My Used Smith 65...Couple More Questions

[November]

I was looking over my new (used) purchase more closely the other night and noticed a couple of things. The feeler gauge for the cylinder/barrel gap from one side of the gun measures .008/.009, but from the other side goes .004/.005. What's that? An uneven forcing cone? Does that adversely affect anything? Also, this gun has a strange break in single action mode. I cock the hammer and the cylinder has no play. Then, I gently press the trigger just until the hammer falls, but not all the way to the frame. If I do this, the cylinder still has no play. However, if I continue and pull the trigger back to the frame like I would under normal conditions, then I feel and here a click and the cylinder then has a little play (normal wiggle). Does anyone know what that click is?

 

[Jim K]

A gunsmith can correct the forcing cone discrepancy, and make both sides .008/009. But I see no reason to bother unless the cylinder is binding after firing.

The anomaly you describe in the cylinder lockup is normal. Unlike the Colts, the S&W hand pushes up on the ratchet until the cylinder is in position, then slips past the ratchet rather than bearing on it. This is what you are detecting. Again, it is nothing to worry about; the forcing cone takes care of any tiny misalignment.

(The Colt system may seem better, but it also has a problem in that if there is wear on the cylinder stop, the hand can actually force the cylinder out of alignment.)

Jim

 

[Standing Wolf]

Lots of revolvers have uneven gaps, and most seem to be the result of slightly unsquare breeches. If a revolver is accurate, I don't worry much about gaps at all.

 

[November]

I don't wanna be a worry-wart, so I'll see how it performs for a while then see what's what. Thanks again.