What a difference a day makes
Whew, what a difference a day makes!
I dont know if anyone is still following this thread, but here the updates, 24 hrs later:
Bought new snap caps, test fired them in SA, slow-DA, and fast-DA, and the results were predictable: all the problems lie in the fast-DA pull. SA, and slow, measured DA pulls are just fine, and I have the snap caps to prove it.
Next - to the range. Got off work early today, snuck over to the range to finally fire this bad boy, and here are the results:
1. I am in love. This gun is fantastic. And because of that, now I don't want to return it. Call me crazy as you will, but this is an awesome firearm. I have three other handguns that I bought new, and none compare to this S&W, flawed as it is.
2. Firing was fine in both SA and slow-DA. Fast-DA yielded the same results as the snap caps, and I saved all the brass in 3 boxes: SA, DA, and fast-DA. Notably, the slow DA primer strikes were dead-on, exactly centered, just as the SA's were
Final Results: with y'alls help, and an ex-military friend of mine from work, I am accepting this timing problem as a challenge. I probably did pay too much for this gun.... Supicas' Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson puts this 29-3 at about 500 (2006 edition), so perhaps the mark-up was too much, but another store in my area is selling a 29-2 for even more than mine. Also I am of the mindset that although this is my first USED handgun, I shouldnt expect perfection out of a 27 yr old revolver, so I will take this one on as learning lesson. I'm almost 2 years now as a gun owner and student, and I have learned that there is something to be learned, every single step of the way.
So first off is a good, quality cleaning, which I am going to pay to have done, since there is grease involved and I dont know how to apply grease correctly (my others dont have any grease at all....hmm)
Second, the Cylinder Stop and Cylinder Spring, as Old Fuff pointed out. The Stop definetely shows signs of wear, and the spring... who knows? A tighter spring may be all thats needed to engage the Stop in the cylinder notches. (and thank you Old Fuff, I have made a note of your "backwards-spring" incident - -good to know that that is possible)
Also yes, Old Fuff, the cylinder notches are peened, but not burred. To my inexperienced eye, they look as one might expect after 27 years of service.
And thirdly, as RCModel and Mr Borland pointed out, it could be more serious due to what "Bobby Bubba the shade-tree gunsmith " did to the gun over the years, and possible require sear spring and trigger work.
Either way, I have decided to take this on as a challenge. Education isnt free, and I have no problem with paying a decent, reasonable tuition, however you'll forgive me if I DON'T recommend the gun store that sold me this gun. They are akin to used-car salesman, in my opinion, and while I am a sucker for a pretty face and a pretty gun, I dont generally get fooled twice.
Thank you everybody - - - mike