cylinder stuck

[Border]

I appear to have a bullet that became "uncrimped" so that my cylinder on my 686 won't move. One bullet appears stuck in the barrel. Suggestions?

Thanks so much!

 

[BigG]

Take a close fitting dowel and drive it back into cylinder. Carefully.

 

[Border]

Thanks.

Apparently there was primer but no powder. I have put various things down there in an effort to push it back without result. Hopefully I have not damaged the barrel. What do gunsmiths do to solve this? THe must get this kind of thing I would think, no?y

 

[BigG]

I think I described the classic fix. A stiff cleaning rod will also serve in a pinch.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Wood, brass....sumpin not hard but pretty close to bore size.
Smack it back into the chamber.
Wear glasses and keep it pointed toward your least valuable parts.

Sam

 

[Mannlicher]

I agree with the wood dowel. the trick is getting the bullet to go back into the case. Usually the bullet expands a little bit when it hits the rifling. If the cartridge case mouth did not expand enough, it is really hard to get the slug back in to the case.

Have you considered taking the cylinder out? Then the condition of the bullet and case no longer matter, just drive it backwards with a mallet and dowel.

 

[BigG]

I think, from his description, the slug is bridging the cylinder gap. If it's in the bbl, I agree with you Mannlicher.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've never had to try this myself, but have read lead shrinks more than steel in cold, so you may want to toss your revolver in the freezer for a couple hours, then use a wooden dowel to smack the bullet back into the cartridge case.

 

[Border]

Thanks guys! I managed to hammer it out with the right size dowel. Smaller tools like the cleaning rod just seemd to flatten and scar the lead a bit. The lead was a tad in the barrel. Live and learn. Not likely I will shoot any more of these re-loads but don't know if I am over reacting? I have about 240 left so it is tempting to try them again! What did I say about live and learn?

 

[Old Fuff]

Other then perhaps a .22, never use a cleaning rod to drive a bullet out of a barrel. Since the rod is much smaller then the bore it will usually expand the bullet and make it fit tighter. This is especially true if the bullet's being pounded with a rod that's threaded on the end, but nothing is screwed into the hole. Always use a rod or dowel that is as close to bore size as possible.

 

[Penforhire]

Border, it would be a pain but you could load only singles to use up that ammo.

 

[Chuck from arkansaw]

What you need is a range rod. A slightly under bore size rod of brass or even better, copper. I have saved many trips to the range for myself and others by being able to dislodge a bullet from the bore when the powder was missing or didn't ignite. It happens more than you might think, even with factory ammo. When you shoot several hundred rounds a week, reloading is absolutely necessary, you learn to cope.