Is this a common problem and an easy fix? Happened today while shooting a box of Hornady .44 Magnum 300 gr.

I can hand tighten it easily enough. Talked to S&W today about it. They're going to email me a shipping label (hasn't arrived yet), but if it's an easy fix I'd rather not have to send it back.

Is this a common problem and an easy fix? Happened today while shooting a box of Hornady .44 Magnum 300 gr.

I can hand tighten it easily enough. Talked to S&W today about it. They're going to email me a shipping label (hasn't arrived yet), but if it's an easy fix I'd rather not have to send it back.

I usually hand tighten mine then, with a pair of pliers and some cushioning between the pliers and the knurled end of the rod, I torque it just a tad.

Unscrew the extractor and put a little loctite on the threads and hand tighten it or do as qballwill says (carefully). I have done this on a 629 and a couple of 29-2s and the problem went away for good.

Bill

Thanks guys, seems easy enough. I take it it's not an uncommon problem. I was a bit surprised since the gun's only two months old, and I've probably only shot 200 rounds at most through it.

I don't think it's uncommon, but I don't believe bullets weighing more than the standard 240 gr, are recomended in a S&W .44 mag.
(Just my opinion) Hopefully others may chime in.
Personally, I avoid anything over 240 gr.

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JD 500

Don't use the permanent Loc Tite. The blue or light duty should be more than sufficient, Put a couple empty cartridge casings in the cylinder before torquing the rod. This avoids strain on the star and rod.

I had a 686 that was always unscrewing itself until the above remedy was applied. Loose extractor rods happen.

I don't find anything on bullet weight at the heavy end in the S&W Revolver Manual:

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Bob

I've seen that in the manual about light bullet weights for my two NGs ie not using lighter than 120 grain magnum loads in guns with titanium cylinders. In the manual with my 629 it said not to uses lighter than 120 grain magnum loads in any alloy gun irrespective of cylinders. Nothing about not using heavier than 240 grain loads, although many prefer not to do that.

Thanks for the tip on using the light duty Loc Tite, and cartridge cases in the cylinder before torquing the rod.

Have you tried LOCK-TITE?
I tighten the extractor rod with a "soft pliers" and the LOCK-TITE it.
Also, I lock-tite the front screw on adjustable sights. Don't forget to lock-tite the cylinder latch.

I decided to return the gun to S&W since I've had it less than two months. I looked at my shooting log and saw that I'd only fired 55 rounds through this gun. I did try torquing (carefully) with pliers (no Loc Tite), but the cylinder still opens too hard for my taste. So bottom line, as much as I hated to do it because I really enjoy shooting this gun, I sent it back for S&W to make it right.