Cylinder throats 357 Max

[gman]

Picture is the cylinder from my max. Notice the ding in the exit hole in bottom. Directly above with the x engraved is the one throat that will except a .357 pin gauge. The other five are a very tight .356 and maybe even .3555. Measured 6 jhp bullets at .35725 and the one throat will allow a slip fit. The others would involve a hammer to get them through. The barrel of this gun was leaded when I received it. That's all clean now. I want to shoot cast and have some 180 grain gas checked bullets cast. My plans are to ream all throats to make them the same then size to throats. Reamer would cut them to .358. I've done three of my own cylinders so this won't be my first. Since I have to wait another 7 days before work ends I'm open to comments. Never experienced casting, loading or shooting a Max before. Right direction?

 

[Rick]

Your right to size bullets to a mild snug fit in the throats. I also would ream to a consistent .358". I would also slug the bore, not to size to but to know that it's not larger than the reamed throats. Hard to tell from the picture about that ding, is it rounded over into the throat? Did someone drop the cylinder on the throat?

 

[gman]

My thoughts was that it must have been dropped. Reaming the throats to .358 looks like it will clean it up. It was not disclosed before I received it. A couple of small rust spots and dings on the bottom of the grip frame other than that the bluing looks really good. I do need to replace the trigger return spring as it has been reshaped in an attempt to lighten the pull I'm sure and will not stay connected if the grips are removed. Hopefully it will be a shooter.