Diamondback .38 ammo?

T

Tom2

New member
Hey Colt fans, I wonder what you use for ammo in your 38 Diamondbacks. I got one as a collectable/plinker this week. Noticed 99.9 condx. but has been fired a little. Noted cylinder throats are loose dimensions, unlike a S&W. A 358 wadcutter drops right thru the cylinder. Does that imply best accuracy with hollow based Wadcutters in plinking loads? I had a couple SAA's with the famous loose throats and accuracy with RNL loads was dismal. Seems that loose throats in this gun might cause a problem with jacketed rounds?
Thanks!
 
The throat should be larger than the bullet diameter and the bullet should go thru with miminum to no effort so not to raise pressures.
What is the bore diameter of your SAA's? That also had a lot to do with it's accuracy. Most shot rather well with .454" bullets as long as they were soft.
 
long gone colts

My SAA's are long gone. ONe was a preused NRA commemorative that had been slightly abused so I didn't feel bad about shooting it. Even the presentation box was beat up! Must have been a gun slob's property. Another was a usual 3rd gen. gun from the early 90's. I don't remember the throat size, but it was suprising to me at the time, maybe 458/1000 or so. Really they were both quite loose. Then I had a Blackhawk 45 with undersized throats, and it was not much better! At least easier to fix, if I had pursued it.
Ruger said it was in specs, well under bore size! Sold that one instead of sending it out. I can see aftermarket trigger jobs, etc. but out of tolerance bore or throat dimensions I think is unexcuseable for an expensive modern gun.
 
Colt traditionally bored its barrels at .356 while S&W used .357-8. This meant the Colts often shot a little better with lead bullets. Keep in mind that the Dback is a small frame gun, same size as the Detective Special, and will show the effects of lots of hot loads before a larger, sturdier gun would.
 
I will baby it

I suppose I will be useing this gun primarily as a plinker. Got a bag of those copper coated HBWC bullets to load some light target type loads for it. Could be a backup house gun but have others in line for heavy duty stuff. Don't want to be a gun slob and tear up an out of print potential collectable. I have seen enough of those disgusting neglected pieces offered at gun shows by shady dealers. Breaks my heart to see a nice gun trashed.
 
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