How concerned should I be about the groove that is being worn above the forcing cone on my 44? In other words, how far do you let it go before you retire the firearm? Mine is 7 years old with about 5000 rounds (mostly factory rounds) through it. The groove is not measureable by any tools that I have, but it is there. I'm only firing reduced loads through it now, and the frame shows no signs of cracking, but I'd still like to here everyones opinion onthe subject.
Jake

RJ---

I'd shoot it until it cut all the way through (ain't going to happen) and send it in to be replaced.

I had an original black box 357 (M-27 now) that had been shot so much there was quite a divot under the top strap. I made it bigger and sold it at a profit.

Shoot 'em. THat's what they're for.

5000 rounds of factory 44 Magnum should not be enough to wear out the gun. The wear in the forcing cone is normal. I have had a couple of revolvers with forcing cone erosion and I had them reamed out. This will increase the freebore but it should not be a problem. There is even a name for this ream out process. It is called Taylor Throat in the sixgun circle. In fact, this is what Jim Taylor's dad did when the forcing cone of his gun worn out. They discovered that Taylor Throat can actually increase the accuracy of some not too perfectly alligned revolvers. Good luck.

Recoil Junky

A few years ago I worked as an armorer for a state prison system. They had S&W Model 65's that had many thousands of rounds shot through them at the qualification range. The gas cutting of the top strap would only go so deep and then appeared to stop. My theory for what it's worth is that the metal surface hardened.

I would agree with Jack Belk, shoot your revolver and enjoy it.

I dont think you can shoot enough rounds through it to equal what those state revolvers have endured.

Absolutely right, flame cutting will only go so deep. The flame temperature cools as it spreads out and at some point during it's outward travel, the temperature falls off enough to cease it's cutting effect on the metal.

Increase the load and the cutting will resume until it too reaches a point where the temperature can no longer cut metal. This by the way provides a good demonstration of the power of the flame and why throats errode so fast when subject to high pressure loads.

The original Casull magnums were made to accept special replaceable gas shields made of spring steel that fit in a machined recess above the forcing cone. These were made slightly angled so as to better disperse the flame. This helped reduce the effects of flame cutting somewhat. The flame would eventually cut through these but it was just a matter of replacing the shield when this happened. The .454 with it's high pressured triplex loads were notorious for cutting top straps...

Malm

Thanks for the great info guys.