Taurus 431 Problem

[SouthpawShootr]

A couple of months ago I bought a Taurus 431 .44 special 3 inch at a local gunshow. The gun was used but looked as though it had never been fired. I checked it out and everything seemed OK. Well, I still haven't shot it yet and right now, I'm hessitant to. I found that if you dry fire it and hold the trigger all the way back then check for a tight lockup, the cylinder bolt will actually allow the cylinder to rotate if you wiggle the cylinder from side to side a few times. I've never had this happen with any of my other revolvers and am wondering what could possibly cause this. Any comments?

I'll probably end up taking it to a local smith that I have confidence in and see if it is something simple. If it is, I'll have him fix it. Otherwise I'll have to send it back to Taurus.

 

[10shooter]

I also had a 3" 431 and found it had two quirks. First the ejection rod kept loosening up until it used some locktight. Second heavy fouling would work its way into the action, for this a good squirt of brake cleaner kept the inside clean. Still a nice little revolver. If you have the skill check for lead shavings around spring and action.