617 Leading on Top Strap

1longshot · #1 08-12-2011, 08:54 PM

I know this has been covered here before. Yet, I am wondering if anyone has a new locking model 617 that leads around the frame where the barrel screws into the frame and on the top strap? I have shot maybe 300 rounds through my gun since I have last cleaned it. I have put maybe 1k rounds through it in all. The leading around the edge of the exposed barrel is enough to cause my friends heads to turn. I will try taking a picture to let everyone see.

I sat down and shot a group from 40 paces. I am 6'4". I put 8 of 10 shots inside of 2 1/2" easily. I did not notice any key holing. 2 shots were outside the group by 3 inches. Don't know if it was me or not. I was shooting federal lightning 40 grain lead solid points.

I have the 4" barrel model.

Alk8944 · #2 08-12-2011, 09:36 PM

Well, you give a lot of extraneous information which has exactly zero to do with the gun, such as your height (?). Without a picture of what you are seeing there is no way anyone can say if it is normal or not. As long as the gun isn't spitting lead it's fine.

There will always be some deposit in a revolver, lead, graphite from the powder coating, soot, wax/lubricant, primer residue, etc. Both lead and graphite appear shiny if rubbed. The amount of fouling is more dependent on the ammunition being fired, but all will leave deposits.

1longshot · #3 08-12-2011, 11:00 PM

You got me on the superfluous info. The height thing must be making people think I am a loon. I mean 2 posts and all this irrelevant info. The height comment was to indicate the length of my gate. Indicating the 40 paces was close to 40 yards, and that the gun, although apppearing to lead, is still shooting somewhat accurately.

So to get more to the point. I have shot Winchester 333, Amercan eagle and Federal boolits through this gun in the last 300 rounds. Here are some pics.

Kenneth L. Walters · #4 08-13-2011, 12:42 AM

When I'm shooting mine I'll put 3000 rounds through it in a year. Clean it once at the end of the year. Mine gets a lot dirtier than yours. Just the nature of the beast.

I track accuracy very very carefully. This buildup makes absolutely no different. Forget it!

snuf · #5 08-13-2011, 01:01 AM

That looks about like mine does after 300/400 rounds.
You'll find that some brands are worse than others.
I've found that Remington leads the pack at leading.

TSQUARED · #6 08-13-2011, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1longshot

You got me on the superfluous info. The height thing must be making people think I am a loon. I mean 2 posts and all this irrelevant info. The height comment was to indicate the length of my gate. Indicating the 40 paces was close to 40 yards, and that the gun, although apppearing to lead, is still shooting somewhat accurately.

So to get more to the point. I have shot Winchester 333, Amercan eagle and Federal boolits through this gun in the last 300 rounds. Here are some pics.

Perfectly normal lead and powders residue from shooting. You can reduce the amouint by using copper plated/washed bullets such as CCI MiniMag or Federal bulk pack HV HP ammo.

410bore · #7 08-13-2011, 07:17 AM

nothing unusual....but cleaning it after every outing makes for easier cleaning....that stuff comes off much easier when its fresh

RetiredRod · #8 08-13-2011, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1longshot

I sat down and shot a group from 40 paces. I am 6'4". I put 8 of 10 shots inside of 2 1/2" easily. I did not notice any key holing. 2 shots were outside the group by 3 inches. Don't know if it was me or not. I was shooting federal lightning 40 grain lead solid points.

I have the 4" barrel model.

That is some great shooting!! You say you "sat down". Does that mean you were shooting from a sandbag or some other type of rest? Also, were you shooting double-action or single-action?

I have a brand new 617 with a little over 500 rounds thru it. Mostly CCI s.v., Eley Sport, Centurion, and Thunderbolt. My 617 shows a little leading, but way less than your pictures show.

I shoot a lot of Smith CF revolvers with lead bullets, and they lead really badly in that area. I use a dental tool to scrape off the lead at every cleaning.

reppans · #9 08-13-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snuf

That looks about like mine does after 300/400 rounds.
You'll find that some brands are worse than others.
I've found that Remington leads the pack at leading.

That's been my experience as well. Test different ammo on a controlled basis (ie, clean gun between different ammo). I ran 100 rounds of Remington Golden Bullets and got this leading out of my 617 barrel (there was a lot on top strap as well), and the gun was binding/jamming as I believe I was getting lead "welding" across the cylinder gap. Course the gun was new, so it is possible that it was also break-in issue.

Been shooting Federal bulk from Wallyworld since and have been very happy with the results - this is now my easiest gun to clean.

steamloco76 · #10 08-13-2011, 10:18 AM

Every S&W .22 revolver I own or have owned leads the top strap and area around the barrel quite heavily. Age of the gun doesn't seem to matter- 1954 K-22 to the 2005 Model 63-4 I sold all make a mess. They all are/were very, very accurate revolvers.

Green Frog · #11 04-14-2024, 04:32 PM

If it doesn’t have fouling as shown on yours it’s either never been fired or just cleaned by someone with OCD! It’s completely natural. As you practice more and find the ammo your gun”likes” best, your groups will get smaller, the flyers will go away, and it will still get fouled in the places you describe.
Enjoy,
Froggie