New Revolver Checklist!

[Styx]

When you purchase a new revolver from a LGS or have one transfered from an online vender, what exactly do you check? Do you bring any gauges or measuring devices with you to the gun shop, do you just do a visual check, etc? What's on your check list, and what do you do to verify you got a good one?

I simply do a visual check of the barrel, frame, cylinder, and sight alignment. I also dryfire the trigger and visually check the timing. I understand some go above and beyond this.

 

[roval]

for me i do the same as you and now also look for canted barrels, check the timing and hammer pushoff . since i have pin gauges i see if the throats are equal in size and not needing a special order for specially sized bullets compared to my other guns in the same caliber. however, the last revolver i bought this way was a used one. a bought new smith 617 had a canted barrel i didn't notice and had bad timing which i didn't know at the time how to check for.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

On a brand new revolver from a major manufacturer like S&W or Ruger, I usually just check for finishing defects and work the action to determine if there's any apparent stickiness or sharp/rough edges.

I mainly buy older, used or surplus guns, and on those revolvers I examine much more carefully for problems in the bore, chambers, cylinder fit and lockup, loose front sight or barrel or pitting under the grips.

 

[ontarget]

I mostly stick to pre Y2K era revolvers.
But on the occasion that I do look at a new gun, I use the same revolver check out list as I do for the older ones.
It is included in a sticky thread at the top of this forum.
I think I've actually only ever purchased 1 new DA revolver in my life, a 642 without the lock.
I have alot of new SAs though.

 

[Miami_JBT]

I mostly don't purchase new revolvers. Pre-2000s is my thing. I checked for end-shake, timing, condition and finish (barrel, cylinder, and top-strap erosion/flame cutting), barrel alignment with the frame (canted barrels), mechanical reliability, and tolerances/fitting (sloppiness).

 

[Pat Riot]

I also just do a visual. Eyeball B-C gap while turning the cylinder. Look at the overall gun. Do an end shake test by feel and watching the BC gap. Feel the trigger pull without dry firing. Check the movement of the cylinder while cocking the hammer. Look down bore with a mini flashlight. Check the chambers with my light.

A couple of times I whipped out my feeler gauges and was quickly told that they wouldn’t allow me to use “tools” to check the revolver. I didn’t get upset. I put the gauges in my pocket and proceeded visually.

 

[Varminterror]

Find the Jim March Revolver Checkout list, you'll find everything you need to know.

 

[Pat Riot]

Find the Jim March Revolver Checkout list, you'll find everything you need to know.

This one?

revolver_checkout.pdf

drive.google.com

It appears this is an older one or maybe the first one.

Revolver Checkout by Jim March | Day At The Range

The text from Handloads.com Revolver checkout: how to tell if a particular specimen is any good By Jim March So you're buying a revolver. New, used, doesn't matter, you want a good one, right? How do check one over without firing it, right at the dealer's counter or gun show table? This is how. All

dayattherange.com

And Thank You Very Much for recommending this.