38-40 Buckeye

[Hondo44]

1. If you have a Buckeye, what do your cylinder throats measure?

Just picked up a 357 NM converted to 38-40, 4 5/8" barrel with a Clements front sight. Nice work but it's not his work; barrel is stamped 38-40 and .357 remains on the frame. Looks like new and cost me less than a new gun.

Will shoot tomorrow and report, hopefully with a photo. Miked the cylinder throats and chambers. All very consistent but the throats are too tight at .396-7". Suspect accuracy will suffer and may have to have them reamed.

2. A friend bought a 'like new' Ruger NM 38-40. Factory marked 38-40 on the frame with no 10MM or Buckeye logo markings. Has a standard alloy grip frame and ERH. As I recall the Buckeye convertibles were all steel and all convertibles. The question is, what is it?

My 1st thought was a Buckeye "overrun" gun. But were there any to anyone's knowledge?

Thanks,

 

[Mike Armstrong]

Just measured the throats on my Colt New Service .38-40 made in 1920. They go about .400-.401. One of my most accurate handguns; all the NS .38-40s I've had (3) were very accurate with factory jacketed ammo.

 

[Hondo44]

Thanks Mike! My Colt 3rd gen SAA has .400 throats as well.

 

[cas6969]

Dave's 38-40 chambers are tight from what I've seen, but not undersized. You do need to load carefully for it or you may have issues chambering your rounds.

You say you "miked" them. How did you actually measure them? Using the wrong tools (like most folks do) tends to give you smaller numbers that you really have.

 

[Hondo44]

cas,
Thanks for the heads up.

I use a spring loaded, telescoping ID tool that locks on the ID and is then measured with a micrometer or dial caliper. Then I double check it by measuring directly with the 'inside' jaws of the caliper.

 

[Onty]

1. If you have a Buckeye, what do your cylinder throats measure?

Just picked up a 357 NM converted to 38-40, 4 5/8" barrel...Miked the cylinder throats and chambers. All very consistent but the throats are too tight at .396-7". Suspect accuracy will suffer and may have to have them reamed...

This looks too tight tight, would not help accuracy. I would slug the barrel and open cylinder .0015-.0020 over groove dia, so I can shoot (cast) bullet . 0010-.0015 over groove dia. Be aware that almost all production guns have barrel constriction (few thousands) in thread area. If so, here is the remedy http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/59 . Also, IMHO the way Marshall opened his cylinder is not for everybody. I would definitely send it to somebody who has right tool and knows what he is doing. Good luck.

 

[Hondo44]

1. If you have a Buckeye, what do your cylinder throats measure?

Just picked up a 357 NM converted to 38-40, 4 5/8" barrel...Miked the cylinder throats and chambers. All very consistent but the throats are too tight at .396-7". Suspect accuracy will suffer and may have to have them reamed...

This looks too tight tight, would not help accuracy. I would slug the barrel and open cylinder .0015-.0020 over groove dia, so I can shoot (cast) bullet . 0010-.0015 over groove dia. Be aware that almost all production guns have barrel constriction (few thousands) in thread area. If so, here is the remedy http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/59 . Also, IMHO the way Marshall opened his cylinder is not for everybody. I would definitely send it to somebody who has right tool and knows what he is doing. Good luck.

onty, thanks very much. The barrel slugged the same, .396-7". I was surprised. Shot it yesterday and it groups very well at 25 yards.

 

[Onty]

onty, thanks very much. The barrel slugged the same, .396-7". I was surprised. Shot it yesterday and it groups very well at 25 yards.

In that case, just leave it as is, you have a keeper. For some hotter loads, see http://www.singleactions.com/files/3840WinchesterArticle.pdf .

 

[Hondo44]

Wow, that was very interesting and enlightning information. Thanks for that source. I had no idea that there was a whole 38-40 Magnum 'subculture' out there.