cylinders faced off on others.  Both work fine.  Only, after facing the cylinder faces make sure to get them re-blued.  The blueing that was put on mine after cutting came off.  It's not noticable unless you are looking at the front of the cylinder.  In that case, if you take serious exception you may not remember it. . . . . .

DD-DLoS

[Cuts Crooked]

Cain't recall where or when I read it but I reccomember readin' oncet that having the gap perfectly square with the cylinder face is more important than how big that gap is. Dunno if this is true or not but it makes sense to me.

[Arcey]

Pretty good idea to try before ya go runnin' somewhere ta get 'em cut.

Knew one fella with OM Vags.  His would get sticky after a couple stages.  All he did was wet his finger tip in the water from his brass bottle then wipe it across the cylinder face 'n they'd run fine.  Matter of opinion, of course, but I'd go that route if it'd work for me.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

According to Kuhnhausen, barrel/cylinder gap should be .006 for jacketed bullets and .008 for lubed lead bullets. It is often stated that more clearance is needed for Black Powder, but I have not found any authoritative source to confirm that. My own personal experience is that with sufficient lube on the bullet, a gap of .005-.008 is plenty for shooting Black Powder. I have Colts, clones, and 'old model' Rugers. They all perform just fine with the factory supplied gaps and I have not needed to alter any of them. As a matter of fact, I am of the opinion that too large a gap can be just as bad as too small a gap. With too large a gap, even more fouling gets blasted onto the cylinder face. The real secret is to use plenty of lube, so that whatever fouling gets blasted onto the cylinder face remains soft. Without enough lube, the fouling hardens, and then the cylinder starts to bind. If the fouling remains soft, it just mooshes out of the way when it sweeps through the gap.

Kuhnhausen also stresses that the rear face of the barrel should be sqaure to the front face of the cylinder. No amount of trimming the front face of the cylinder will square up an out of square rear face of the barrel. The only way to do it is to trim the rear of the barrel. In addition, if you dress the rear of the barrel, you don't have to reblue anything. Brownells sells a tool that does this. You can also do it with a file if you are very, very careful, but if the rear face gets shortened very much, the forcing cone needs to be recut.

I have 2 brand new 'New Vaqueros' in 357 Mag. These have tight gaps, and I suspect they will not be very good for BP. One has the gap noticably uneven too, meaning that if I do anything, I will have to true up the rear of the barrel.

But in my experience, rather than getting the files out right away, try shooting some BP first, and see where you are at. If your gaps are really narrow, on the order of .002 or so, you may have to open them up. Otherwise, just use enough lube.

[Tequila Jim]

Silver Creek. my Rugers are OM, Cuts Crooked that post was from Ms Lou Grahm. TJ

[Dick Dastardly]

Hey Jim,

Lou knows whut she's talkin' about.  Driftwood, as usual, makes good sense.

One last thing that seems to help keep my RVs runnin', in addition to Big Lube™ bullets, is to use a compressed bp charge.  A good stout load of bp seems to burn cleaner and hotter.  The flame front seems to blow the coke of the cylinder face better if it's more intense.  Reduced loads with fillers seem to run dirtier in my guns.

Good luck,

DD-DLoS

[Silver Creek Slim]

I have shot BP in 4 different OM Ruger Vaqueros without any cylinder gap modifications. If the cylinder gets a bit "sticky", I spin it a few times and it spins better. Some others have referred to the amount of lube that is used with the boolit. The more lube the better. I have been using Big Lube boolits most of the time I have been shooting BP in CAS. But as DD said, "I'd give 'em a try just the way they are first."

Slim

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy!

No work has ever been done to change the factory gap on any of my pistols.

In my rather humble opinion, the single MOST important thing needed to keep your revolvers AND rifles running successfully with BP is LUBE.  Lots of folks balk at having lube spread around all over their pretty guns ... and hands ... and clothes.  Don't mean a hill of beans to me.  REAL folks of the Olde West got dirty.  Have that lube amount right, and the guns will shoot dependably.

The back of the barrel and front of the cylinder DO need to be squared to each other - for BP OR smokeyless gunz.

