Problem with my S&W Model 19

[redraidermgr]

Hey everyone,

I just went to the range yesterday and took my model 19-4 that I haven't really shot for a while and noticed something. Every time I shoot the gun it throws a spray of burning powder in my face . While it was not something that hurt very bad, just a mild stinging; I do not remember this revolver ever doing this to me before.

Could there be something wrong with my favorite revolver? I am calling on the knowledge and expertise of the ladies and gentlemen here at THR for advice. If there is something wrong I would like to know your opinions on what actions I should take. Just so you know I am not a gunsmith nor do I know anything about gunsmithing (which should be obvious due to the fact that I am asking this question).

And as always Thanks in advance for your help and knowledge being loaned to a novice like me .

 

[sparkyguy]

Without actually being there to experience, I would say it is possibly out-of-timing. My fathers' S&W mdl 28 did the same thing after years of shooting very hot reloads from a police officer friend. When I pointed out to him it had been doing that for years, instead of getting it fixed, he traded it in on yet another hunting rifle.:banghead::banghead: I had been eyeing that gun for many years and was very P.O'd.

 

[Will5A1]

Contact S&W, I think they will still work on it. If you want to try and diagnose the problem yourself read the revolver checkout sticky and go from there.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Check that you are not puncturing the primers with the firing pin and that the cases are not spliting...

 

[gb6491]

I do not remember this revolver ever doing this to me before.

Are you using different ammo than before?
Regards,
Greg

 

[redraidermgr]

Check that you are not puncturing the primers with the firing pin and that the cases are not spliting...

Bushmaster: I keep my casings, no punctures or splits.

Are you using different ammo than before?

Greg: No the only thing I can think of in regards to the ammo is that it has been sitting on a shelf for about 2 years. But it has not been exposed to high humidity, extreme high or low temps, etc...

It is a name brand (Remington) target ammo that has always been fine for the gun before, but I am not ruling the ammo completely out at the moment just because I have not shot that ammo for quite a while.

Everyone: Thank you all so much for the responses. I am going to either send it to S&W or a gunsmith that is qualified to work on S&W revolvers. It may not get sent off for a couple months but I am definately not shooting it until I get it checked out and possibly tuned up. I was just wanting to try to get an Idea of what may have been going worong with it before I sent it off or found someone locally.

Once Again, thank you my fellow High Roaders.

 

[Majic]

Try giving your forcing cone and barrel face a good cleaning.

 

[dwf6666]

Are you shooting SA or DA when this happens? Have you checked for endshake? This is fore and aft movement of the cylinder. Also look at the barrel to cylinder gap.

 

[MCgunner]

Check end shake and timing. If these are good, might be an ammo problem. Hard to say. Sounds like it might have worked out of time. K frames aren't up to a lot of heavy loads. I fired mostly .38 in mine and loaded with .357 mildly hot 158 SWCs when I wanted the practice and carried those afield with it. I shot very few hot 125 grain magnums in it, just to see where it'd shoot 'em. I don't even load 125s anymore, carry 140s in my Taurus 66 and mostly shoot .38s and the 158 magnum load at the range. 125s are hard on forcing cones and Smith K frames have particularly fragile forcing cones. I've had one split on me. I've learned to pay particular attention to the forcing cone area when cleaning the gun, too. I sold the 19, still have a M10 4" heavy barrel.

 

[medmo]

All the suggestions so far sound good. The first thing I would do is check/clean the forcing cone. Brownells, (www.brownells.com) sells a kit specifically for cleaning the forcing cone. Range rods are used to check for alignment, (tweaked crane, timing), of the bbl and cylinder. It is a rod turned down to the bore diameter that is run up the bbl to checkthe alignment with the cylinder with the revolver unloaded and cocked. I'm sure a local gunsmith has one that they can check your gun out with if cleaning the forcing cone doesn't fix the problem.

You don't close the cylinder one handed by slapping the cylinder shut do you? This can cause the crane to tweak and cause alignment problems.

 

[redraidermgr]

I have checked for end shake and cant feel anything noticeable.

You don't close the cylinder one handed by slapping the cylinder shut do you? This can cause the crane to tweak and cause alignment problems.

No I never slap it closed. This is mainly a range gun, and was given to me by my father. it is usually handled with kid gloves.