Replaceable forcing cones

[suba]

I've heard the old replaceable forcing cones were made out of either tool steel or tungsten. I emailed FA and asked what they were made of. The reply was they were made out of good old 17-4PH. Now maybe some of them were special ordered with tungsten but FA's old webpage doesn't say what steel was used. Anyone know for certain their forcing cone is tungsten ?


Another thing is if the forcing cones were made out of 17-4PH why did they cost about as much as a new barrel. It seems that's the reason forcing cones were eliminated is because it was just as cheap ( or expensive ) getting a new barrel.


Wasn't the idea that forcing cones were the first thing that wore out. Not so much the barrel. I'm at a loss why they discontinued replacing them when it would seem it would be a whole lot cheaper to make and install a forcing cone than to make and replace a barrel.


All comments are welcome...

[Ken ONeill]

I read some early articles in the gun press many years ago that claimed they were tungsten carbide, but I don't know what the truth is. In any event, they're obsolete, no longer available, and frankly, an idea whose time never came.

[suba]

I know this has been brought up more than a few times. Obviously someone thought it was a good idea back then or they wouldn't have been offered.  My uneducated guess is because it was an option not many guys had one, and or it took more machining and labor so FA decided to drop the option. Maybe there were a few problems with the set screw coming loose and the insert backing out. I dunno.


I'm interested in this because I have one on my 454. Funny that after almost 25 years the insert looks like new, so go figure. Maybe my gun just wasn't shot that much. I'm almost sure the barrel / forcing cone is original.

[stubshaft]

When I ordered mine in '87 the factory lit said that the forcing cone would be made of tungsten.  I have shot over 14K rounds through it (454 cal) and it still looks brand new.  My normal load is 32.5 of 296 behind a 300gr LBT LFN.  There are slight serrations on the edge of the insert and it gives a very unusual pattern on the cylinder face.

[suba]

stub.....I wonder why there are serrations. Mine looks smooth. I'd like to see a picture if you could do that. I've always heard they were tungsten but FA recently told me they where 17-4. Maybe they meant my gun because I gave them my serial #. Hard to believe they would have offered different forcing cones. Maybe tungsten was special order and the rest were just 17-4.


Anyone else have an insert ? I'd be interested hearing your opinion..

[AGrizz]

Talking about the forcing cone erosion created by large charges of 296 and H110 that was the best powder to push heavy bullets with large charges. In order to reduce this wear would it be possible to get this composition carbide insert to work in the forcing cone of the FA gun. The forcing cone would have to be to the proper dimentions as well as the back up materials and then you freeze the insert in liquid nitrogen to shrink at -475 deg F and then drop it into the forcing cone recess and allow it to expand in place.
For some reason they changed over to one held in by a set screw and these never worked properly. They were not tight enough and would be forced out under pressure and crack because they were not inserted properly. Freedom has since dropped this as an option and it will very likely remain on the dead list.
 
To me these are the best single action gun on the market and have held this position for almost 30 years and will do so in the future.