Why do .41 LC casings stick?

[Rod]

Asked this on the Gunthing. Just wanted to start one of the first threads here. I'm using 200 grain lead bullets in front of 5 grains of Unique OR 20 grains of ffG. Casings stick in both the 6 inch 1877 and the 2 1/2 inch 1877 chambers in the cylinder. the 6 inch might be corrosion but the 2 1/2 is clean. Thoughts?

[Netpackrat]

Have you tried reducing your loads to see if they still stick?

[Rumpshot]

It's just the cheap shellac you are using on the finished product.

[Rod]

Have you tried reducing your loads to see if they still stick?

I talked about this over at the soon to be gone site. I've dropped loads and it's still happening. As I said, the 6 inch colt has quite a bit of corrosion in the chambers. The 2 1/2 inch seems fairly clear. I honestly can't figure it out, but since I'm NOT firing that many live rounds from it, I'm NOT too worried.

It's just the cheap shellac you are using on the finished product.

To paraphrase Chris: don't make me force him to slap you.

[Bullspit]

Why cases stick:

1. Rough chamber.
2. Hot loads.
3. Bad brass.

Black powder cases often fall right out of the cylinder, unless they get dirty, pressure is seldom a problem with black powder. Assuming your chambers are clean and not pitted or haven't been reamed out incorrectly (resulting in a larger diameter ahead of the rim area) you may have soft brass.

If you haven't already tried a different brand/lot of brass, do so. The brass you have may be soft and not springing back after firing.

[First Shirt]

Is it possible that the chambers are oversized? If the brass is stretched past the recovery point, it will cause difficult extraction. Just a guess, mind you.

[Rod]

One gun was made in 1885 and was refinished long ago, the other was made in 1894 and has quite a bit of corrosion in the barrel and chambers. As I said, I don't plan on shooting either that much with live ammo, I'm not real concerned. Was thinking of shining the chambers and seeing what happens.