Mod 37 picky

[timburn]

Thanks in advance.
Bought early 60's S&W airweight. trying different ammo. Trying to stay non +P. I have found that only certain rounds will fully seat in the cylinder. My hand loads and S&B 158 do not seat and cylinder will not swing closed. Very odd. Both drop right in the Taurus 85. What does this gun like? Different carry rounds have been done over and over. I found the re-released Federal Nyclad 125. Shoot OK 4"low at 30'. What else will fit in cylinder. Any thoughts on why this is happening?
Timburn

 

[MMCSRET]

Maybe you need to really, really clean the chambers. A build up of powder and/or bullet lube or jacket fouling would contribute to the problem. My early Model 37 will chamber any 38 Special round I've tried.

 

[788Ham]

Take a section of a cleaning rod, one you can attach cleaning tips onto. Attach a bronze bore brush, get a piece of 0000 steel wool, wrap a small hunk around the brush, attach to a elec. hand drill, apply some Hoppes #9 to the brush/wool and "lightly" scrub the cylinder bores with the brush, in and out several times. This should take care of your problem, probably hasn't ever been cleaned like this.

 

[pete950]

If you reload take a empty 357 case and slightly bell it and push in to were it scrapes the carbon out of the chamber. Or take a new patch soak in what ever solvent you use and swab the chambers and let them it sit for about 15 mins brush them out and run a patch through the chambers. if that dosent work use 38 Wadcutters they are just fine for practice and self defense.

 

[Nomad]

I agree, I have an early 70s Mod 37 and I haven't had the problem so I'm guessing there is some build up in the chambers.

It is a bit challanging to find ammo for a 37 that is not +P and will expand from a short barrel and still hit to point of aim at 7-10 yds.

 

[Lone Star]

You are using Czech ammo that may not be made to SAAMI specs, and the Taurus may have sloppier chambers that accept your handloads, which you may have loaded this ammo to fit.

Try some fresh premium US brand ammo. If that and thorough cleaning don't handle the issue, the particular cylinder may not have met QC standards. I have encountered some S&W cylinders that were sloppy. A couple of their .357's even accepted fired .38 S&W (not .38 Special) cases. Some may have been on the tight side, too.

This is probably an ammo problem, but maybe a cleaning or QC issue.

Lone Star

 

[1KPerDay]

My 37 has no issues with S&B or any other .38 special ammo I've tried. But I keep it clean.

 

[billybob44]

As stated on this forum before-buy a COPPER Chore Boy pot scrubber-take a magnet with you when you buy, do not use steel. Cut some of the copper off of the Chore Boy and wrap it on a well used .38 cleaning brush, and run, with solvent with a slow drill. It will remove all dirt/lead without any metal out of your cyl. This works for me..Bill.

 

[ATAShooter]

Dad carried a M37. Dad was a big " keep it good and oily" type person and kept wadcutters in his. After Dad passed, I pulled out the old 37 and sure enough... same problem you got. I cleaned the gunk ( pocket fuzz & oil ) out of the ends of the chambers, and bingo, it chambers all now.

 

[rcmodel]

I doubt it has anything much to do with dirty chambers.

Open the cylinder and look for unburned powder flakes & crud stuck under the ejector star.
That holds it up out of the cylinder far enough to bind it up when closed with ammo in it.

Give it a good scrubbing with an old toothbrush & powder solvent.

rc

 

[Remllez]

Yep what remodel said, or look for a loose ejector rod or you may have to shorten your reloads a tad.