S&W .38 - Normal wear & tear? (PHOTO)

[digi-shots]

Here's a photo of the inside area, just behind the cylinder of a .38 S&W.
Looks like old impressions/rubbings or wear marks from shell casings.

Are these marks typical wear & tear marks?
I've seen some older revolvers but don't remember seeing any marks like these.

(this S&W .38 was carried and used a bit - in high humidity climate)

 

[XavierBreath]

Yes, that is normal wear for a fairly decent round count in a .38 Smith.

I'd check the cylinder for excessive endshake. If the endshake is OK, continue to enjoy it.

 

[ChristopherG]

Agreed--nothing looks wrong about that. It's been shot some, which means it's a shooter, so shoot it!

 

[digi-shots]

Hey thanks!

So, it's been shot a lot... vs.... just sitting loaded & rusting in storage ?

 

[Old Fuff]

When you shoot the revolver the cartridges in the cylinder that are not aligned with the barrel are loose, and jump backward leaving a mark. In time the mark becomes more obvious, but notice that the original machining marks are still clearly seen. Unless you have cylinder endshake you have nothing to worry about.

This is however a good example why handloaders should check to be sure primers are fully seated.

 

[digi-shots]

Thanks!

End shake looks ok.... I don't have a feeler gauge here right now, but it's
about .008" (based on a piece of paper & digital caliper).

I was more interested in how and why the "marks" appeared.

I'll probably shoot it just to see how it shoots, but won't be shooting it on a
regular basis.

 

[JohnKSa]

Endshake of .008" isn't really ok...

A cylinder gap of .008" is ok, but if it's moving back and forth .008", you probably need to have it serviced.

 

[sgt127]

I've seen that wear more pronounced on revolvers that were carried to death rather than being shot alot. The mark around the firing pin bushing looks the same as the ones on the recoil shield. I have seen that as indicating a cop duty gun. Little bit of grit, gun bounces on every step and acts like a little round hone on each case head. If the wear were considerably more on the firing pin bushing, I would say it has been shot more than carried.

Does it really matter? No. If you take a copper penny and just rub it back and forth on the barrel, the blueing will wear through too...especially if you add a little grit to it...

 

[digi-shots]

Thanks all...

I don't think I used the right term.... there's about an .004" gap between
the front of the cyclinder and the cone; when I pull the cylinder back towards the hammer, the gap goes to .007"....

so... what's that make it? .003" end shake?

I really don't plan on shooting this one... I'm more interested in where it's
been and what's it been through. Just wondered if the wear was from
carry or actual use.

 

[JohnKSa]

Endshake is the amount the cylinder can move backwards and forwards during lockup.

If you post a specific thread about endshake, you'll probably get some better answers than I have.