Having never done this before, I thought it would be prudent to ask before pounding.
I have a Colt DA .41 that I want to verify the bore size. I've been told the way to do it is to get a lead fishing weight of approximate size and hammer it down the barrel with a wooden dowel. Sounds fairly reasonable but also fraught with hidden dangers. How about some thoughts?

Having never done this before, I thought it would be prudent to ask before pounding.
I have a Colt DA .41 that I want to verify the bore size. I've been told the way to do it is to get a lead fishing weight of approximate size and hammer it down the barrel with a wooden dowel. Sounds fairly reasonable but also fraught with hidden dangers. How about some thoughts?


So long as the lead slug isn't grossly oversized, it's not a problem to slug the bore that way. Bore should be about .406-.408".


Buy some extra weights to slug the cylinder as well. Will find that a .41LC chamber is a shoulder-less affair, on most a loaded .41LC round could be pressed in from the FRONT. Chamber has a bit of taper, and the front is slightly smaller than the rear.

So...padded vice, cylinder usually OUT...barrel pointed up...plastic hammer--I'll use a hard wood block between plastic hammer and barrel to get the slug flush...once even with the barrel, gently drive it with a rod near bore diameer (if using wood, use 3/8" dowel)..catch it as it comes out.

As you know by now, heeled rounds are not a joy to load.

Having never done this before, I thought it would be prudent to ask before pounding.
I have a Colt DA .41 that I want to verify the bore size. I've been told the way to do it is to get a lead fishing weight of approximate size and hammer it down the barrel with a wooden dowel. Sounds fairly reasonable but also fraught with hidden dangers. How about some thoughts?

I found a very good sight with directions and pictures throughout the entire process of slugging a barrel. This is performed on a Rifle, but the principal and practice would be the same for a pistol. The article is a little long, but very informative. Good Luck.


http://www.surplusrifle.com/reloading/slug/index.asp

I found a very good sight with directions and pictures throughout the entire process of slugging a barrel. This is performed on a Rifle, but the principal and practice would be the same for a pistol. The article is a little long, but very informative. Good Luck.


http://www.surplusrifle.com/reloading/slug/index.asp

Good info, all. Good website too, wish I'd thought of it. I should also have searched previous posts first. A lot of information in the past. Thanks to all !