After much consideration I decided I wanted a new S&W 63 with the 5" bbl to carry when I take a rifle to the woods. I picked it up this morning. The size felt good and I put on some larger, more comfortable grips and was planning on ordering a custom made field holster for it. Took it out of the box, cleaned it and headed to the range to compare different type ammunition in it. Out of six different ammo selections only one would allow the cylinder to close easily. None of the different brands of ammo would allow the cylinder to turn and lock up. It's a wonder some of the ammo didn't go off since it's rimfire. So...not one round fired. I called my dealer and he said he could send it back to S&W for me if I paid for it. He said he was tired of sending Smiths back. Needless to say I'm on the phone in the morning to customer service to give them the opportunity to make this right.

I have other Smiths, but they are all older guns. None of them have the lock and the lock on the new 63 obviously had nothing to do with this problem. It just makes me wonder what other quality issues there are. The reason I bought new was I really liked the five inch bbl configuration for what I wanted to use it for. I'll keep the forum posted on what happens with this little 63.

After much consideration I decided I wanted a new S&W 63 with the 5" bbl to carry when I take a rifle to the woods. I picked it up this morning. The size felt good and I put on some larger, more comfortable grips and was planning on ordering a custom made field holster for it. Took it out of the box, cleaned it and headed to the range to compare different type ammunition in it. Out of six different ammo selections only one would allow the cylinder to close easily. None of the different brands of ammo would allow the cylinder to turn and lock up. It's a wonder some of the ammo didn't go off since it's rimfire. So...not one round fired. I called my dealer and he said he could send it back to S&W for me if I paid for it. He said he was tired of sending Smiths back. Needless to say I'm on the phone in the morning to customer service to give them the opportunity to make this right.

I have other Smiths, but they are all older guns. None of them have the lock and the lock on the new 63 obviously had nothing to do with this problem. It just makes me wonder what other quality issues there are. The reason I bought new was I really liked the five inch bbl configuration for what I wanted to use it for. I'll keep the forum posted on what happens with this little 63.

I'm on the verge of ordering one,however after examining one at my local shop, I have some concerns over quality.All looked fine on the store example,however when I looked at the muzzle, the bore looked hexagonal.Maybe I should just go ahead and shoot my NIB 63 no dash.

IkenI,
Not sure what your experience with rimfire revolvers is, so take this as just an FYI.
First thing I'd do is push the ejector rod all the way out, take a rag and wipe any oil off the cylinder surface that mates to the underside of the ejector star, then wipe the underside of the ejector star. Oil and "junk" can accumulate there causing the exact symptom you are seeing. In many cases, it's not the revolver, but maintenance that causes that symptom. If the revolver is new, it can have factory oil residue in that area.
Give it a try and then attempt to chamber those same rounds. Might be a different scenario.
Rimfires are problematic in this way.
For what it's worth, might save you some time, agravation and expense.

The reason S&W is higher priced than Charter, Taurus and Ruger is because of the service. Ask that they send you a free shipping label to get it fixed.

After it is repaired, you will be glad you got a new M63-4. Mine is the most accurate S&W .22 revolver I've ever owned, including 17s and 18s, and lighter and more rugged than both of those earlier favorites. The action is sweet; so sweet I suspect it was touched up a bit by S&W (it was a demo/test gun for gun mag writers.)

The point is, you probably have a jewel in the rough. When you get it back, put a box or two of Stingers through it to work out the kinks, and smooth up the action if you know how.

Mine, along with a M35, are my two, all-time .22 favorites.

I thought that might wake you up, Bruce ;-)

RAMS - I'm hopeful mine will turn out like yours when S&W finishes with it.

Smithnut - I disassembled it when I cleaned it so I was pretty certain it was okay. After reading your post I cleaned it again, well. Unfortunely there was no change. Appreciate the advice tho'.

I'm calling S&W in the morning. Keep you posted.

IkenI

Stingers fit okay? I've found that they - and some other CCI rounds - are a bit tight in my CZ .22LR rifles' chambers. I just wonder if the 63 has 'tight' spec chambers. I had considered one - but they are only $30 less locally than a new 4"/6" 10-shot 617.

Stainz

I was looking at a friend's new 686 a few days ago and was disappointed. The lock-up was not tight at all and the action just didn't feel solid. That gun had more rotational play in the cylinder than my old S&W's that have been shot thousands of rounds.

My experience with several new S&W's (within the last year) have been VERY positive. Some of the finest revolvers I have owned (I've been a Smith man for nearly sixty years)...

Dale53

Do the rounds drop into the chambers normally? Can you feel the head of the cartridge sticking up above the cylinder? Have you tried pushing in each round with your thumb?

I wonder how this gun was test fired at the factory.

