I bought a new model 57 and took i t out today. One box of federal power shocs every single casing ruptured making it really hard to eject the shells. A third of a box of hornady did the same. Both were 210 grain factory loads. Federals from a local gun shop, hornady from cabelas. Is this a gun issue or bad factory loads issue?

This is a firearm issue

Your chambers are too big

Check and make use the cylinder is 41 Magnum and not 44 Magnum

New gun, or new to you?

Sounds like there is a lot of clearance between the case and the cylinder. Do you have any way to measure the inside diameter of the chambers?

Will a .44 magnum case fit in the cylinder?

thanks. Should the cylinder be stamped? Why whould a 44 cause a rupture I would think there would be more room not less?

I'm checking now

new. I do not have any 44 shells. I can measure. anyone know the size it should be?

No the cylinder will not be marked. However the barrel should be marked. Converting firearms to 44 Magnum was quite common during the model 29 shortage

Casings rupture because there is so much room for the brass to rapidly expand into during firing that the brass tears.

Take the gun back to the store you bought it from. They will be able to diagnose the problem for you.

its a brand new gun so back to the store it goes. I was hoping it was bad ammo. the good news is it got me looking into reloading

I checked my Model 58 just now, and the chamber I measured is.4395".

A Model 629 cylinder I have on my desk measures .460". (actually .4588")

Hope this helps.

ETA: Take a new .41 magnum round and insert the nose of the bullet in the front of the cylinder. The bullet will be about max size at the case/bullet junction. See if that part of the bullet has a lot of wobble or is pretty close to being a tight fit in the throat of teh cylinder. If it has a lot of wobble you may have a .44 cylinder. Do the same thing on the barrel. If the bullet (not the case) enters all the way in (clears the lands on the barrel) there's a problem.

.41 should be about .435", .44 would be about .460".

would this be usual with a SW? i grew up with RUger and bought the Smith becuase of its name and availability.

Every company makes a mistake now and then

They will make it right

Took it back to the gun shop today. As predicted a 44 shell fit nicely into the cycliner. So yes SW put a 44 cylinder into the 41. Headed back to the facory. i'll let you know when it comes back

still waiting for word from SW. At this point I wished I had ordered a Ruger . I bought it 5/9 and still dont have a functioning gun!

How the hell did that get test fired at the factory? Did it come with an empty case in an envelope. Wonder if it left the factory that way myself.

No ya don't!

I ordered a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter when they came out in .41 Magnum. It went back soon after for about a dozen reasons. Even Ruger agreed that it shouldn't have left the factory and sent me a new replacement. Which IMO was only marginally better.

gun is back from factory. The fantastic local shop made SW replace the barrel as well as the cylinder. Sound sliek SW was difficult for them. Now have to get it to teh range