Reliable 610 suddenly not so reliable

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DragonFire

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I've been shooting my S&W 610 for almost 2 years now, and it's always been reliable and steady for me. This past week has seen it given me all kinds of problems.

A couple of days ago, I was shooting in an IDPA-like competition had had several mis-fires, actually no-fires. Out of 6 moon-clips, I had 5 where 2 rounds failed to go off. Looking at the rounds afterwards, none of the 10 unfired rounds had any firing pin marks on them. All of them fire successfully when I placed the moon-clips back into the gun and tried them again. I don't know what it means but I found it strange that each time, the 2 unfired rounds were adjacent to each other in the moon-clip. I'd have expected the unfired rounds to me more random.

That same night, I discovered the screw holding the rear-sight in place was very loose. I had just cleaned the gun and I would have thought I'd notice it if it was loose then. No way anybody fooled with it, so it must have been that way for a while.

The last straw was today. I thoroughly cleaned the revolver last night, and took it out on the range to see if the mis-fires would happen again. They didn't. But I couldn't hit a 8x11 sheet target from 10 yards away.

After a few rounds thinking it was me, I bench rested the gun and found it was hitting several inches low and to the right. I basically had to re-sight the gun in again. (From the factory, I only had to adjust it slightly to compensate as I seemed to have to do to all my guns). Never in the past two years have I had to touch the sights. I figure this must be related to the loose screw, but it seems odd that they'd be that far off. Also the rear sight seems to have some wobble in it, that I never noticed before. I don't see any way to tighten it, just the two screws to adjust vertical and horizontal.

So did I damage my sights somehow. Could I have hit the gun hard enough to move the sights and pop the screw loose without noticing it? And without damaging anything else?

I really love this gun, but now I've lost some confidence in it. Is there a way to secure the sights from moving, but still allow me to adjust them if I have to again?

Anybody have any explanation for what I've experienced this week?
 
I would like to say what is wrong and tell you an easy fix. I can't. This seems to be a S&W hallmark of late. I have heard many complaints about their adjustable sights lately. The S&W folks do warranty their revolvers. Call and ship it off to them. They are good about fixing their mistakes. I don't think it is anything you have done.
 
The no strike rounds are interesting. If you've been shooting a lot over the last two years maybe it's time to replace some springs. The sights, I don't know maybe you could use some of that loc tite which doesn't completely hardern. I think it's blue but I'd check first. That way your screws wouldn't move and you could still turn them when needed. Good luck, let us know how you make out.
 
You might want to check your moon clips. I have had the same problem with my 625 and found that some of my moon clips were bent.

Greg
 
I second the idea of checking your moonclips. Just maybe time to retire that set (they don't last forever) from competition.
Remove the sight assembly and clean the underside and frame channel. Something (crud, grit, whatever) may have gotten under the sight assembly and causing it to not fully seat in the channel when you tightened the screw.
 
This is one reason I use RIMZ moonclips, instead of the traditional metallic ones. The polymers that RIMZs are made from tend to return to the designed shape. I am not suggesting that RIMZs cannot be “worn outâ€, however, they are MUCH less susceptible bending that can cause misfires.

Also, like Majic, I had to remove some detritus from the channel under the rear sight of 625-9. Once removed and recalibrated, the revolver again functioned perfectly.
 
Lets face it though, the RIMZ are quite durable, and even if I wear out one per range session, they are only a buck. My limited testing says that each one will last more then 1000 rnds based upon testing so far.
 
I was just thinking about checking the moonclips.

Where exactly is the strain screw?

Something (crud, grit, whatever) may have gotten under the sight assembly and causing it to not fully seat in the channel when you tightened the screw.
Click to expand...


Tighten what screw? The strain screw? I'm confused as to what you mean. Don't the two screws on my rear sight act like the screws on a scope? One adjusts the point of aim vertically, and the other horizontally? Do I adjust the sight and then have to tighten a screw to keep it that way?
 
