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Author Topic: Flame cutting on .357  (Read 1339 times)

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Offline makilly

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Flame cutting on .357
« on: October 16, 2008, 08:44:12 AM »
Any problems with flame cutting on the FA 97 .357 with 125gr. or lighter bullets? Thanks
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Offline Steve P

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Re: Flame cutting on .357
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2008, 08:45:38 AM »
No

Steve :)
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"Life is a play before an audience of One.  When your play is over, will your audience stand and applaude, or stay seated and cry?"  SP 2002

Offline Wiking

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Re: Flame cutting on .357
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2008, 11:01:02 AM »
Could someone explain to me what flame cutting is? Is it when flames come out of the sides from infront of the cylinder, or.......??
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Offline Broom Rider

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Re: Flame cutting on .357
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2008, 03:12:12 PM »
It's when the gas escaping from the barrel/cylinder gap hits the top strap and causes erosion. It actually cuts into the metal.
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Lynnie, NRA Life Member

Offline Wiking

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Re: Flame cutting on .357
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2008, 09:02:01 AM »
Uhhh sounds bad. Good thing that's not an issue with FA's.....
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Offline lunker

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Re: Flame cutting on .357
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2008, 06:31:43 AM »
Actually, it's sort of self correcting. As the metal gets burnt away, the remaining metal becomes further from the flame and the metal erosion stops.  I have flame cutting marks on my S&W Highway Patrolman and it has stopped being an issue. I wouldn't say that enough metal gets burnt away that you would ever have to worry about the topstrap being weakened, but that is only my opinion. Others may vary.
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Offline blhof

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Re: Flame cutting on .357
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2008, 02:22:48 PM »
That was a serious problem on the 357max; enough for Ruger to stop production, however there are several still shooting today with no problems.  Both Ruger and DW at the time recommended heavy bullets for best accuracy and to reduce flame cutting.  My DW 357max has been shooting hot loads at least since 1992 and I've replaced 2 barrel tubes but the top strap still looks fine except for a faint line.  I contacted DW (the Norwich plant) as soon as they reopened and talked to their smith about the flame cutting and he said DW Monson had done extensive testing and found the cutting to be self limiting.
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Offline Steve P

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Re: Flame cutting on .357
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2008, 10:16:47 AM »
I have the Ruger 357 max, DW 357 Super mag, and a FA 357.  None of mine even have a line. 

Steve :)
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"Life is a play before an audience of One.  When your play is over, will your audience stand and applaude, or stay seated and cry?"  SP 2002

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Flame cutting on .357
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2008, 12:13:45 PM »
shoot enough of them and they WILL wear the forcing cone out on your gun. How many is enough. ALOT probably.
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blue lives matter

Offline Hank08

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Re: Flame cutting on .357
« Reply #9 on: November 15, 2008, 08:50:49 AM »
Shoot ammo that's hot enough and shoot it long enough and it will cut your topstrap.
I've seen N frame S&W that were almost cut thru and had to be welded up and remachined.  Keep the pressure down to about 30,000 or so and they'll last a long time.
H08
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