S&W Model 36 Sticky Chamber Extraction

[tigerland]

Hello.

Recently I went to the range with an old college friend. I took along my new S&W model 36, the kind that has the built in lock.

After shooting it a bit my friend asked if he could try it out. He loaded it with non +p FMJ .38 special rounds. I can't remember the brand.

After his second shot the gun froze up and nothing would move - not the cylinder, not the trigger and not the cylinder latch. We put the revolver down on the counter facing in a safe direction and informed the Rangemaster. He could not figure out what was wrong and advised me to take the Smith to a gunsmith.

The Rangemaster did remove the cyinder so we could remove the unfired cartridges and secure them. The cartridge looks like it imploded into the chamber.

The gunsmith removed the cartridge and also chamfered the cylinder where the cartridges are loaded. Empty rounds slide right out.

I took the Smith back to the range and fired five rounds. All rounds extracted except the one where the stuck cartridge had been. I had to pull it out with some force.

I went back home and cleaned the revolver, including cleaning the chambers with a chamber brush. Back to the range and the same thing happened - I have to pull that one cartridge out with some force.

Is the gun safe to shoot? Does it need to head back to Smith and Wesson for a new cylinder?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rcmodel]

Sounds like a bulged chamber.

Look for a shiny brass ring on the sticky brass from that chamber.

But it sounds like it probably needs to go back to the mothership for some R&R.

rc

 

[Lucky Derby]

Yep. Time for a trip to S&W.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, the M36 needs a road trip back to S&W...

 

[XD 45acp]

^^^ditto

 

[Panzerschwein]

Yeah I'd send 'eem back and wouldn't risk firing it again. It sounds like a serious issue.

 

[BSA1]

A buddy bulged a chamber in a brand new Ruger Vaquero with the first box of ammunition. Fortunately he was shooting factory Remington 45 Colt so getting the gun fixed was not a issue. So it can happen.

I have cured sticky chambers with a drill with mop attached and a little polishing compound. I'd try that first.

 

[jad0110]

I agree with the bulged chamber diagnosis. I have a 2" S&W Model 15-2 that had a bulged chamber adjacent to the cylinder stop notch.

There is no way to repair the cylinder. A new or used cylinder must be fitted (the latter was done on my S&W Model 15 by Matt Almeda in Norfolk. He found a cylinder with similar wear to the rest of my gun - turned out perfect.

The bulge can be seen in the pictures below ... it looks like a ding (about the 1:00 position in the first photo and 3:00 in the 2nd). Its either causes by a manufacturing defect or a very hot load.