tight chambers in High Standard revolver

[toysoldier]

I recently picked up a High Standard Sentinel revolver, and like it a lot. The only problem is that it will only chamber copper-clad .22's. Outside-lubed lead-bullet rounds have to be forced in. I thoroughly cleaned the gun after I bought it, even polishing the chambers with jewelers polish. They do not show a corrosion line from firing shorts. Is this a characteristic of High Standard .22 revolvers? My H&R 999 takes anything.

[Savage]

Have not experienced any chambering problems with the two Sentinels and two Double Nines I've owned. Take a look at those chambers with a bore light. Something wrong here!  It would be worth while to have a G Smith look at it. It's remotely possible the chambers are tapered. I'd be tempted to polish them with a rotary tool and brass wool.
Savage

[toysoldier]

The chambers are clean and shiny, no ring of lead, same dimension front and back.
I have no problem with copper-clad ammo, so I'm not anxious to spend money on a gunsmith. Just wondering if it was a characteristic of High Standard guns. Your answer indicates it isn't, which leaves me wondering why my gun is different. I've read about "match" chambers for .22's, and this does seem to have excellent accuracy. I just can't shoot really cheap ammo. Since this has become my carry gun (until my LCP comes in), maybe that's a good thing.

[Savage]

The Hi Standards are great little revolvers, but nothing "Match" about them. I guess you might have some out of spec ammo.
Savage

[Brett]

I would say that it is an ammo issue not your gun.  I have a double nine.  Some of the heavily wax coated ammo (don't recall the brand of hand) do not drop into the chambers without a little push with my thumb.  But they seem to fire and extract just fine. 

[Savage]

The Federal bulk is about the cheapest .22 ammo I've found. Very reliable and the bullets are copper washed. When you said the rounds had to be "Forced" into the chambers I guess I made it out to be more than it is. As Brett said it's got to be the ammo. I retract the GS recommendation. You could easily spend more money there than the gun is worth. If you just HAVE to carry the revolver as a defensive tool, at least go to the CCI Mini Mags. I have never had a misfire using that ammo.
Savage

[Tom C.]

Tight chambers in a .22 revo are a good thing. They help insure good accuracy. The chambers of older S&W Model 17s are famous for being tight. They also shoot very well. Looser chambers allow sloppy fit of the cartridges and tend to produce reduced accuracy.

[44 Man]

Chambering reamers wear though out their usable lifetime.  When first put in the machine at the factory, the chambers will be a little 'loose', as the reamers wears and gets smaller, the chambers will be tighter until the point that the reamers must be thrown away and a new set installed.  You may just have a gun with 'tight spec' chambers.  There is nothing wrong with opening them up a little for your convienience.  Hi Standard guns have 'working' gun accuracy and I doubt you will see any loss of accuracy.  If you want tight, buy a Freedom Arms.  My friend has one and he must force each round into the chamber with wooden dowel.  44 Man

[Savage]

Another good point, 44 Man! The chambers could easily be within tolerance and still vary several thousands due to tool wear. If the gun were mine, I'd stuff whatever would fit in the chambers and shoot the devil out of it.
Savage

[toysoldier]

I don't think the ammo is out of spec, as it has worked fine in other pistols and rifles. I'm not complaining about the tight chambers. Fired rounds from the High Standard don't show powder blowback around the case mouth like shells from my H&R 999, which has "looser" chambers, and I have lots of Federal ammo.
Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black did a good job of touchup on the frame, and to improve concealed carry, I replaced the flared-out square-but grip with a rounded grip I fashioned out of Bradford pear. The wood is part of last year's ice storm damage. It looks a lot like olive. When I find my chechering tools, I'll cut checkered panels.

[Brett]

I'ld love to see pictures of those grips when you get them finished.