Binding cylinder on brand new S&W model 63

[SKL]

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about cylinder binding on new S&W model 63 revolvers when using high velocity ammo such as Federal champion 36 gn hp 1260 fps ammo? I sent mine back to S&W because of cylinder binding right out of the box and just got it back. They stated on the paper work that the gun didn't require service but mini mags and hv ammo can't be used because the cylinder will bind. This doesn't sound right to me. Nowhere does it state in the manual that came with the gun or anywhere else that I have been that this revolver is limited to target ammo. I'll be grateful for all replies. Please see my more detailed post on the S&W furum. The link is below.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-model-63-cylinder-binding.html#post137531673

 

[rcmodel]

mini mags and hv ammo can't be used because the cylinder will bind.

Total unadulterated BS from whoever at S&W wrote that on the service sheet!!

All S&W Kit Gun's (34's, 63's, 317's) will & should shoot anything you can stuff in the holes, and they always did from the very first one made!!

I have a 34, and a 317, and they just don't care what you shoot in them.

Call them back and whine like a whipped dog until they send you another call tag to fix it right this time.

rc

 

[Old Fuff]

Before you do what rcmodel subgested, use a set of feeler guages to check the cylinder/barrel gap. What they might have been trying to say (and not doing it very well) is that the ammunition they cited will lead up the cylinder face and the back end of the barrel enough so that the cylinder binds.

That said, rcmodel is correct- it shouldn't.

 

[rcmodel]

I'm thinking it is more likely rough chambers, a bur on the recoil shield, or an oversize firing pin hole.

*Rough chambers will keep the empty expanded brass from sliding back into place after firing so the cylinder is free to rotate.

*A bur or rough spot on the recoil shield will dig into the fired case head and do the same thing.

*If the firing pin hole allows Hi-Speed brass to extrude into it, the same result will result.


I have never in my life seen a revolver lead the cylinder face & barrel shank enough to cause hard rotation.

Thick leading there is pretty much self-cleaning, and any that is thick enough to retard cylinder rotation gets blown off the next shot.



PS: It is also possible the firing pin retractor spring is missing, stacked up, or broken, and the FP is staying out and hanging in the case rim dent.

rc

 

[witchhunter]

Good call RC, mine eats Vipers. all day. They all should be able to use ANY 22 LR ammo. They should also still be made like they were in the 80's like mine or better yet the 1900's like my .32WCF.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I have had 2 model 63's that had rough chambers or undersize. Made when Bangor Punta owned them. One had hard extraction and the other had hard chambering, but no binding.

 

[Jim K]

How many shots will it fire without/before binding up?

When it does bind up, does it free up after a time, or must it be cleaned before the cylinder is free?

When it is bound up, can the cylinder be opened or the cylinder rotated by hand after the cylinder stop is disengaged?

Jim

 

[PapaG]

I have had two. Both from the 70s. Both were good for two to three cylinders full before getting tight. Very tight cylinder gaps (.001 to .002). Need to rap the ejector rod with a plastic mallet to empty the fourth cylinder full.
Should have contacted Smith but the last one was Dad's and is a safe queen now.

 

[SKL]

Thanks for the replies. Please see the entire thread on the S&W forum. The link is below.
The gun began binding up brand new out of the box during the first cylinder of shooting Federal champion 36 gn hp 1260 fps ammo. The same ammo shot fine in a few other guns including a 317, 34, 617 and others. I noticed that some of the ammo would come out of the gun with scuff marks on the casing from brushing against the firing pin bushing. This started immediately before the gun even had a chance to get dirty. I sent it to S&W and 2 weeks later received it back with the document stating that the gun didn't require service but mini mags and hv ammo can't be used because the cylinder will bind. I was very, very surprised to say the least. Upon further examination I noticed that the scuff marks were no longer happening on the casings. I went to the shooting range and fired 200+ rounds of the same ammo (including 48 rds of mini mags without a single bind up. I went back to the range today and shot 250+ more of the samo without a single problem. Contrary to the service report, I seem to believe that something must have been done at S&W to correct the problem and I certainly won't accept the explaination that these rounds shouldn't be used in a model 63. (please see entire thread on S&W forum. Link is below.). Thanks again for replying and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
S.K.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-model-63-cylinder-binding.html#post137531673

 

[SKL]

Please see attachment for copy of service report. After receiving that report I phoned S&W and after a very long wait finally spoke to a cs agent. He could not access any information about this case but stated that the comment about the hv ammo was accurate. I still don't buy it.