Bill

That would be the one in the sequence between the M34 and the M36.
Best,
Gary

Stingers fit fine in 63s, old and new. (Don't use them in 34s, 35s and 317s, except when carrying for "self-defense." Metallurgy problems.)

Stinger cases are a tenth of an inch longer than other cases, so they may not fit well in rifles with target chambers.

M 35 is the target version. There was a Classic Test Report in G&A magazine about ten years ago.
I'll try to find out what issue it was.

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Regards from Germany
Stephan

What about this? Never heard it before. Not that big a deal with me because I'm no fan of Stingers but am surprised that at least the Models 34 and 35 couldn't relish a diet of Stingers.

This tells me that S&W is using "polygonal" rifling on the new model 63's that is formed by electro-chemical machining (ECM). This also means the two piece barrel assembly is being used.

Model 35 is the 22/32 target, with the 6" barrel versus the Model 34 4" barrel.

I have a nickle model 17 SSN 1K3xxx-I'm looking to swap for a 617.

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Forum consigliere

The customer service call was very positive this morning. Waiting on the shipping label and didn't have to ask for it.

Glad to hear that S&W is taking care of it. The original 63's weren't so great, either. When I bought mine in the early 70's, I had to look at about half a dozen before I found one that cycled properly without ammo in it. Then when you put ammo into the gun, you open up a whole new can of worms.

BTW, I have never seen a problem with Stinger ammo in my 4" pre-34, which will hardly extract anything but CCI.

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Formerly Model520Fan

Interesting.I knew that it had a two piece barrel and only joked with the clerk that "hexagonal" was Smith's new rifling process.

A Model 35 is a J frame six inch "target" 22.

One rule I have with buying S&W's, is Not to Buy a new one, unless it is prelock.
I also think S&W should NOT give the same model number to the new guns, they are NOT made with the same quality and don't deserve to be in the same light.
Good luck with yours.

All I know, bmcgilvray, is that right after a couple of boxes of Stingers, the group sizes of one of my M35s (which are just M34s with a 6 inch bbl) and my early M317, doubled--even with clean guns and high-end target ammo. Later, S&W told me they do not recommend Stingers in those revolvers.

As far as I can tell, Stingers haven't made a bit of difference in my Mod 34-1 Still hits exactly what I aim at if I do my job.....and I'm gittin older....

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AmVets Life Member
19-3 .357
25-7 .45 Colt
34-1 .22 RF
M916T 12 gauge
2007 Eagle, Alaska - scoped rifle champion

After I got my 63-4 back from S&W I traded it for a model 57. I would like to have a good one.

I just got off the phone with S&W and no one there has ever heard of any recommendation from them not to use Stingers. Please back up statements such as S&W not recommending something with references. Thanks

My friend, I don't appreciate the implication in your post. Also note that S&W will tell you on the phone (as they have me and others here) that their locks don't malfunction.

Now, Mike_1974, I don't care if you believe me about my bad experiences with Stingers, or about what S&W recommended, or not. But here's the skinny:

According to my notes, the first time the shop recommended I not shoot a lot of Stingers in a M35 was by phone in early March 1996 when S&W reset the bbl and reamed the throat in an attempt to restore the ruined accuracy--it didn't restore the accuracy, but there was no charge. I was living in Virginia at the time. The repairman's advice (yes, in those days a customer could speak directly to the guy doing the repair, maybe Vito or Tony) went something like this after I told him I had been shooting a lot of Stingers: "Why would you want to shoot Stingers out of a fine old revolver like a M35, anyway?" I am sorry, Mike, but I did not record that 1996 conversation for you.

The second time I was cautioned about Stingers by S&W was in connection with a 317, the accuracy of which went to hell after a lot of Stingers. It was on April 13, 2006, 8:59:44 AM CST. Yes, I still have the e-mail; it's from [email protected], Subj: RE: 317 and 351.

Go back to whomever it was that just told you a different story, give him/her the above info, and then let us all know how they explain away their e-mail to me.

In any event, Mike, stuff your old kit guns, 35s and 317s with whatever you like. They are your guns.

I'll stick with the older version. 63 no dash.

Just in case you are wondering, msr, I never had a problem with Stingers in the beautiful old M63. It is stronger than the 34, 35 and 317. It had to be strong because it also was made for the .22Mag (M651).

Sorry to hear of your mis fortune. I must say though, the two nicest smiths ive seen in factory guise are the two brand spanking 686s my brother and i just got...a 6 and a 4 inch respectivly. Perfect lock up, trigers and smoooooth! Send yours back, smith will make it right

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Marcas Registradas

Correct. The new ones are better.

Well, I got it back from S&W this afternoon late. The note enclosed just said they adjusted to their standards 1)repaired frame 2)repaired yoke.

I'll take it to the range tomorrow and see what happens.

Good luck. I hate the frustration that comes along with problem guns!

Took it to the range yesterday and fired six different brands of .22 LR - worked fine.