S&W 651 ammo help

[rrrdbw]

I just purchased a pristine S&W 651 previous owner is a collector and hardly used.

I have been reading about what ammo to use and still kinda confused. Here's what I got. Bought CCI 22 WMR hollow point Maxi Mag. I have fired 10 rounds through it, aside from the big flash 25yards out close grouping. When I tried to eject the shells they are stuck in the chamber. I had to use a small screwdriver to eject the shells. I stopped using after the first 6 shots. *** am I using wrong ammo? I cleaned gun and attempted to fire again a week later . Loaded 4 round of same ammo cause its only one's I can find in my area. Same result. Gun is accurate but shells wont eject.

Please advice, I love this gun and I want to shoot. I have asked 2 different range master and they want me to bring gun in. I don't want to spend money on wrong ammo and cant return after.

[murphydog]

Welcome! The rounds you have are correct.

First, are the chambers very clean? If so, the most likely explanation for this problem is the chambers on your 651 are either rough or slightly oversized, and the empties stick after firing because of this. I would first try other brands/types of .22 WMR, or possibly the .22 WRF (a shorter, lower-powered round with the same diameter case as the WMR) if you can find them and see if the problem persists. If so, a trip to the gunsmith or the factory may be in order.

[rrrdbw]

I think its more ammo type than gun issue. I will try the other brands. The chambers are clean and very well taken care of.

Will try the WRF if i can find em.

Anyone with 651 wanna chime in on what ammo they use.

Thanks.

[rburg]

Did you buy it from Doublesharp at National Gun Day last month? He sold one, and they're rare.

The advice you've gotten is good. There are some guns that just don't like a brand or even lot of ammo. Other guns don't like oil in the cylinders (think 22 Jet for an extreme example). When you discover you've purchased a problematic caliber and gun, there are steps you should take. First, since its stainless, don't bother with oil. Just use a solvent on the barrel and cylinder and clean it more than you think you should. Then assemble some ammo.

I have a friend who purchased a 22 automag. It couldn't run a full magazine without a jam. He still has it, loves it, and puts up with the nonsense. Look for different makers and different bullet weights or maybe different bullet designs. The makers don't all buy brass from the same place. Each one uses a little different mix and process. That relates to different expansion and contraction. When you fire a round, the thing lights up, the bullet goes out (hopefully) and then the elastic properties of the brass take over and it should contract back to its original shape, sort of. I think they call that memory. If it works as it should, the brass extracts. If it doesn't, it sticks. All the big makers produce 22 mag. You need to buy not only from each maker, but different velocity ammo from them.

[rrrdbw]

Thanks for the advice. My next step is to purchase WRF ammo and see what happens from there. Im sure I'll have no problem getting rid of my CCI 22 WMR hollow point Maxi Mag.

[ColbyBruce]

If you live in northeast Georgia I can put you on some .22 WRF.

My S&W 650 is partial to the Remington 33 grain ammo. CCI is difficult to eject after firing, Winchester is next to impossible to eject.

[SuperMan]

Sticky ejection with S&W .22 Magnums is just a way of life. I have two 48s, a 651, 63 with a 651 cylinder and a 17 with a 48 cylinder and all have "sticky" ejection.

Have been recently shooting a 651 4" round butt bought from another Forum member with Fiocchi 40 gr. HP ammo. The first few cylinders full eject fine but things then start getting sticky.

I have not tried it yet but plan on polishing the chambers with jewelers rouge. You may also find that after a few cylinders full the cylinder binds up...that is the unburned powder in behind the extractor star...keep a tooth brush with you to brush it out...

Bob

[rrrdbw]

Thanks for all the reply's I really appreciate it. I love the gun I want to keep on shooting and get used to it, I was afraid i was doing damage to the chamber. I see that its common with 651. I need to try different ammo and the suggestion of polishing with jewelers rouge.

Appreciate the picture of WRF Winchester box. I have never seen them but now I know they exist and wont feel so ignorant when I ask for WRF ammo.

[coach22]

Here is a very good comparison of the most recent
22 Magnum bullets.
Hornady Critical Defense
CCI Gold Dot Short Barrel
Winchester PDX1

The Hornady are in my 351C.
The CCI are in my NAA Mini.

The .22 Magnum for Self-Defense