Boy have I got a delema Colt .22 WRF PP

[Pat C]

Bought a 1913 Colt Police Positive .22 WRF In a state of disrepair but was cheap at $135. Came in I see what looks like squib ahead of forcing cone. Didn't have anything or a light to check muzzle end at Pawn shop I use so I registered it paid the transfer fee and when got home I ran brass rod down in bore it stopped half way . 6 bullets lodged in this barrel .

No budging them with brass rod , then came the real tragedy I screwed and old bullet puller tried one bullet length just pulled center out. So I ran it on down guess what twisted 1 1/2" long threaded puller off . So now I have 3" of bullets and broken bullet puller.

Barrel will havexto be pulled now and endmills used to bore out. I made delrin inserts for frame but didn't have any revolver vice bushings. Tried oak blocks and rosin wouldn't budge.
So aluminum insert will have to be made.

Those bullets are copper jacketed I can see it. CCI warns not to shoot their ammo in old revolvers as bores are generally tight. I confirmed bore is standard .223/.224"
Should be .226" for WRF

[rossim92]

take barrel off and put in oven oh in a fire pit with barrel at an angle to see if you get it hot enough to melt lead with hurting barrel. worth a try

[Pat C]

Well , it's jacketed bullets for one. And hoping not to destroy barrel finish . May have to rebarrel it but not without a valient attempt at saving first.

[GunnyMack]

Put the barrel in the freezer overnight, expansion/ contraction rates are different between steel, copper, lead and you might luck out enough to knock em loose.

[horsesoldier03]

I would put some penetrating oil (KROIL) down the barrel and let it soak overnight. 1st I would try the cold as suggested, then I would try a heat gun, NOT FLAME! Or just take it to a good gunsmith.

[Sixgun]

Realize it’s water over the dam but you didn’t even open the cylinder to reflect light off of a piece of paper or your thumb nail?

Just heat it up with a propane torch to the melting point of lead…it won’t hurt what’s left of the blue……… and use a flat head punch that’s the exact same diameter of the bore…anything smaller your just creating a wedge…….removing a barrel on a thin framed revolver will twist the cylinder window without the proper die to set the frame window in like the factories used to put it on.

[Pat C]

The gun was fully disassembled when I purchased it. The slug at forcing cone was easily seen . And assumed it was just that. Too big reasons you Don't want to use melting heat .

1- unburned powder you know is in between those stuck rounds . Exploding liquid lead is a possibility.

2- lead melts at 620 F that means your turning steel heat blue which will alter the finish . May make it look better but probably not .

Got the broken puller out by drilling a steel rod with tiny press over broken shank . Tapped in down over shank and used T handle to unthread it.

Will pick up stainless 7/32 tubing today and will use that as a drill guide to bore through center. Then freeze lead and drive out remainder

[4t5]

How about dropping a brass rod in the barrel leaving it 1/2” long , then using a c clamp to squeeze it in , to free up the obstruction.

[LeverGunner]

It is a pretty good dilemma. I would try multiuple heat and cold cycles and kroil. Heat it in the oven on 200, then in the freezer. Doing so will cause the barrel to expand and contract and probably loosen the bullet and allow the kroil to get between the bullets and bore.

[Sixgun]

That’s an excellent idea with the drill guide…….yea, the powder…maybe some of it is black……

Something tells me a I have a box of that ammo …good luck…—00

[Pat C]

Success , the 7/32" with 3/16" I.D. worked perfect drilled center out leaving only the copper jackets. Lower one pushed out easily . I'll make a close fit guide to push the other out tomorrow. It's soaking again tonight.

I confirmed exactly what CCI noted and warned of . Colt used standard .22 L.R. bore which is way too tight for WRF . When using jacketed. I'll fire lap it if bore checks OK to bring it up in size.

[Pat C]

Got three more out intact rest broke up in pieces . So confirmed four slugs but may have been five . It was 3" of slugs. One collapsed inside anouther. No rings or bulges good sharp rifling but couple light pitted patches. I'll get lead cloth and JB Bore lap it. Possibly fire lap it too. Wouldn't hurt to recut forcing cone.

[JBowen]

Pat, It is always good when a plan works out. Will be watching for updates.

JBowen

[Pat C]

I'll be working on this probably this winter I need to get back on my Marlin 39 stock repair and couple other projects first.
I'm thinking a good lead lapp of this bore to smooth and open it up is in order.

I know now somebody had tge hammer against something hard trying to knock out slugs and that's what broke it and latch pin.

[Pat C]

Duplicate post

[Grizz]

Success , the 7/32" with 3/16" I.D. worked perfect drilled center out leaving only the copper jackets. Lower one pushed out easily . I'll make a close fit guide to push the other out tomorrow. It's soaking again tonight.

I confirmed exactly what CCI noted and warned of . Colt used standard .22 L.R. bore which is way too tight for WRF . When using jacketed. I'll fire lap it if bore checks OK to bring it up in size.

thanks for the info

this may be exactly why ruger wrangler can't be modified to shoot 22 mag...

without perhaps a new barrel and cylinder, etc.

[765x53]

Success , the 7/32" with 3/16" I.D. worked perfect drilled center out leaving only the copper jackets. Lower one pushed out easily . I'll make a close fit guide to push the other out tomorrow. It's soaking again tonight.

I confirmed exactly what CCI noted and warned of . Colt used standard .22 L.R. bore which is way too tight for WRF . When using jacketed. I'll fire lap it if bore checks OK to bring it up in size.

Apparently colt also used standard .357 barrels for the .38 NP/S&W Police Positive. Which is fine by me.

[LeverGunner]

That is great! Glad you got it out. Great info too, thank you for sharing.

[Pat C]

I ran a small hole gauge down in bore last night and in center where top bulket stuck it's. 215" lands which is even undersize for .22 L.R. and .004" tight for WRF which is .219 bore .226 grooves.

Probably hone center and lead lapp grooves see if I can enlarge some.

[Eddie Southgate]

Dilemma

[Pat C]

Big shout out to EGP very Profesional packing job and nice parts kit for $59

[Pat C]

Finally had chance to make trigger pin and install tool , pressed it in with arbor press. Had to bend the cover plate several times finally seems to be working OK.
Cylinder dragging on latch pin . It's bent a touch so I'll have to make one or buy anouther. Still need to lead lap the bore.

[Pat C]

Fits perfect in this 1880 Ranger from El Paso

[Paladin]

That is great! Glad you got it out. Great info too, thank you for sharing.

+1

[Pat C]

It's gonna be a shooter I believe. Plan to either fire lap or full cast and lap the bore and maybe force cone recut.
12 shots offhand at 12 yards Winchester Lubaloy vintage yellow box.

[.45colt]

Great Job, it's been a very informative thread. Thank You.

[Pat C]

Little more info for folks who are interested in these.

Original Winchester .22 WRF specs is .219 " lands .226" grooves.

I pulled bullets from three different ammo lots.

Left to right

CCI current .22 WRF JHP

Winchester .22 WRF Lubaloy 1994 lot

Winchester .22 WRF Lubaloy 1950's lot

[Pat C]

CCI is true .22 WRF specs at .2263"

[Pat C]

Winchester 1994 lot was .2243" basically a .22 L.R. bullet diameter wise.

[Pat C]

The vintage Winchester 1950's was .225" and is what I fired from this Colt . Notice it has lube groove and was wax coated.
Conclusion these Winchester plated Lubaloy seemed to shoot ok in this tight bore Colt. If you have one DO NOT SHOOT CCI JHP in it or this could happen to you.