Remove the grip panels. At the bottom front of the handle strap is a screw that tensions the mainspring. On a defensive gun, it should be snugged down; on a target gun, you can back it off a bit to lighten the trigger pull. However, if it backs out too far, there will not be enough power to ignite the primer.
Hope this helps.
 
You have been shooting this revolver for 2 years and don't know the screws on the sights?
The sight assembly consists of the sight blade (which you look thru), sight leaf (which is the base), 2 adjusting screws (windage and elevation), and a sight leaf screw.
As you said the sight was loose and you tightened the screw I assumed, which was wrong of me, that you tightened the leaf screw.
Now looking at the sight assembly from above you will see that it is a unit that runs almost the length of the frame. The front screw (towards the barrel) is the leaf screw and it holds the assembly firmly in place on the frame. The rear screw (toward the hammer) is your elevation adjusting screw. Now look at the revolver from the right side (opposite side from the thumb latch or cylinder release) and on the side of the sight directly under the sight blade you will find the 3rd screw which is your windage adjusting screw.

Now which of these screws did you find loose and tighten?
 
Actually, the gun shot well and accurate for my right from the box, so, no I haven't done almost anything with the sights.

My problem was reading several replies as if they were in the same conversation.

I had checked the strain screw and it was tightened down securely.

On the sights, the leaf screw had been loose and I tighten it. But having done that, the sight blade is still has a little wobble in it. (meaning if you push on it with your fingernail is moves a very little amount, forwards and back not side to side).

After reading the replies I was thinking I was being told that I should be adjusting the scope and then there' was another screw somewhere which would lock the sight in place.


So should I remove the sight assembly completely, clean out the slot for it and then reassemble? I realized I might have to re-sight the gun in again.
 
I have one revolver that the sight blade moves slightly front to back. The blade is actually not thick enough to completely fill the slot it sits in. For handgun accuracy it affects nothing. Now I could replace the sight blade, or just shim this one for a better fit. That's really more trouble than what's it worth IMO unless you are seeking real precision shooting.
 
The sight problem has been covered pretty well. When you found the loose screw, you had probably fired it quite a bit while the screw was loose. This can case the levation screw to turn and change that adjustment.

As far as the "no hits" on primers, if your springs were weak or strain screw loose, there would be something showing on the primers. If you short stroked the trigger or the cylinder stop was sticking causing the cylinder to rotate past the rounds, there would be no hits.

Occasionally, I see myself short stroking a trigger in an IDPA or USPSA match. It happens. Pay a little more attention to your trigger pull and see if you still get misfires.

Regards,
 
I suggest removing the sight leaf screw, clean the screw and hole with alcohol then install it with red Loctite. Make sure it is fully down into the sight and flush with the top.

Jim
 
As long as there is no side-to-side or up-and-down movement on the sight blade it will not affect the point of impact.
 
I called S&W about this!

They suggested that you send the revolver back to them. I'm certain that they will take care of your revolver without much effort.

Call them @ 1-800-331-0852 Extension 7.

I hope that this helps,

Scott
 
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

Scott/Gunfan: I think I will take send it to Smith, eventually. I have few other things that I want to wait to clear up first.

I purchased a S&W 646 recently and after about a dozen rounds the revolver stopped revolving. Found a broken spring inside, and that gun is at Smith&Wesson now being fixed.

I just bought a Taurus 905 from gunbroker.com and the seller can't seem to get my dealer's FFL, even though it's been sent a couple of times.

My 2 Glocks are both involved in the Glock recall. Glock is supposed to be sending new frames for them, but nothing's shown up in over 2 months.

I have a EAA Witness compact that suddenly does nothing but misfeed rounds. I ordered new springs, got the wrong ones, reordered but still have the problem.

I'm not sure I'm going to wait until all these things are cleared up, but I don't really want to have 2 guns at S&W at the same time.

This has really been a rough summer for my handguns.
 
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