625 froze up good now...

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judgedelta

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I had a thread going on reloading regarding my new to me 625 Model of 1989, which was hanging up from the brass backing up in the cylinder and binding up against the frame. I figured there was something wrong with my reloads, so today I got some Winchester white box and took her out.

After 5 shots, it is locked up good now and doesn't look like I can get it open. The guy I bought it from indicated it had around 300 rounds through it. Now I can see why. It doesn't have a mark on it except for the turn line.

Does anyone suppose it could have short chambers? It is marked ".45 cal model of 1989" but it doesn't indicate .45 ACP. It has me beat.

Anyone had a similar experience? I'm sure I'm going to have to send it back, or send it somewhere. It still has one live round in the cylinder. Suggestions , comments, commiserations?

Thanks.
 
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Curiouser and curiouser. Allison at S & W advises me that my pistol, which was born in 1992, is not a .45 ACP, but a .45 Colt. Anyway I've got to get the live one out before I can ship it.
 
For my own knowledge, are there ACP or LC rounds stuck in it now?

Will LC rounds chamber in it?

Hard to say without seeing it. Can you block the hammer in place, even back a little? If so, how about tapping it muzzle down, just using it's own weight to see if you can move the shells forward in the cylinder? Good penetrating oil soaking around them overnight may help (make sure it won't eat up the finish if left overnight).

Enough room for something like a feeler gauge to slide in behind them and maybe push them forward?

Can it be disassembled as it is now?
 
Possibly,

if it's primer material inside the firing pin tunnel that is freezing the action up,

then,

if you can push the cylinder release fully forward,

a SOFT rubber mallet might open the action.

Just keep tapping on the cylinder (while it is pointed in a safe direction) and see if it opens.

But, since I've not seen the gun, it's only a guess.

Please post pictures and maybe we can give a SWAG.

Can you check to see if a bullet is stuck in the barrel somehow?

Deaf
 
is your ejector rod loose? that could be binding up the cylinder.

murf
 
By "locked up" do you mean the cylinder will not rotate or the cyl. release is not allowing the cylinder to open? Are you using moon clips? Please do not beat it open - you'll just do more damage.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, but it was a casing forced back against the indention (bushing) where the firing pin comes out. The depth of that indentation is about the same amount that the primers have been backing out. I took a small thin kitchen knife and a small ball peen hammer and got it to move forward enough to release the cylinder. Small scratch on the frame, but I didn't know anything else to do...

A .45 Colt cartridge (Win. 255 gr. LRN) lacks a half inch going into the cylinder. The cylinder is only about a 1/16" longer than the .45 Colt cartridge. So if S & W's records show this was made as a .45 Colt, it's got me puzzled.

Just measured the chamber with calipers. It is 0.834 as well as I can tell. Just measured the case on the .45 auto rim and it is 0.807. Reckon the chambers are just too tight? Or the firing pin bushing is too far in? This gun was back at the performance center at S&W in Nov. '14. Don't know what they did.
 
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Is the FP bushing flush with the recoil shield or protruding slightly??

My 625-6 .45 ACP Mountain Gun.
Moon clip = .038" thick.

Loaded clip clearance between case heads and recoil shield.
An .005" feeler gage will pass, a .006" gage will not.

Without a moon clip and a round in the chamber = a .025" feeler gage is tight, but will slip fit.

Hope this helps.

PS: While you are at it.
Take a bore brush & solvent with 0000 Super Fine steel wool wrapped around it in a cordless drill, and clean the chambers clear down to what Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson left in there!!

rc
 
RC: The firing pin bushing is recessed, just about the same amount as the primer protrusion. I'll have to find a feeler gauge set and check the clearance. The gun gets tighter and tighter with every shot (cumulative primer drag on the frame?) until it stops with an empty round under the firing pin. I'll clean the chambers, none will drop freely after firing.
Thanks.
 
Well, there's your problem!

The FP bushing should be flush, or even slightly proud of the recoil shield.

Otherwise?

When a round fires, pressure backs the primer out to take all available headspace.
Then, chamber pressure blows the case back in the chamber and re-seats the primer flush with the case head against the FP bushing.

Then the case is free to slip back all the way in the chamber to free the cylinder to rotate.

If your FP bushing is below flush with the recoil shield, it can't fully reseat the fired primer so the cylinder is free to rotate.

You need to send the gun back to S&W to have a new FP busing correctly fitted.

rc
 
I sold mine about a year ago. Never had any problems with it. You are using moon clips! It will shoot without but a lot better with moon clips. Also the only markings are cal. 45 of 1989. I just didn't shoot it anymore. Good luck.
 
S & W emailed me a Fedex pre-paid label and it was picked up this AM. This gun spent most of last November at the performance center, but the customer service person didn't tell me what they did. Funny, the guy that sold it to me earlier this month didn't mention any problems.....
 
" Funny, the guy that sold it to me earlier this month didn't mention any problems.....

Of course he didn't mantion problems. He wanted to get his money but if there were problems the price might have dropped.
 
Back from the factory. 11 days turnaround. New firing pin bushing, better than new. Different than a 1911, but accurate and I don't have to look for the brass. The plastic moon clips,while expensive, are great...
 
Steel clips are better. You just need a de mooner tool to deal with them.
 
I've got the order form, but I was waiting to try it out before I bought anything else.
 
Glad it is working well now. I foolishly sold a 625. Sometimes I worry about me.
 
judgedelta

Glad to hear that you got your Model 625 back in good working order and with a pretty quick turnaround at that.
 
JERRY said:
a S&W that doesn't specify the caliber on the barrel?
Click to expand...
That's how S&W made them. "Model of 1989." That's it. But they ARE .45acp, for sure. Nobody knows why. And the older 625s will work just fine with or without moon clips.
 
I wouldn't say "all of them" will. I have a Model of 1988 that will not. I have seen others that also would not.:scrutiny:
 
In general, OLDER 625s will function fine without clips.

I had a Model Of 1989 that would, and my 625 Mountain Gun will, all day long.

Those Smith N-Frame .45 ACPs made after '89 that I've personally had here would not.
Denis

Forgot- The blued Heritage Model 1917 I have will also function fine without clips.
 
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OP - glad S&W repaired it for you. I have a 625-6, Model of 1989, 5" bbl and it is my favorite range handgun. Shoots with or without moon clips although I love the moon clips. 45 ACP out of a round gun, whats not to love?

regards
 
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