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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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Old 04-01-2010, 02:24 PM
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Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?  
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Default Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?

I am wondering what your thoughts were on this, was it an improvement, cost-cutting, or maybe cost-cutting that results in an improvement (maybe a little easier to clean)?
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Old 04-01-2010, 02:27 PM
M29since14 M29since14 is offline
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Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?  
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I never worried about the cost aspect. It was a big improvement for the Model 19, as far as I was concerned, and that was all I cared about.
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Old 04-01-2010, 02:52 PM
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Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?  
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M29, can you elaborate on the improvement aspects?
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Old 04-01-2010, 03:40 PM
M29since14 M29since14 is offline
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Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?  
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Back when the change was made, my Model 19 would become very hard to cock, and almost impossible to shoot double-action after firing a box or so of cast bullet handloads (generally with Nr. 2400 or W231 powder, but the particular powder didn't make much difference). When you took the gun apart and cleaned the crud (bullet lube and what not) from the yoke and cylinder, you were immediately back in business. The -4 engineering change did seem to help, but it took me years to realize it. I was not buying many guns then.

The problem was not pronounced with jacketed, factory ammo, so we all just put up with it. This cleaning was no big chore. It just had to be done. Using the gun in gunked-up condition would put more stress on the little parts, like the hand, ratchet, etc., than is necessary.
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Old 04-01-2010, 03:54 PM
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Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?  
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Thanks. I was trying to decide between a 19-2 and a 19-4 in 2.5". I already own a 4" 19 and 4" 66 (both no dash). I have heard that the 19-4 is more resistent to "gunking" but I don't have any direct experience with it. Sounds like you say it could make a difference.
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Old 04-01-2010, 04:34 PM
M29since14 M29since14 is offline
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Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?  
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Aaron, if it is worth anything to you, especially for a gun to use with cast bullets, I would buy the 19-4. Of the whole mess, they are my favorite.
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Old 04-01-2010, 04:47 PM
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Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aterry33 View Post
...I was trying to decide between a 19-2 and a 19-4 in 2.5"...
FYI - 19-2s had the gas ring on the cylinder. The only 19s made with the gas ring on the yoke were the later -3s. Even the early -3s had the gas ring on the cylinder.

Your 19 (no dash) will have the gas ring on the cylinder and depending on the serial number of your 66, it could too.
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Old 04-01-2010, 10:02 PM
Muley Gil Muley Gil is offline
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Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?  
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The early M66 revolvers were prone to binding when fired rapidly. IIRC, this was in part because of the gas ring and possibly due to the type of stainless alloy used.
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Old 04-01-2010, 10:10 PM
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Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting? Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder--improvement or cost-cutting?  
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Quote:
... I would buy the 19-4. Of the whole mess, they are my favorite.
Using "mess" in the most positive meaning of the word, I'm sure.
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