Oversized chamber, safety

[Austinite]

I picked up a Handi BC in .45 Colt (prefix HX).  This gun seems to have a problem similar to many others on the board.  The rifle shoots accurately, but the cases definitely swell.  The only load I've shot through the rifle to this point is a light handload a co-worker made for me (250 grain nosler, 5.5 grains of Trail Boss, ~950 fps).  A slight bulge in the case is created whenever this round is fired.  The bulge is slightly visible, but I don't have a measuring tool to measure it.  It is located about 40% of the way up from the case head.  This case bulge can be felt readily when slipping a fired case back into the chamber.  It feels like the dreaded "football" shaped chamber. 

I currently don't reload.  This rifle was purchased to be a hunting rifle using factory +P rounds (a shipment of Reeds 240 Gr XTP Mag +P loads just arrived).  I'm not too worried about the expanded cases from a reloaders point of view.  If case life is shortened, it's no big deal.  I'm mainly worried about split cases or something more extreme happening. 

Is this rifle safe to fire with +P ammo?  Do I have anything to worry about? 

[tacklebury]

Yep, there's no safety issue with the bulging.  I had to return mine, because I do reload and have 2 firearms in .45 colt and really disliked having to do so much working of the brass.  If it will eject a higher power load and you don't intend to reload the brass, then if it shoots good, keep it.  If you do start reloading, but reload only for that gun, you can use a Lee classic loader and as long as you only shoot them in that gun, you'll still be ok.  It's only if you are sharing brass with a tight chambered firearm or if you shoot high power loads and it binds up that you should worry about it.  There is a LOT of steel around the chamber of the .45 carbines.

I finally got an HY (2008) serial number model with a perfect chamber on the 3rd attempt.  I just kept pestering the dealer/H&R until it was right.  One thing to keep in mind is that if your dealer won't help you out on it, if you return it to H&R and it's outside their specification, they will probably offer to give you a different chambering, but not .45 colt.  They are not making this barrel any longer and don't intend to I guess.

Good luck though and hope it works for you. 

[gcrank1]

If you can go back to the dealer and have him exchange it with his wholesaler until you get a properly done one, do it now.

[Austinite]

Thanks for the responses.  I'm glad to hear that the gun is safe to fire.  I might end up taking the gun back, but I'm going to at least give it a spin with the heavy load before doing so.

Thanks again! 

[PHATINJUN]

I have mine set up to hunt in thick stuff and use a hard cast 380gr bullet with full load of powder that I consider about max it is virtually identical to the Buffalo bore colt loads and does right at 1500fps was looking for a 60 yrd load but this thing will shoot very well at 100 barley 2" of drop. Kurt

[gcrank1]

It may be safe to fire but will be hard on brass, especially if you ever intend to reload (the only way I can afford to shoot!). Also, with high pressure loads it may stick cases (ie, wedgie in chamber) to cause no end of aggravation. If you can live with all that, hey, its your gun.