Hello - I have a S&W 351PD that I purchased new. I have had it for a couple years but have only had it out to the range 2 or 3 times; approximately 200 rounds have been fired.

On my last outing I went through 2 boxes of ammo, each box a different brand. One box was Speer Gold Dot; I don't remember what the other one was. Out of 100 rounds I had 15 or more misfires. Most of the time the misses fired on the second attempt. I don't recall this gun behaving like this on prior outings.

Any ideas as to the cause? If it is not a simple fix, a trip to the gunsmith or S&W will be needed.

Thanks in advance.
Hector

You can try cleaning under the Extractor..any crud under the star needs to be cleaned for best function. Did the light strikes happen with the Speer gold dots or just the other brand? Chambers that are dirty enough to cause you to push the rounds into the cylinder can hold the shell off the cylinder enough to cushion the firing pin blow and cause a light strike also..

Update - I took the 351PD to the range again, after a good cleaning. I shot a box (50) of CCI Maxi-mag and experienced no failures of any kind. Then I shot a box (50) of Norma. I had 2 failures. One fired on the second attempt and the other one took 3 attempts.

This is much better than last time. My next test will be with the Speer Gold Dot I used last time. It is the stuff designed for short barrels. I don't know what will happen. I was hoping to use this as a self defense round but I may have to rethink that. Yeah, I know about using .22 for self defense but hey I am pretty old (74) .

I have the double action only 351C and I had trigger work done by Teddy Jacobson from actions by T. He suggested using CCI ammunition 22 mag they put powder all around the rim so you shouldn’t have a misfire.

I have a 351pd and shoot gold dots or hornaday critical defense. 22 mags no matter what brand leave unburnt powder in it especially under the extracter. When at the range I usually check it after each cylinder full . It only takes a few flakes to make things difficult.

I have a 351 PD and don't get any unburnt powder flakes anywhere.

Usually just go out and shoot a box of 50 Then stick it back in my pocket.
I only shoot Speer Gold Dots {bought a brick} no sticking of cases what so ever. The first cylinder full to the last cylinder full.{I was concerned about this before I bought it because of the Aluminum cylinder}

Love this little pea shooter.

Another data point on a 351PD.

- A bit less than 400 rounds downrange
- I don’t recall any failures to fire but horrendous trigger pull
- Most certainly have had unburned flakes get everywhere
- Flakes can retard the cylinder advancing but worst impacts around and under the extractor star
- Tried out at least five different cartridges to check for Point of Aim/Point of Impact - CCI and Browning FMJs were most consistent but Speer Gold Dot are nearly as well regulated for me

My guess on the original post is (1) gummed up interior lockwork, (2) some foreign object in the firing pin aperture causing intermittent issues, (3) flakes slowing the cylinder or rotation/hammer fall or (4) a combo of the previous. The issues developing after two years of light use make me think the lockwork might be a place to start, such as from gummy WD40 or some other problems.

I would defer to more experienced hands, but the 351 is a bit of an unique Smith.

This is exactly what I think.. a brush make all the difference..it also helps to extract with the muzzle pointed straight up..less flakes dump out of the shell behind the star.

CCI is Great stuff !!

I guess they decided to make the trigger pulls a little heavier than the center fire guns because of the rimfire I’m under the assumption. But don’t put reduce power springs in the gun because you’ll definitely get misfires if you want the Trigger to be lighter. Specially if you’re using it for self-defense. But me and my dad did on 351C I was just so disgusted with the trigger I sent it off to Teddy Jacobson from actions by T to lighten the trigger pull. Actually the gun with my dad’s unfortunately he passed away this past year but he was a big stub nose guy. when he got older the 38 was just a little too hard for him to handle today that Gun has over 500 rounds of CCI. Years ago Teddy Jacobson talk to Wayne Martin from North American arms and that’s what they recommended for 22 mags because he said they have not sure if it was a liquid or a power that’s all around the rim so you shouldn’t have any misfires. Good luck 22 in the eye is better then missing altogether.