Jimmy W:
That a fairly common occurance that I've noted several times over the years. A word to the wise here. If you at anytime contemplate purchasing an older Colt or S&W revolver,particularly the target models, run your fingers up an down the barrel feeling for bulges. The target model tended to get used a lot and usually with handloads. One cartridge without it charge of powder will cause the scenario outlined above.
A bulge is not an automatic kiss of death and,if the prices is right, rebarreling may just get you a nice revolver at a very good price. I rescued a Colt Officers Model Match* with a bulged "Heavy Barrel" and it took some doing to find a replacement. The revolver is now good as new and a joy to shoot.

*In all likeylood we'll probably never see the like of these hand fitted and finished revolvers built again. The skilled labor cost to make them would be just too high to keep them competetive with mass assembled pistols like Glocks. So you can put these in the same category as hand crafted doubles which are financially out of reach to the general masses.
Jim

Last edited by italiansxs; 10/29/08 11:56 AM.
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