Purchased a new 629-6 in December, 2016 in spite of the warnings from friends about the binding-up and extraction issues with factory .44 ammunition. The extractor rod on mine was also becoming very loose after two or three shots. It finally got so bad after 40 rounds that I had to return it to return to S&W at the beginning of March to have it checked out. Got it back this Saturday morning, took it to the range and...problem not solved. It still binded-up so badly that I couldn't cock the hammer for a SA shot and had a heck of a time just getting the cylinder release to work.



This is my original work order noting that the yoke was repaired and the cylinder was replaced. Uh, the cylinder was not replaced. It was the same cylinder that came with the gun.

I called S&W this morning to e-mail me a shipping label and took it to Fed Ex after lunch. Hopefully, the second time is a charm because I don't think much was done to it the first time they got it.

Just how widespread is this problem with Model 29's/629's binding-up when firing full Magnum factory loads? None of my older N Frame S&W's ever did it unless the extractor rod got very loose. All I had to do back then was finger-tighten it and it was good for several hundred rounds. Is this something that occurs regularly with ILS-equipped models?

I'd be very concerned about the fact that they said "replaced cylinder" on the work order under "performed service", when they didn't.

I had a similar experience last year when service advised my canted barrel (j-frame model) was fixed.....they actually did nothing to fix the barrel....twice.

Not sure about the cylinder binding on the 629. Perhaps the headspace is too tight, or there is not enough gauge on the yoke to allow the cylinder to rotate properly? (endshake) Hopefully they will get the repair right the second time around.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I had heard good things from others about S&W service so, yeah, I was surprised that the gun was returned to me with the same, original cylinder.

The other mistake I saw on the work order was that it said the extraction issue was in 'ONE CYLINDER' which I never stated in my description of the problem. All I said was that extraction of empty shells was extremely difficult.

The S&W rep I spoke to on the phone was helpful and seemed genuinely concerned. Still, I may stick to purchasing used, pre-lock S&W's from now on.

The loosening ejector rod backing out sufficiently is enough to cause both problems all by itself. Just remove the cylinder and tighten it yourself. That way it will be done right in less than ten minutes, and you wont have to deal with the frustration of sending it somewhere only to be dissapointed.

Edit:
Youtube and the gunsmithing forum here are EXTREMELY helpful!

The loosening ejector rod was the only thing that was repaired. It did not loosen after 7 rounds of AE 240gr JSP but the cylinder did bind-up even worse than before it was repaired. Rather a moot point. I already Fed Ex'd it back to S&W this afternoon.

Thanks!

I had a similar experience with my 629-6 when I first bought it years ago. Two weeks later, after firing two cylinders of factory ammo, I could not open the cylinder. Took it back to the LGS from where I purchased it, and I had it back three days later. No problems since.

Did they tell you what the problem was?