Pre 18 cylinder length

[Dziadzi#1]

I have a pre 18 with, I assume, burn marks in all chambers that make ejecting empties very difficult. I need to know if the cylinder length on my gun is the same as the model 17 cylinder.

[Art Doc]

Burn marks? I bet they are carbon build up and would scrub clean. Don't go swapping parts.

[gwpercle]

Burn marks ... carbon build up ... all can be removed with a brass brush, cleaning rod and solvent of your choice .

Cleaning beats swapping original parts ...seven ways to Sunday !!!
Gary

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. I am wondering how many rounds you have shot before the buildup and sticking cases occurred? If just a single day at the range, I would then consider the ammunition a problem and try another brand?? You are shooting all 22LR, correct?

[SweetMK]

I can make any 22LR revolver difficult to eject by shooting a couple cylinders full of 22Shorts, or other non standard ammo, like shot shells.
I think some manufacturer makes a 60 grain 22 rimfire that uses real long bullets,, that also dirties up the cylinder.

Clean, clean, clean,,,,,,,,,

[Catwrangler]

1.- Scrub out carbon build up.
2.- Load six fresh .22 LR's and fire.
3.- Extract shells- Still sticky? You are experiencing the classic S&W non SAMMI tight chambers. My .22 C.M. is also ~early '56. Cylinder needs reaming, but I'm using a small dia. Steel rod to assist extraction. Won't spend the money for a one use reamer and handle.

[Dziadzi#1]

Thanks for the suggestion about carbon build up In the chambers. I followed your cleaning suggestions and it was carbon, not burn marks or rust. All is OK now! I haven’t had this problem before and assumed the worst case.

The gun was bought Last week and Sunday was the first time I shot it. The gun is not very pretty on the outside, but the rifling and cylinder lock up are great.

My other S&W’s are a model 28 and a .380 Bodyguard

[stu1ritter]

To answer your original question, yes, the cylinders are the same length.

Stu

[Nightowl]

Congratulations on finding one of the finest Smith & Wesson revolvers ever made! They are great fun to shoot and, if properly cared for will last several lifetimes. Sticky extraction is a common issue in the Smith .22 revolvers. I have one that I have that had already been reamed with a finish reamer when I acquired it, one that I just take a brush to the range and brush out when it gets sticky. Enjoy that new toy!!

[OutWest50]

I have a Model 18 "no dash" that I purchased last month. The first time to the range the second six spent Winchester Super-X cases had to be removed by poking a cleaning rod through the front of each chamber. The next trip to the range I shot 50+ rounds of Remington, CCI and Federal rounds with no sticking whatsoever. Then tried six more Super-X rounds ..... firmly stuck. When I returned home a caliper showed that the Super-X cases were .224" while the other three brands measured .223". I'm not sure if the Win Super-X case diameter is the problem or if it is a case metalurgical issue. I recommend that you try some different mfg ammo before determining that your cylinder chambers are too tight.

[steelslaver]

S&W K frame 22 lr cylinders are know for having minimum sized cylinders which causes some to have ejection problems. I, for one, have ran a 22 lr finishing reamer through all of my chamber and have yet to have an ejection problem with any ammo and I have a model 18 that has had well over 500 rounds through its cylinder and ejection is effortless. Kind of an experiment at this point.