Do you cast your own bullets?  Then BigLube (tm) bullets are the way to go.  Dick Dastardly sells the moulds.  If you don't cast, then Mason Stillwell  and another pard (whose name escapes me right now  ) sell already cast and lubed (for extra $) BigLube boolits.  Keep an eye out on these boards - Mason posts here and you can contact him for details.  I THINK  that Springfield Slim is the other feller who sells cast boolits, but I don't think he posts here much, if at all.

I also am one of the types who slathers lots of lube IN FRONT of the ball or conical bullet when shootin' Cap 'n Ball guns.  I've tried the lubed wads under the bullet, but it isn't as good, IMHO


LUBE ... LUBE ... LUBE ... LUBE ... LUBE - Ya jes' caint have too much!   

Keep yer powder dry!

SHB

[Tequila Jim]

Well I saddeled up the forrester and rode into the village to purchase some finer feeler guages, the ones
I have are a little too coarse.  Ol no.1 has infact a gap of .008, no.2 runs about .004, 3&4 will probably never be used for real gunpowder any hoo. So first chance it's off to the range for a little practice. By the way I
purchased 500 of the Big Lube 250 grainers from Springfield Slim. Regards,TJ

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy TJ,

Both Mason Stillwell and Springfield Slim are fine casters.  You got good bullets.

DD-DLoS

[Paladin UK]

OODLES OF LUBE, `n then           OODLES MORE!

Paladin (Whut lurvs Black Powder ) UK

[Wills Point Pete]

 I shoot The Holy Black in my main match guns. Since I shoot the same cartridge in my 5.5 inch .45s and my 24 inch '92 clone I try my loads in the rifle. If I get a nice lube star out of my rifle and the lube star is soft I'm good to go. If the muzzle of the rifle is covered in dry 'ash' then my revolvers aren't going to make the whole match without being wiped down a couple of times.
Since I always bring a squirt bottle of moose milk, I don't worry much. Pull the cylinders, sray dowm and wipe, put the cylinders back in. I can do that and run the unloading table, too.
It ain't like this is brain science or rocket surgery, how much does a spray bottle of moose milk and a wore out towel cost?

[Adirondack Jack]

Well I saddeled up the forrester and rode into the village to purchase some finer feeler guages, the ones
I have are a little too coarse.  Ol no.1 has infact a gap of .008, no.2 runs about .004, 3&4 will probably never be used for real gunpowder any hoo. So first chance it's off to the range for a little practice. By the way I
purchased 500 of the Big Lube 250 grainers from Springfield Slim. Regards,TJ

If yer lackin' (or can't find) feeler gauges, a sheet of ordinary printer paper is about .003.  Somewhere between two and three sheets is good.

[Springfield Slim]

I shoot my Uberti 5.5" 44-40's, my Uberti 4.75" 45Colt's, and my Pietta 44's as made with no problems. Of course I use Big Lube(tm)'s in the cartridge guns and smear Crisco on top of the balls on the C&B's. Only shot my Dragoon once for 2 cylinders worth so can't tell about that one yet.

[Tequila Jim]

Seeing as how one of my 5 1/2 Rugers came to me new with a .008 barrel cylinder gap I have no problem with
trimming the outher one. In fact it's a done deal, Captain Grouch fixed it up for me right quick. The weather here
in northern Cal. keeps me from going to the range. 33 and windy. So it comes down to the bullet and the lube.
I know all you heartlanders consider 33 and windy a brisk and balmy day, but this prune picker can't hadle that.
                                                                                                              Regards, TJ

[litl rooster]

I know all you heartlanders consider 33 and windy a brisk and balmy day, but this prune picker can't hadle that.
                                                                                                              Regards, TJ

33 is cold...................that's why we shoot BP it'll warm you up

[Dr. Bob]

LR,

Its 14 here in Independence, Mo and with the wind chill it feels like 2.  Add in 1/2 inch of sleet on the ground and more falling and I think that the amount of black powder to keep me warm would be considered an EXPLOSIVE DEVICE!!   If it weren't for the kids and grand kids, I would be thinking about moving to someplace where it is warm!