Need help with possible timing or alignment issue

[westernrover]

I just bought a new S&W Performance Center revolver. The first time I was shooting it, it locked up several times. What was happening is the bullet, a plated 158 gr. RMR hollowpoint, was getting shaved on the barrel face. The deformed bullet would yaw and keyhole in the paper target. The shaving was lodged between the cylinder and forcing cone and would stop the cylinder rotating until the cylinder was pushed open with enough force to break it. The shavings were about the size of a small toenail, sometimes a little bigger. I inspected the primers and found some of them with off-center strikes, but not far off-center. I also marked one chamber that had the problem with a Sharpie and tested that one repeatedly with no recurrence.

I checked the timing and confirmed that the cylinder locks before the hammer does in single-action. I only fire in double-action, so I also confirmed the cylinder locks before the hammer falls on all chambers.

I checked the alignment of the chambers with the cylinder locked using a flashlight. I couldn't see anything obviously off-center.

Could this just be because my thumb was dragging on the cylinder or something?

 

[skeeterfogger]

Bullet dragging hard on barrel face. If it is every one I would contact ammo manufacturer. If lock up good and ammo not over OAL most likely you.

 

[243winxb]

Reloads? Plated Bullet? Over crimping? Maximum load?

Reloading problem? To much crimp may cause the plating to separate. A maximum loading at high velocity makes it worse.



Test a new gun with good factory ammo first.

 

[Pat Riot]

I would contact S&W right away and send the gun in to them. You paid too much money to have to figure out why this is happening with a new gun, especially from their Performance Center.