I d don't know why S&W revolvers aren't polished like some of the cheaper competition revolvers. They look like they're finished by a bunch of orangutans with sandpaper (no offense)! I usually buy a tub of Mother's metal polish, then use cotton balls to beautify it while watching a movie. Of course, some people like the sandpaper look, and maybe you do, too, but the crisscrossing of very fine lines bothers the living daylights out of me. Of course there's no accounting for taste.
The one I picked up was the first Ive seen around here. Even the 317's dont seem to be very common, as Ive only seen one other around here in any of the shops. They arent cheap either.
Some of us prefer the matte finish to mirror polished. The matte finish generally holds up a little better too. Ive bead-blasted more than a couple of scratched up, brightly polished SS handguns in the past just for that reason.I d don't know why S&W revolvers aren't polished like some of the cheaper competition revolvers. They look like they're finished by a bunch of orangutans with sandpaper (no offense)! I usually buy a tub of Mother's metal polish, then use cotton balls to beautify it while watching a movie. Of course, some people like the sandpaper look, and maybe you do, too, but the crisscrossing of very fine lines bothers the living daylights out of me. Of course there's no accounting for taste.
Yours is an older gun, and I would prefer that over what seems to be available today.My S&W 317 was acquired in a trade and at first I didn't like it at all. But it grew on me and is now one of my favorite guns and is packed in my bugout bag. So tastes change over time.
PatRiot, I'm waiting on my M63 Smith, sent back to Springfield for that lead shaving issue. FEDEX has had it in Grandby, CT (<20 miles south of Springfield) since the 19th according to their tracking info.
The gun mic'd 0.010" at the top and 0.003" at the bottom of the cylinder/barrel gap; but shot beautiful groups with all 8 chambers...hated to send it back but that spitting lead scared the heck out of me, peppering my face on the left side.
Asked to have them put a solid, all steel front sight on it, regulated for top of the post impact at 10 yds. We'll see...still no word from S&W regarding that it was shipped tho, Fedex sent me updates on it's location....Rod
Works fine in SA but misfires at times in DA.
Some of us prefer the matte finish to mirror polished. The matte finish generally holds up a little better too. Ive bead-blasted more than a couple of scratched up, brightly polished SS handguns in the past just for that reason.
Polished SS is like having a black car. The slightest little thing on its finish stands right out and looks like hell.
I think a lot of that issue with the revolvers is due to fouling and the rounds not fully seating in their chambers.Lots of .22 revolvers do.
I think a lot of that issue with the revolvers is due to fouling and the rounds not fully seating in their chambers.
I use the same ammo in my revolvers and autos, and rarely have a fail to fire in the autos. The revolvers are usually pretty good when clean, but once you get a couple of hundred rounds through them, you start to see problems, especially if you arent paying attention when you load them, and make sure the rounds are seated fully in the chambers.
They may look like they are in there right, and the cylinder seems like it closes OK, but all it takes, is that round not having the rim against something solid, and that little movement when the hammer strikes and fully seating it, actually cushions the strike.
I clean my guns every time out, and with the 22's, they all seem to run fine when you first start shooting them. Its when they start getting dirty that they start getting grumpy, and they all eventually start to have issues. Just seems the revolvers are more sensitive to it.
And just like my centerfire revolvers, if you raise and lower the muzzle, you can hear the rounds falling back into the recoil shield and back into the cylinder.