Question about my model 28

NO! Don't stone any of the breech face. You may have some excessive headspace issues with that gun. The most common cause of the problem you are describing is simply the cartridge cases have a sharp 90 degree corner on the case head and they are snagging that cut when the gun is rotated pointed up. I would advise you knock the corners off of the case heads so they will slide over that corner or use another brand of ammo or take it to a real gunsmith and have him check it out.

I think you'll find that the problem will go away when firing live ammo. Snap caps are not to normal spec and have a tendancy to flop around in the chamber more.

Not that I'm advising aiming the gun in the air, take it shooting and then keep 6 spent cartridges to try it out with.

Charlie you are not a moron. A moron would have tried to "fix" it before asking questions. Don't let this bother you. I'm sure there is at least one other out there somewhere who didn't ask and ruined their gun. Ask away.

Glad you got it figgered out.

Now go shoot it and enjoy it.

Some snap caps have the material in the primer pocket that sits proud of the shell head; this can also cause binding trouble.
No great sin in stoning off a rough spot on the recoil shield, but be very, very careful doing it. As noted, you can make headspace issues if you take off too much at the wrong spot.
That's a fine, big revolver. Enjoy.
Moon

If you were a moron, you would have had the Dremel out and REALLY fixed that nice old Smith!

One of my favorite revolvers-you will really like shooting it!

mark

When I did private security the company I worked for would allow only 38 Special ammo. That is what I have mostly shot in my 28-2 and all my 357s for that matter. I would not feel uneasy at all about giving the 28-2 a steady diet of Magnums considering that it was designed and built with that ammo in mind. Now a days I shoot mostly 38 Special because my wife has considered getting her concealed carry permit and she can't handle the magnum well. She will also be using my 2 1/2" 66 as her carry gun. I'm glad she made a good choice. Essentially it has become her gun and I can borrow it from time to time for old times sake.

You don't need to baby an N frame.

I shoot more .38's because they are cheaper. You just need to clean the cylinder before shooting .357s in it.

motorcycle-charlie said:

do you guts with the 27s and 28s run a steady diet of .357s in them or use them sparingly like a K frame? i know the N frame is quite a bit stouter in comparison but just curiois what you older N frame owners shoot through em.

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Hi,
You don't have to baby a model 28 with 357 magnum ammo. The N frame S&W revolvers were built to take a steady diet of 357 ammo. And because of there weight and the way the weight is distributed in a persons handle, they are one of the best for shooting 357s. They are very pleasant to shoot. I have a 28-2 4 inch. It is probably the best revolver I have ever had for shooting 357s.
Good luck,
Howard