Model 17-3 problem

jerry46 · #1 08-30-2011, 06:18 PM

I bought a S&W .22, model 17-3 last week. The gun really looked great and everything on it seemed to work well. The problem is that when I fire it, the shell casings were so tight in the cylinder that I could hardly get them out. I was afraid I would bend the ejector rod. I shot several brands of ammo and it was the same thing. It seemed strange, because when I loaded the cylinder and held the gun upright, most of the shells would fall out. Since then, I have cleaned the gun real well and will be taking it to the range again tomorrow. Any ideas what would be causing this.

PMRet · #2 08-30-2011, 06:43 PM

Sounds like the chambers are oversized, which allows the cases to over expand when fired, making them difficult (or impossible) to eject. Most likely caused by someone polishing the chambers too much, and probably the only cure would be a new cylinder.

jimmyjoe · #3 08-30-2011, 07:59 PM

I would try to clean the cylinders with a brass brush and some Hoppes #9

jerry46 · #4 08-30-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjoe

I would try to clean the cylinders with a brass brush and some Hoppes #9

I cleaned it with Hoppes #9 and a brass brush today. Will let you know tomorrow if that works.

pred · #5 08-30-2011, 08:37 PM

Feel free to remove the cylinder and heat it up in oil in a double boiler and with some really well insulated gloves, Pull the thing out, (Keep string attached) and clean while hot.
Important to heat from cool in oil in a cool double boiler over about 20 to 30 min, And allow to cool slow too, On real dirty guns I detail strip and put everything in a double boiler filled with synthetic engine oil, Heat and clean,,,,
Let us know how it goes!
Peter

jerry46 · #6 08-30-2011, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pred

Feel free to remove the cylinder and heat it up in oil in a double boiler and with some really well insulated gloves, Pull the thing out, (Keep string attached) and clean while hot.
Important to heat from cool in oil in a cool double boiler over about 20 to 30 min, And allow to cool slow too, On real dirty guns I detail strip and put everything in a double boiler filled with synthetic engine oil, Heat and clean,,,,
Let us know how it goes!
Peter

The thing of it is, I really don't think this gun was shot very much. However, the fellow I bought it from said it was his sons who had it for about four years but didn't shoot it much. If I was taking a guess, I would say he shot it right after he got it and put it up dirty. Although I can say, it didn't appear to be real dirty.

Troystat · #7 08-31-2011, 12:19 AM

After you clean it with the brass bore brush and the hopes #9 run a patch through it and do not oil it. Sometimes the oil will make the problem more pronounced. Also try some other brands of ammo.

Let us know how it works out. Good luck.

steveno · #8 08-31-2011, 10:05 AM

I have had the same problem shooting Federal Automatch in my 17-3 but the problem goes away completely when I shoot the Federal Champion bulk ammo. that is all I shoot in it anymore. try different brands of ammo

tops · #9 08-31-2011, 10:13 AM

Use a brass brush, Hoppes, and JB paste and an electric drill to clean the chambers. Sticking shells is a common problem. Larry

fyimo · #10 08-31-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tops

Use a brass brush, Hoppes, and JB paste and an electric drill to clean the chambers. Sticking shells is a common problem. Larry

Yea and the problem isn't just with the 17-3 as I have a K22 made in 1955 that does the same thing. It is far worst with some ammo then others and it runs through 60 to 80 before it tightens up. So now I carry a cleaning rod and solvent to the range and hit the cylinders every so often and then I pull a dry bore snake through them.

I have an 8 3/8 inch barreled 17-4 that has never had this problem even on days when I put 200 rounds through it without cleaning it during the shooting.

Cooter Brown · #11 08-31-2011, 10:37 AM

I agree that the K22s can have tight cylinders, but in the original post Jerry said that loaded rounds were loose and fell out of the cylinder when the gun was tipped up, and only became too tight after firing.

This is different than my experience. I have three, and when mine get dirty at the range, both loading and extraction become stiff, and a brush clears things up.

There may be something other than the standard tight K22 cylinder going on here.

Have any of the cases split or bulged?

USBP SW · #12 08-31-2011, 03:39 PM

Check the extracted casings, if there are fine scratches near the base of the casings then you may have slight burrs either at countersinking or the machined area of the extractor. I originally encountered the problem in a model 29 but later in a pre model 17. In both cases I used a round ceramic jeweler's stone very slightly where the chambers caused the scratches, only enough to remove the small burrs. After thousands of rounds, over a period of 30+ years in the pre-17, I have never experienced any further difficulty. Incidentally, the 29-2 never gave me any more problems either during several hundred rounds of use, up until the time I sold it. Just gives you another thing to check. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Steve

jerry46 · #13 09-03-2011, 04:38 PM

Well, I went to the range and found a world of difference. When I previously said the shells would fall out of the cylinder, some just fell out while others needed for me to tap the butt of the gun on my other hand. This time when I turned the gun over, they all just fell out. Before when I loaded the gun, I could feel some tightness in the cylinder. This time they dropped in. And this time when I shot, I had no problem extracting the shell casings from the cylinder. However, like someone mentioned earlier, after about 50 or 60 shots, I could feel the shells getting harder to extract. Funny, I have a friend that also has a model 17-3. When I went to the range, he went with me and took his 17. His gun acted the same way as mine does. I have two model 14s, one 14-3 and another 14-4. I have put thousands of rounds through the model 14-4 and have never had this kind of a problem. This is my first 17. I guess I just wasn't expecting this problem. I can live with it though.

ldp4570 · #14 09-03-2011, 05:52 PM

Its common in most of the K22's an 17 series. Next range trip buy some CCI Stingers an watch how different your gun acts. Mine even after getting dirty, I can load those an not have any problems with extraction.

Cooter Brown · #15 09-03-2011, 06:41 PM

Glad it was the typical K22 tight cylinder. When you said that the cases were dropping out before firing I thought it might be something else, like the cylinders were honed too much, which someone else suggested.

Just carry a brush and when loading and extraction get stiff, give it a few swipes and keep shootin'.

K22s are wonderful fun.