gas cylinder on yoke vs cylinder, which is better?

[pilpens]

I am looking at getting a 38 revolver.
The one with gas ring on yoke is slightly more expensive because of a slightly better cosmetic condition.
Should I go with better looking or later design (gas ring on cylinder - is this better?).
thanks

[Loco Weed]

Can you explain in a little more detail exactly what you are talking about?

[pilpens]

Originally Posted by Loco Weed

Can you explain in a little more detail exactly what you are talking about?

I am looking at a S&W model 14-3 and 14-4.
The main difference between the two is the location of the gas ring.
14-3 gas ring is on the yoke. This is $70 more expensive than the 14-4.
14-4 gas ring is on the cylinder.

Is there are advantage to having the gas ring on the cylinder? Is it worth paying $70 more to have the gas ring on the yoke with better bluing or Should I get the less expensive 14-4 with the cylinder gas ring but slightly worn bluing?

[Pilgrim]

get the one you like the best.

[SPDGG]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

get the one you like the best.

+1 Agree

IMHO: I'd want the better condition mech. & finish of the two. S&W Model 14(s) are Sweet Shooters

[HAWKEYE10]

Get the pretty one. Don't worry about the gas ring. Don

[valkyriekl]

I have a S&W 19-3 which has its gas ring on the yoke. This means that propellant residue and other crud can easily find its way inside the yoke barrel area and start to slow and even prevent the cylinder from spinning freely, meaning that I need to take the cylinder out of the frame and clean the yoke barrel fairly regularly, probably once every 100 rounds or so (when I really start to notice it).

With the gas ring on the cylinder, high-pressure propellant gases and residue escaping from the barrel-cylinder gap has a harder time of finding its way inside the cylinder, and so that area stays cleaner longer. I clean out that area maybe once every 1,000-1,500 rounds.

That actually was my reasoning for picking up my own 14-4--I'm planning on shooting it a lot, and I didn't want to be cleaning it that often.

[brokenprism]

OK, here's a peripherally related question. When did the gas ring move...? Was it after a certain mfg year?

[snw19_357]

Yes, the gas ring was moved back to the cylinder in 1977/78 (for K-frames). Never moved for the N-frames.

[shawn mccarver]

Originally Posted by pilpens

I am looking at getting a 4 inch 38 revolver.
The one with gas ring on yoke is slightly more expensive because of a slightly better cosmetic condition.
Should I go with better looking or later design (gas ring on cylinder - is this better?).
thanks

Others may know more, but I think the location of the gas ring matters more on .357 magnums using the 125 grain really hot loads. I doubt it matters much on 38 specials.

That said, I would go for the later design.

[Alk8944]

The "Better" design is the gas ring in the cylinder which is the original design going back at least to the 1880s on the top-breaks.

The evidence I offer for this is the gas ring was in the cylinder until mid 1974 or so, at which time it was moved to the yoke. After only 3 years, sometime in 1977, the gas ring was moved back to the cylinder as it just didn't get the job done on the yoke.

The gas ring is important on all calibers as it's purpose is to deflect the combustion gasses away from the interstice between the yoke arbor and the center bore of the cylinder. Gasses and other fouling entering this gap will cause the cylinder to bind eventually. The gas ring in the cylinder does a much better job of performing it's function as a baffle.

"Newer design"? Which do you refer to? The gas ring on the yoke is by far the newer design as the one in the cylinder was, as shown, by far the earlier design by at least 95 years.

[valkyriekl]

Originally Posted by Alk8944

"Newer design"? Which do you refer to? The gas ring on the yoke is by far the newer design as the one in the cylinder was, as shown, by far the earlier design by at least 95 years.

Interestingly, both J-frames that I've owned have had their gas rings on the yokes, rather than the cylinder (both in .38 Special: a Model 640 no-dash from 1993 and a Model 642-2 from 2004). I wonder why S&W didn't put the gas ring on the cylinders for these... Maybe due to space and tolerances of the smaller 5-shot cylinders and larger .357" diameter throats.

[snw19_357]

I'm not familiar enough with J-frames to make a broad statement but the 640-1 (.357Mag) I have seen had the gas ring on the yoke too. Early J-frames had it on the cylinder, did it ever move back?
N-frames have always had it on the cylinder.

Since the gas ring was a part separate from the cylinder, moving the gas ring to the yoke was a way to correct the problems they had with them coming loose. Different issues came from the gas ring on the yoke so an improved gas ring was once again put back on the cylinder. Sometime in the 2000's, the gas ring actually became a machined piece of the cylinder face.

[handejector]

Originally Posted by valkyriekl

With the gas ring on the cylinder, high-pressure propellant gases and residue escaping from the barrel-cylinder gap has a harder time of finding its way inside the cylinder, and so that area stays cleaner longer. I clean out that area maybe once every 1,000-1,500 rounds.

I agree completely- get the one with the gas ring on the cylinder.
Years ago, I had a 14 that would put 6 Federal HBWC's into one ragged hole at a true 50 yards in a Ransom rest. I sold that gun because the gas ring was on the yoke, and the cyl would bind as residue built up. Acuuracy is a wonderful thing- when the gun works!

[Frank Glenn]

The gas ring can be machined off the yoke and one installed on the cylinder. I highly suggest this be done. it saves a lot of trouble.

Frank Glenn
Frank Glenn-Glenn Custom Complete Gunsmithing Service Glendale AZ

[opaul]

This was a very informative thread, for the most part.
Thanks, I learn something almost daily from the members.