M17 & gummed-up charge holes

[Col. Harrumph]

I absolutely love my 8 3/8 inch Model 17, purchased in 1978... except for its charge holes, which require frequent brushing or else cartridges must be forced in. I'm using CCI SV because that's all the LGS carries, except for the occasional brick of Aguila.

What brands leave little residue behind?

Oh yeah, the pic:

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Charge holes?

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Charge holes?

Yeah, that is S&W Speak for chambers.

I cannot help with a clean brand of 22 ammo, but my Model 17-3 also has tight 'charge holes', and they must be scrubbed out frequently.

I bought my Model 17-3 brand-spanky new in 1975.

 

[GooseGestapo]

AKA chambers.
Smith&Wesson’s terminology is “charge holes”....
Cylinder is hung on a Yoke...


Cranes are BURDs, Ya Know!
And yeah, my M617 has tight “charge holes”
Crazy thing just LOVES Remington Golden .22’s. They are also the “loosest fitting” ammo. Some Eley match ammo had to be firmly pressed to fully seat in the cylinder.

Probably CCI “quiet” leaves the least residue in my experience. That, and CB’s.. or Aguila Super Colibri. Oddly, CCI Stingers aren’t bad...

But I just carry a short rod and brush when shooting at the range.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Yeah, and that thing on the hammer that strikes a primer is called the Hammer Nose.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Ok thanks. Learned something new.

 

[StrawHat]

Most folks with this problem have the charge holes cleaned up with a finish reamer. You can also use an Irish reamer once he sobers up!

It is not uncommon with S&W rimfire revolvers that the ammunition sticks in the chambers. Reaming prevents this.


Kevin

 

[J-Bar]

Cleaning is not a bad thing.

I have to do my S&W .22 revolvers less often with CCI Standard Speed cartridges. They are also less expensive than many others at the moment, about $5 per box of 50 at the Bass Pro mother ship in Springfield, MO.

 

[Jonesy814]

I ave found Federal 36gr plated up in the red, 500 round bulk packs to be one of the cleaner burning 22 rounds. I notice a big difference after running 300 or more rounds through my 15-22. Even in my 10 shot model 617, I'll notice its easier to clean than before I started using them

 

[AzShooter1]

My 617 will have sticky charge holes if I use Aguila or CCI - SV and Mini Mags after a few cylinders full.

I've been using Federal BYOB and Champions as well as Remington Golden Bullets lately for matches and I can go well over 500 rounds before having to brush out the charge holes.

I'm going to try CCI - Clean and Eley Force next to see how they hold up but I have a few thousand Federals to keep me going for now.

I did use a finishing reamer on the cylinder. It helps a lot.

 

[DR505]

I second the idea of using a finishing reamer in S&W .22 charge holes. My 17-4, 17-6, and 18-3 all have difficult extraction after just a few rounds. I am ordering a finishing reamer from Brownells. The reamer will cut them to SAAMI specs.

 

[Pat Riot]

Cleaning is not a bad thing.

Yep! It does make a difference.

Another thing that helps with sticky chambers is polishing them.

 

[Tallball]

The Remington Golden seem cleaner than average to me, also.

 

[Riomouse911]

I bought a chamber hone, disassembled the cylinder and using my drill press and oil honed the cylinders of several of my rimfire revolvers. This stopped cases from sticking in my 6” .22 WMR Model 48-3, another .22 LR hone was used for my Model 34, Model 18, Dan Wesson and Single Six.

Stay safe.

 

[InTheField]

I used a finish reamer (Mason) on both my 17 and my 18 a few months ago. Made a WORLD of difference. Wish I had done this decades ago. It is like owning entirely different revolvers. No more hard clambering and ejection is a breeze!