S&W cylinder binding tip

[rcmodel]

I have got two phone calls in the last three days from people wanting me to work on S&W's with cylinder binding problems.
They both wanted to know if I thought I could fix it, and how much it would cost if they had to send the guns back to S&W??

I told them no, I couldn't fix it, but they could.

All they needed to do was clean the unburned powder from under the extractor star with an old toothbrush.
Both called back within 15 minutes to tell me it worked!!
Of course it did!!

So heres a tip.
When ejecting cases from any DA revolver, point the barrel straight up.

That allows unburned powder to fall out on the ground, still inside the cases.

Instead of muzzle down, falling out of the cases when they clear the chambers.
And getting stuck under the ejector star and binding up the cylinder.

rc

 

[MrBorland]

Instead of muzzle down, falling out of the cases when they clear the chambers.

eh...Ejecting muzzle down? I can't even picture it. Life's better when gravity's your friend, not your enemy.

 

[rswartsell]

Great pic Mr. Borland! I like Mas Ayoob's youtube efforts on revolver reloads also.

 

[Walkalong]

It is surprising how many folks I have seen doing it barrel down and then picking at the empties that didn't fall.

Somebody taught me this real young, as I can't remember, or it just came naturally. Dunno which. I did not about the powder thing until joining THR though.

 

[buck460XVR]

At the range during normal practice shooting, I don't like pickin' my empties outta the dirt. I use the ejector and pick them out one at a time and place them back in the box. Ain't that hard to keep it clean under the star.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

compressed air is our friend

 

[340PD]

Another help is to wire brush the breech end of the barrel face. Buildup will contribute to problems.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/2011/01/04/ammunition_st_lowdownleadfoul_201002/

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Gravity is your friend.

 

[JRH6856]

And then there is the loose ejector rod...

 

[HKGuns]

And then there is the loose ejector rod...

I'll say...after cleaning my M27 from a range trip the darn cylinder wouldn't close and I being an inexperienced revolver shooter couldn't figure out why!

Took me 15 minutes to figure out the ejector rod had unscrewed a bit keeping it from going back in properly. Glad I didn't force something. Obviously this was the first time I'd ever run into this situation.

 

[rcmodel]

All this is true.
But it isn't what those guys called me about.
They called about cylinder binding / hard rotation.

However, a loose extractor rod doesn't cause cylinder binding or hard rotation.

It causes it to be impossible to open the cylinder with the thumb latch.

The cylinder still spins freely and works just fine.
You just can't open it.

rc

 

[Hondo 60]

I hate bendin over to get my brass, so I just cup the extractor with my right hand & hit the end of the rod with my left.
All with pointing the muzzle up

 

[JRH6856]

All this is true.
But it isn't what those guys called me about.
They called about cylinder binding / hard rotation.

However, a loose extractor rod doesn't cause cylinder binding or hard rotation.

It causes it to be impossible to open the cylinder with the thumb latch.

The cylinder still spins freely and works just fine.
You just can't open it.

rc

Not always. I once had a Rossi .38 on my bench that would bind the cylinder up against the forcing cone when the ejector rod got loose. (Think it really wanted to be a Nagant). But then, that was a Rossi and not a S&W.