Sorry Whitworth some days i'm a little slow. Do you mean that the loading gate flexs forward toward the cylinder during recoil?

Thats an interesting theory I've never heard of before and if it were a real issue I'm sure Bowen, Linebaugh, and Reeder would be doing it or they would be doing warranty work all the time. I'm sure during recoil the gate may try to shift some as it's only held in place by a flat spring but that spring would break before a gate would actually flex. Not to mention I don't know a whole lot of people that only load one round. I suppose if you were on the bench you could but why? I'm sorry but that dosn't hold water. To stiffen it to where it would do anything the cylinder to gate clearance would have to be 0. I've heard about the brass issue mentioned above before but never that. I'm not saying I know everything as I am new to the business end but I own quite a few big bores and have never seen any indication of an issue there. Physics are physics and this dosn't add up, look at a gate spring and a gate and think about which would give first.

it would have to be a special machined part which for me is something I don't do. I don't have the CNC equipment or the time to screw around with making my own cylinders so I've used a couple different types and I'd have to say I like the Bowen design the best but it's not recessed it's just a standard cylinder. I figure if it's good enough for the most elite gun builder in the country it will work for me.

by the way, Whitworth I'm not trying to hammer on you I just don't see it working that way. If it was Jack that told you that I don't know what his line of thinking is but unless I saw it on slow motion video I wouldn't believe it. If it was Jack I know he's an excellent smith and from what I've heard a really nice guy but like I said I just don't see it.

A major consideration here is the distance from the cylinder face to the recoil shield or face (don't know the exact terminology.)

One of the reasons Freedom Arms counter bores the cylinder is to be able to decrease this distance and hence tightens up the cylinder opening, making a tighter and cleaner looking revolver as there is hardly any space showing there.

Try counter boring a standard Ruger cylinder without further mods and you will create a big problem of headspace.

I got the following from Bowens website:

"The receivers are modified to accept oversize cylinders. The bolt notches of the 5-shot, unfluted cylinders fall between the chambers rather than over them where the chamber walls are thinnest. The longer cylinders accept cartridges loaded with longer, heavier bullets for superior hunting performance. Further, the cylinders feature free-wheeling ratchet and, where possible, recessed case heads to improve loading gate support."

So I guess its advisable on the heavy kickers where its possible. Rod if you are getting your cylinders from Bowen anyway, maybe mention the recessed case thing and he might be able to supply you, cant hurt to ask.

Yep I'll ask him about them but when I talked to him before about the different cylinders the recessed design didn't come up. I'll also get the story on this gate issue because it still seems strange that the spring wouldn't give before the gate but like has been said if you load them all there isn't a problem and even if you break a gate it's a very cheap 15min fix.

WHat if one is on a remote fly in hunt n Alaska, not good to have a loading gate that you can't open