Reloading for a bulged barrel

[m777]

So I've ridden the lower end of W231 for too long. Has anyone had any luck with changing to a different load after a bulge? Faster or slower powders and lighter or heavier bullets?

Thanks
Clint

 

[JEC]

I must be missing something….surely you are not considering shooting in a barrel that was “bulged” by over pressure?

 

[bearhunter]

I must be missing something….surely you are not considering shooting in a barrel that was “bulged” by over pressure?

Shooting a bulged barrel isn't necessarily dangerous.

My first center fire rifle had a bulged barrel, approximately 10cm from the muzzle.

I shot it for two seasons and it was good for minute of Deer chest out to 100 meters.

 

[B]

I'm pretty curious what exactly the OP is dealing with.

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

You can only shoot bulged bullets. Try whacking them with a hammer before loading to get a good consistent bulge going.

 

[jethunter]

It's like asking the best gasoline for a worn out motor - not sure it matters. I don't know if it makes any difference but i would guess keeping velocity and pressure on the lower side might shoot better.

 

[m777]

BlackHawk 357. Just looking for general ideas on where to move on to. Took a look around for a barrel and only 1 i could find was ebay. I'm not looking for exact circumstance, just vaguely similar.

Clint

 

[Ganderite]

As usual, try several different bullets and a survey of loads with two or more powders. Find out what the gun likes. Bulge does not change the procedure.

There was a time when I would have given up on a bulged barrel.

But then I developed a load for my Sten gun, The barrel was made from two equal length pieces, welded together. The rifling did not line up and the barrel had an angle at the weld. It still shot quite accurately.

 

[yodave]

been down this road tens of thousands of rounds, 38 special with a bulge halfway down the barrel, ironically it shot better after being bulged then it ever did being straight and perfect, swap over to a hollow base bullet and keep running the same powder, short of that soften your lead recipe up a little bit of you can afford to without leading the barrel

 

[ted_dent]

You can only shoot bulged bullets. Try whacking them with a hammer before loading to get a good consistent bulge going.

That's gold, Jerry, gold!!!

 

[Reeferman]

I have a S&W 14 that has a slight bulge in the barrel a couple inches from the muzzle. It happened from using a Campro copper wadcutter that was a little too hot and the skirt got blown off and another shot behind it. Can’t tell from outside but can feel it with a patch on a jag and can see it with a scope.
I found the accuracy has suffered as off a rest at 25 yards it would put Hornady wadcutters with 2.8 grains Bullseye in a one inch group if I did my part. Best it will do now is two inch.
I’ve considered having the barrel shortened as it is a 8” barrel. Not sure where yours is bulged but might be a option.
I know it’s not magnum but try some hollow base wadcutters with appropriate load in either 38 or 357 cases and see how it shoots.

 

[dubious]

 

[kjohn]

I have a 66 S&W with two bulges. Shoots just fine.