Model 10 timing issue?

[honkeoki]

I recently purchased a Model 10. I didn't do the full checkout but this afternoon, while practicing for checking out other revolvers, I did so. I noticed what looked like shavings on one of the cylinders and also in the barrel. I tried to get a sample, to tell what they were made of, but my brush didn't retain anything I could identify.

So here's my question: do lead shavings in the barrel and one of the cylinders indicate a timing issue?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

 

[MCgunner]

It could. Could be a bent crane or even frame, something not allowing the cylinder to line up properly. Is it loose? Does it latch in every chamber as you cock it or does the cylinder still need to be turned a little to get it to latch?

 

[honkeoki]

The cylinder does lock properly. There's slight side-to-side wiggle even when the hammer's back, but never unlocking. The cylinder does latch itself on every cock of the hammer.

The crane doesn't wiggle, and doesn't look bent.

As far as I can tell, staring (carefully!) down the barrel, the cylinders line up properly. Except for those shavings.

 

[sgt127]

First off, as the guys at the Smith Armorers school will tell you, its a Smith, its supposed to have a little play in it. If you tried to build it up too tight, it quits being as reliable as it should be.

I can't tell from your post if you have shot it yet. If you are shooting it, and, its shaving lead, I doubt you will see it afterwards, the lead shavings will be blown out by the blast. If you want to, next time you shoot it, lay some heavy cardboard, vertically, about a foot and a half away from the side of the forcing cone. After you shoot it, look for chunks of lead stuck in the cardboard. Some powder will escape from the gap, and, may speckle the cardboard a little, but, you should be able to see if there are any substantial chips of lead in there. (lay the carboard against something, or hold a LONG piece of cardboard beside the gun, the blast coming out of the barrel cylinder gap can really tear up skin)

 

[MCgunner]

Could just be lead build up from firing lead bullets, but you need to keep it clean of that. I had my forcing cone split on my M10 and I'm pretty sure it was from lead build up I should have been keeping clean. A certain amount of that is normal, but it needs to be cleaned off. The K frame forcing cone is a weak spot in the design.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If in doubt have it checked by a Gunsmith. Better safe than....

 

[honkeoki]

I have shot it -- put 50 rounds through it at the range.

What's puzzling to me is that the shavings are showing up in just one cylinder, and the barrel. I suppose it's possible that there was something like sawdust in my range bag that crudded the gun up, but if that's the case I'd expect to see it in more than one cylinder.

I will have it checked out by a professional. Thanks for the input!

 

[Jim K]

Is the gun new or was it bought used? It sounds like one chamber is out of line, something that is rare, but happens once in a while.

If you can find a gunsmith with a range rod, have him check the alignment on all six chambers.

If the gun has the firing pin in the hammer, you can do a simple test:

MAKE SURE THE GUN IS UNLOADED! THEN MAKE SURE AGAIN. AND AGAIN!!!

Then cock the hammer and shine a small bright flashlight into the firing pin hole from the rear. Looking down the barrel from the muzzle, you can usually determine if one chamber is out of alignment.

No matter how the check is made, if one chamber is out of alignment, no one can correct it but S&W, so make arrangements to return the gun.

Jim

 

[madcratebuilder]

If your finding lead shavings in the chamber or barrel it may be from inserting a lead nose bullet. If it's shaving when firing, the shaving well not be in the gun.

 

[honkeoki]

To answer the direct questions:

1. I did buy it used -- lots of holster wear.

2. I was checking cylinder alignment (testing the checkout on a revolver I already own) when I spotted the shavings. I honestly can't tell whether or not the cylinder's aligned properly. Maybe I just need more light? I'll try again tonight.

madcratebuilder has a point, but for some reason the shavings appeared in just one cylinder and the barrel. Nowhere else.

Thanks for the input!