Revolver Sticky Extraction

NO primer pockets will show over pressure . Sticky cases can be due to several factors ,oil from fingers on cases or sizing residue ,oil in cylinders or again powder residue . Mine generally pop out but sometimes need persuasion . Depends how much 4227 I run as to the degree of sticky . Remember there's a fair amount of case and it DOES expand in the cylinder ,so a little sticky IS OK . IF You have to tap the ejection rod , CLEAN everything and look closely at primers .

It's not the only cause but it is an important indicator. Have your cylinders checked to verify they are smooth. I don't believe contamination like oil would cause normal extraction issues. I don't lube cases, so the only contamination I might deal with is a very light amount of oil used on the rod. If you have more than a light palm tap on the extractor stop.

I had a 357 with sticky extractions, likely from 38 Spcl's. I took a cleaning brush and wrapped a little steel wool around it. Put the brush in a drill and carefully polished the cylinders. No issues after that.

Lee Q. Loader said:

Revolver sticky extraction, does it ALWAYS mean overpressure?
I've got some 44 mag loads with AA #9 that are sticky and are a full grain under max load.
Specifically 240 Grain XTP is sticky at 19.5, Hodgdon shows a max of 20.5.
Is sticky extraction usually the first sign of overpressure?

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Do you shoot waxed of wax-lubed lead .44Spl's in this gun? If so, check to make sure you don't have a crud ring where the .44Spl seats.

Lee Q. Loader said:

No, I shoot powder coated SWC and Jacketed SP's and HP's in 44 Mag cases.

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Then I'd go with rough cylinder walls or excessive pressure but No.9's not known to be a spiky powder. Do factory hunting or self-defense loads stick? Those ought to be in the top of the pressure curve.

Lee Q. Loader said:

I have some factory Sig V Crown 240 gr rounds. These were given to me when I purchased the revolver. I never shoot anything but my reloads. I will shoot the V Crowns and see if they are sticky. Thanks!

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Should only take one cylinder to know. It's important it be a full cylinder.

If the factory rounds still stick, it is probably roughness of the cylinder walls.
I have two S&W .22 revolvers, a 6” Model 48 .22 WMR and a 4” Model 34 .22 LR that had very sticky extraction. I bought chamber hones from Amazon, and using my drill press and oil I was able to polish the chambers so neither one has sticky extraction anymore.

Stay safe.

My #9 i just opened, seemed to be a HOT batch? My high pressure signs in 357 & 44 mag are hard extraction & primer flow.
Will fired brass go back into the same chamber easily?

Age of brass- Cases fired many time may not spring back as much after firing.. Nickel brass more then brass cases.

Lee Q. Loader said:

Is sticky extraction usually the first sign of overpressure?

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https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?media/albums/high-pressure-signs.148/

Handguns are harder to read then rifles, but 357 & 44 mag brass will stick in the chambers with high pressure.
W296 in 44 mag can do damage before brass sticks. Takes many rounds. Not good running maximum all the time. (M29-2)

Could possibly be tighter chambers. Not all are cut the same. My latest Python cylinder is sticky with the same loads that run well in my Smiths and Rugers. The primers will flatten some as well. ymmv

Any pictures of the cases that stick?

You could always take a .44/45 Cal. Bore mop with JB paste and mineral spirits paint thinner ,electric drill and Rod tip to mount the bore mop ,give each cylinder #4-6 swirls . Clean it see if that solves the problem .

BushMaster-15 said:

You could always take a .44/45 Cal. Bore mop with JB paste and mineral spirits paint thinner ,electric drill and Rod tip to mount the bore mop ,give each cylinder #4-6 swirls . Clean it see if that solves the problem .

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I had to do this with an old Ruger Super Blackhawk. The chambers were noticable rough, no possible way to mistake it.

Worked out fine, just go slooowww.

You never mentioned what make, vintage of revolver, new/used, history of hot loads?

Back I the day I remember reading (might have been a Ross Seyfried article) that the little, tiny "web" of steel on the cylinder stop cutout, where the bolt would drop into locking the cylinder (and where the steel is the thinnest on a 6 shot S&W) deformed, almost imperceptibly creating a similar situation to yours.

He claimed in the article that it could only be seen under extremely bright light.

Seems like a long shot though.

Good luck!

I run Hunting loads of .44 mag. 225 Gr. in excess of 22.5 Gr. IMR 4227 , It's identical with Win 296 ,although I or MY pistol prefers IMR for accuracy . It's funny peculiar how different loading manuals list different Maximum loads .

IF I jump up to 240 Gr. pills then Max load is 22.5 Gr. with IMR 4227 and again ditto with 296 powder .

Now old Hercules now Alliant 2400 was Maxed at 21.0 Gr. with 225 Gr. bullets . And 19.5 Gr. with 240 Gr. bullets

I want to caution anyone using this data ,as it's OLD SCHOOL and REFERENCE ONLY . I shoot OLDER powders and have Guns which are Safe to shoot it in . Model 629 6" Dirty Harry studio collector and MY Ruger Redhawk hunting pistol . The Blown one ISN'T or WASN'T mine !.

Where I see some folks getting into trouble is substituting PRIMERS , MAGNUM cartridges REQUIRE magnum Primers ,unless duly noted by a reputable reloading manual .

Changing primers can result in SERIOUS burn rate alteration of the pressure curve and can be DEVASTATING !. See Photo .

As I batched early in My career for Hercules Powder mainly industrial division but also sporting powder production ,I've seen a thing or two .

The #1 REASON powder Companies published loading data ,was to ensure customers SAFETY and they didn't spend Millions of dollars doing load development pressure testing and powder selection , So customers would decide for themselves what amount of powder works best in a particular cartridge case ,with whatever bullet weight they had on hand .

I personally witnessed a MAJOR malfunction on the Trap line one evening ,where a fellow shooter /reloader made his own recipe apparently . Sadly we'll Never know WHY ,as he was KILLED and the shooter next to Me took barrel shrapnel which saved MY Butt . I knew George Well and he had just purchased a New sweet O/U and must have mixed up recipes ,using the wrong powder or had flash over of too little powder ?. Police labs NEVER released any pertinent information regarding that aspect of the investigation .

Flash over explosions ARE REAL . I'll post more on that IF anyone is interested in the appropriate venue .