Tight Chambers in .22LR Revolver

[Geezer59]

I've got a Bangor Punta vintage (early 1980's) S&W Model 63 that I bought new. It looks good, is well timed, but has been used very little because of an annoying characteristic. The chambers are so tight that loading just about any .22LR ammo is a chore - the rounds have to be pressed into the cylinder recesses very firmly in order to allow the cylinder to close. They most emphatically do not drop in. The gun fires normally, is quite accurate, but then comes the chore of emptying the cylinder. You cannot eject the empties by pressing on the end of the ejector rod. They just won't come out, even when hitting it with the heel of your hand. I keep a small nylon-tipped hammer in my range box, which is carefully used to knock out the fired casings.

The chambers are clean, the ammo (many brands) is quality. My logical conclusion is that the gun's cylinder has chambers that are below specification for diameter. Anyone else seen something like this, and are there any recommended fixes (ream the cylinder chambers)?

 

[Jim K]

Generally, cleaning will do the job, but some of those chambers are tight and worse, rough.* You might try just polishing the chambers with a slotted dowel with 600 or finer grit emery paper in a hand drill. Take it easy and test frequently.

But if all else fails, yes, you can have a gunsmith ream those chambers or do it yourself if you want to invest in the reamer.

The best course, if it works, is to call S&W. The gun has some age on it, but S&W might tell you to return it on their dime (they are pretty good that way, even with older guns).

*In that era of cost cutting, S&W sharpened and used reamers beyond the point they should have; the result was chambers that were both small and rough.

Jim