[Peakbagger46]

I have a S&W 317 airweight I got about a year ago. I love the pistol for plinking and rabbits, but it "spits" hot particals at my face, causing some concern. The problem gets a bit better after a good cleaning but is still there. Anyone else experienced this?

[rcmodel]

No.
But I would suggest maybe it isn't as clean as you think it is.

Look carefully for leading in the barrel's forcing cone.

It will be difficult to clean out with common cleaning tools, but a bronze bore brush & powder solvent should get it with a lot of scrubbing.

Other then that, it might be the brand of ammo you are using.
Some of the cheap stuff throws off a lot of unburned powder sometimes.

rcmodel

[revolverforums]

Have you tried shooting a different brand of ammunition?

[Jim K]

First, does it do that with all ammunition or just some? If with all ammo, check the barrel/cylinder gap; it should not exceed .010" and should be about .007".

The problem could also be due to an alignment problem. In either case, I recommend you call S&W; they have a good reputation for taking care of problems that could be due to manufacturing defects regardless of the age of the gun.

BTW, even though the gun should not "spit" at you, I hope you wear both eye and ear protection at all times when shooting.

Jim

[BlindJustice]

If the chambers aren't lining up correctly with the forcing cone of
the barrel, the bullets can enter it off center and with lead bullets
it would shave part of the lead and 'spit' it out between the
gap of the front of the cyl. and the rear of the barrel/forcing
cone. Perhaps someone else knows how to check if a Revolver
is 'out of timeing' - or talk with S&W.

I had a friend with an old H&R top break - and the only safe place to
be if he was shooting it was directly behind him, it was a 'spitter'
POS.
Randall

[Matt Almeda]

Hi,
Check the forcing cone for a burr or some other form of damage. Also, check around the forcing cone for build up.

[Carl Levitian]

My 617 starting doing that, and when I examined it, I found some build up between the forcing cone and top strap. Alot of it, I'm ashamed to say. I gave the gun a real good cleaning, and used a tiny screw driver to pick out the bulk of it.

No more spitting.

If your gun continues to spit, ship it back to Smith. They have a lifetime warentee on them, so it won't cost you a thing if it needs a timing.

[Peakbagger46]

I'll give a good cleaning a try. Is the forcing cone where the bullet enters the barrel from the chamber?

[rcmodel]

Yes.

It is slightly "funnel shaped" to allow any slight mis-alignment of the chamber & the barrel. Lead tends to build up there closing the "funnel" a little.

Still, your problems sounds more like unburned powder then lead shaving off the bullets.

I'd try a different brand of ammo too.

rcmodel

[Peakbagger46]

I've been shooting Federal value pack ammo (the only stuff I use in all my .22's) I'll give something else a try as well... I'm guessing it probably is powder and not lead.