 

[Ron James]

I have a S&W 63, when it was new INB it would bind with certain ammo, sent it back, came back with a new set of target grips in the box ( I don't think they do that anymore ) and almost repaired. I spent a few minutes polishing the chambers gently, and lo and behold for the past several years it has been perfect. I'll sell my first born and my dog before I ever got rid of that gun. But of course that was just my experience and others may have different results. Yes, I think very highly of that little 63, it has been many a mile with me.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

That's not the S & W that I knew. Whoever wrote that not to use h/v or mini mags. is just plain wrong. I would call them after the holidays and tell them to fix it.

 

[243winxb]

Not all ammo is created equal

The cylinder face had some chambers with high spots that needed faced off with a lathe. Had some cheap promotional high speed ammo that left a lead ring in the barrel. M17.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Thanks for the replies. Please see the entire thread on the S&W forum. The link is below.
The gun began binding up brand new out of the box during the first cylinder of shooting Federal champion 36 gn hp 1260 fps ammo. The same ammo shot fine in a few other guns including a 317, 34, 617 and others. I noticed that some of the ammo would come out of the gun with scuff marks on the casing from brushing against the firing pin bushing. This started immediately before the gun even had a chance to get dirty. I sent it to S&W and 2 weeks later received it back with the document stating that the gun didn't require service but mini mags and hv ammo can't be used because the cylinder will bind. I was very, very surprised to say the least. Upon further examination I noticed that the scuff marks were no longer happening on the casings. I went to the shooting range and fired 200+ rounds of the same ammo (including 48 rds of mini mags without a single bind up. I went back to the range today and shot 250+ more of the samo without a single problem. Contrary to the service report, I seem to believe that something must have been done at S&W to correct the problem and I certainly won't accept the explaination that these rounds shouldn't be used in a model 63. (please see entire thread on S&W forum. Link is below.). Thanks again for replying and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
S.K.

For me it was just dirty under the ejecting star. They probably cleaned it as well as the front of the cylinder and the forcing cone and everything is fine now. I use a teeth brush to keep the whole area under the ejecting star and the ejecting star itself as clean and dry as I can to avoid any cylinder binding during a range sessions with my .22L.R. revolver. It's a common problem with all revolvers and .22L.R. revolvers in particular.
See if it get any worse shooting fast DA than shooting slow SA; in that case it coulde be either a heating problem or the forcing cone collecting lead faster. I shoot CCI MiniMag from my .22L.R. guns and it's a very clean round; also the copper-plated bullet is alot less prone to lead-up the forcing cone.
Merry Christmas.

 

[snooperman]

My grandson had the same problem and seems to be plain sloppy stuff coming out of S&W now days. That type of complaint 30 years ago and longer was rare, but with the prices they charge their products should be better. That is why I buy the older S&W guns now.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I forgot to mention that it's also a good thing to keep the counterbores as clean as you can with a teeth brush and make sure the rounds are seated all the way inside the chambers before closing the cylinder.
It could be also an unscrewed extractor rod that caused the problem.

 

[SKL]

I've received a reply to the e mail that I sent to S&W asking for a more detailed explaination of what was done to this gun while it was at S&W. I also questioned the comment "Can't use mini-mags or HV ammo - cyl. will bind" that was written on the service report that was sent back with the returned gun.
According to the reply there was indeed a repair done to the frame to increase the cylinder gaps front and rear, and the reason for the hv ammo comment is that the cases tend to swell and result in extraction problems. For me, extraction of the Federal Champion 36 gn hv ammo has never been a problem including in the model 63. Yes, extraction can be a little stiff at times, but still very managable and not enough to make me avoid using the ammo. Thanks again for all the replies.
S.K.

 

[Confederate]

The paperwork that came back with the gun didn't state what was done to the gun and although there were boxes that could be checked off, they were all blank. The only thing that was stated on the paper was "can't use mini mags or hv ammo. Cyl will bind."

Well, that's not acceptable. CCI Mini-Mags have never given me any problems and I certainly wouldn't pay hundreds of dollars for a gun that doesn't take the only ammo I shoot on a long-term basis. It's like getting a kayak from a manufacturer that says, "not designed to be used in white water or rapids."

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