44 magnum cylinder headspace

gunboat57 · 08-26-2012, 05:29 PM

I originally posted this on the Ruger Pistol Forum. My bad.

Anywho, my 44 mag Redhawk (1982 dob) has a B/C gap of .003 and about .002 endshake. The headspace measures .058-.059. From SAAMI, the 44 mag headspace should be .060 to .070. And 44 mag brass can run from .049 to .060 on rim thickness. So potentially I could get ammunition that will bind up this revolver.

I'd like to increase the headspace to .065 just to give myself a bit more leeway.

The ejector star sits about .010 below the rear surface of the cylinder. So I was thinking that the easiest way to gain some headspace would be to chuck the cylinder in a 3 jaw and turn .006 off the back. I wouldn't touch the ejector star or the ratchet. The only other alternative I can think of would be to file off .006 from the standing breech. But I'm not so sure I could do that and keep the surface flat and true.

Any advice or suggestions?

gunboat57 · 09-04-2012, 04:11 AM

I just finished installing a longer Bowen firing pin in this Redhawk. Protrusion was .040" and is now .055" max. Now that I've done that I feel more confident that increasing the headspace will not cause any FTF due to insufficient FP protrusion.

08-26-2012, 05:29 PM	#1
gunboat57 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NW PA Posts: 3	Redhawk REVOLVER Headspace I originally posted this on the Ruger Pistol Forum. My bad. Anywho, my 44 mag Redhawk (1982 dob) has a B/C gap of .003 and about .002 endshake. The headspace measures .058-.059. From SAAMI, the 44 mag headspace should be .060 to .070. And 44 mag brass can run from .049 to .060 on rim thickness. So potentially I could get ammunition that will bind up this revolver. I'd like to increase the headspace to .065 just to give myself a bit more leeway. The ejector star sits about .010 below the rear surface of the cylinder. So I was thinking that the easiest way to gain some headspace would be to chuck the cylinder in a 3 jaw and turn .006 off the back. I wouldn't touch the ejector star or the ratchet. The only other alternative I can think of would be to file off .006 from the standing breech. But I'm not so sure I could do that and keep the surface flat and true. Any advice or suggestions?

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09-04-2012, 04:11 AM	#2
gunboat57 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NW PA Posts: 3	I just finished installing a longer Bowen firing pin in this Redhawk. Protrusion was .040" and is now .055" max. Now that I've done that I feel more confident that increasing the headspace will not cause any FTF due to insufficient FP protrusion.