[danf_fl]

My brother called and asked about "stretching" of cylinder bores.

He stated that he was shooting his Ruger .357 with some reloads that seemed kinda "hot". He noticed one round that casing had a kink but would still drop in cylinder of his Ruger but not his S&W.

I told him not to shoot any more of those reloads.

Would the bore of a cylinder stretch like that?

 

[c3shooter]

No. For ten characters- NO!

 

[trip286]

It would crack before stretching. Cracks generally lead to an immediate kaboom. He may want to get his gun looked at now, especially since noticeably bulged cases slide right in.

 

[danf_fl]

Thanks, I thought that the firearm was rendered unsafe for usage.
The reloads were obtained from our father who was self-taught about firearms.
Upon firing the first round, the cylinder locked up, the casing (once ejected) showed the classic signs of over-pressure.

Brother is to get with Ruger and find out what the correct hole diameter should be.

 

[JonM]

Just a future note. Never shoot other people's reloads out of your gun. Even if its old grandad who has been loading for 800 years without a problem. Do it yourself or buy factory ammo

 

[SSGN_Doc]

Brass may stretch. Cylinder, no.

 

[hiwall]

As far as the ammo fitting in the Ruger but too big for the S&W, that is not uncommon. The chambers often vary in sizes between guns and sometimes vary in the same gun.