I'm reading about Cerosafe. I think I am going to do just that - figure out what it's chambered in and try it out. Thanks Chris.
If you have a heat gun use that to melt the cerrosafe. Plug the barrel with cotton patches maybe an inch from the front of the chamber. In addition to using the heat gun, heat the chamber area of the rifle until it's quite hot to the touch. If you don't do this then you'll get a really wrinkly chamber cast.
I melt mine in a pop can cut in half. If you squeeze it it'll make a nice pour spout.
Two other things. Use something to fill the extractor groove. If you get the cerrosafe in there it can be a bugger to get out. Also, don't wait as long as they say before you knock out the chamber cast. Knock it out about 1 minute after it's solid.
It continues to expand after it solidifies. There are a few formulas to convert your measurements into actual chamber dimensions based on the age of your casting.
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There is one other unrelated test you could do and it's less involved. This would verify that it's a .45 Colt. Get ahold of a fired .45 Colt case that's been full sized. Or a piece of new brass. See if it chambers & extracts. If so then carry on. Get a length of 3/8 mild steel rod. Cut it to 6" longer than the barrel. Use electrical tape and tape it every 6". You'll be putting this down the barrel from the muzzle, the tape protects the bore. Get some soft lead bullets for a .45 colt. Use a torch to melt some of the bullets into the case so that it's full of lead just barely reaching the case mouth or a little lower.
After the case full of lead has cooled, chamber it in the rifle. Very carefully drive one of the soft lead bullets into the muzzle of the rifle. You can use a brass drift to get it started, being very careful not to nick the rifling. Now slide the mild steel rod down the bore, gently tapping in the rod to drive the bullet down the bore. Once it bottoms out it'll be in the chamber area. Be sure the rod is taped especially at the muzzle. Whack the rod a few times until the lead bullet is fully compressed into the rifling. You'll know when you are there it'll feel quite different.
Eject the lead filled case, and then gently tap the compressed bullet out of the chamber with the rod. By looking at that bullet that has been compressed into the chamber area you should be able to determine whether its a .45 Colt or not.
Chris.




















































