S&W 686 strain screw

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e rex

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Aug 25, 2015
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What causes the strain screw to flatten and deform on the end? I've had light primer strikes and blamed everything else and finally looked at the strain screw. It was flattened and deformed on the end to the point I'm sure that is-was my problem. I bought the revolver new and never messed with the screw and it was tight in the frame. Ordered a new one from Gun-Garage in Arkansas, should be here next Tuesday. This revolver is 20 some years old and has been shot a whole bunch.
 
I’ve never seen that happen by natural causes... What do you mean by “deformed”? Is it peened/ mushroomed? Do you have a picture so we can see?

Most strain screw issues are from someone filing them down in an effort to lighten the trigger but you say you bought the gun new and never messed with it.
 
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The spring moves every time the hammer is cocked. Wears on the nose of the strain screw, would be my guess.
Well.. sorta. The screw is the fulcrum so while the spring “flexes” there should be no movement at the fulcrum. I pulled open a couple revolvers just now to observe and it occurs to me that if the foot of the spring wasnt tightly hooked in the notch in the heel of the gun that could allow some linear movement of the spring which would cause wear on the strain screw over time... @e_rex if you take off the grips and cycle the hammer a few times can you see any slop or longitudinal movement of the spring at the heel of the grip frame?
 
I'll pull the stocks and take a look. There is a new screw on the way from Gun-Garage, should be here Tuesday.
 
New strain screw arrived this morning. Still couldn't see what happened to the old one to cause the wear. Put a dab of graphite grease on the end of the new screw, don't think it will make a bit of difference but it made me feel better. Wind like crazy and cold today, hope to get to try it out soon. Could sure feel a difference just cocking the hammer..
Great service from Gun-Garage in Arkansas.
 
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