342PD Jammed by Too-long Shotshell

[John]

I was firing shotshells in my 342PD when the fifth round refused to cycle to firing position, because it is too long - the plastic casing protrudes beyond the end of the cylinder.

Smith & Wesson says I can't send it back to them because it has a live round in it (even though it's not possible for the round to get to the firing chamber).

I can't open the cylinder with too-long round next-up-to-fire position.

No local gunsmith.

Any advice?

 

[ChristopherG]

It didn't start out too long, right? The plastic shotshell worked its way out of the case under the recoil of the previous four rounds. So, judiciously push it back in. You could even, very gently, and with an object that won't scratch your titanium cylinder if you slip, tap it back in. The rear end of the case will but against the frame of the gun, but will do so on the rim, rather than the primer (though don't test this by giving it a mighty John Henry blow). When my 340 locked up, it was with Winchester Silvertips; I'd think that little plastic shotcase would be much easier to push back in.

And, don't use them again, needless to say (though perhaps not needless, since you ignored the warning on the barrel concerning bullet weights in the first place? There is such a warning on the 342, isn't there, or is that just the 340?).

Cg

 

[E357]

John: Take a thin piece of plastic/cardboard etc. and slip it under the cylinder - between the cylinder bolt and cylinder. Then you can rotate the cylinder clockwise enough to get it open.

That little thing that catches in the notches of the cylinder is called the "cylinder bolt". You can also take a toothpick to push in the "catch" at the front of the extractor rod if needed.

Elliot

 

[John]

Christopher,

That is not what happened. I tried pushing back on the unfired shotshell, but it is quite firm and immoveable. I checked my remaining two boxes of shotshells, and there was one that came from the manufacturer that is as long as the one that will not cycle. It too is quite firm in resisting any attempt to push it back to the size of all the other shotshells.

E357,

Many thanks. I will try what you recommend.

John

 

[John]

Well, Christopher, you had the right idea after all. I could not get E357's suggestion to work, so I tried pushing on the plastic end of the shotshell again, and it went back flush with the end of the cylinder.

Also, I said the shotshell that had not been in a gun but was elongated was "firm" in position, but I think that may have been an untested assumption combined with thinking I had done something I didn't really do. I had already disposed of it when I managed to depress the one that was in the gun, so I could not go back and test it according to your comment.

Thanks much!

John

 

[John]

I just retrived the shotshell I had disposed of, and it too responded to pressure to put it back to normal length.

Thanks for the education.

 

[ChristopherG]

Glad it worked out for you, John
CG