Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > S&W-Smithing
o

Notices

S&W-Smithing Maintenance, Repair, and Enhancement of Smith & Wesson and Other Firearms.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-31-2011, 04:43 PM
redhawk444 redhawk444 is offline
Banned
Lockup Lockup Lockup Lockup Lockup  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times in 11 Posts
Default Lockup

I have a 657 that may be just a tad slow on the lockup. It sometimes backs up when fired, resulting in the hammer dropping on a previously fired cartridge.

If I cock it really slow, the bolt looks like it engages the notch in the cylinder, yet if I wiggle the cylinder, the bolt will engage farther for a more secure lockup.

Is this as simple as replacing a part? or should I send it in to Smith for adjustment. I can probably replace a part, but if it requires gauges of such, I don't wanna mess with it.

Any help would be appreciated.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-31-2011, 06:28 PM
scooter123 scooter123 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 6,919
Likes: 179
Liked 4,294 Times in 2,106 Posts
Default

First, put on some reading glassed or grab a magnifying glass and look at each stop notch on the cylinder. It's possible that scrubbing out the stop notches with a toothbrush and some solvent may cure your problem. It's been my experience that the cylinder stop notches can be a magnet for crud, which can prevent the cylinder stop from fully seating. BTW, I just love it when something this simple fixes a problem for me, so out of habit I ALWAYS start with a good cleaning.

From your description is sounds as if you have a carryup issue. The solution to this is to fit a slightly thicker hand so that the gun will properly carry the cylinder into full lock. At the same time I would suggest that you have the spring for the cylinder stop replaced.

That new hand will have to be fitted to your gun, which is a somewhat finicky task that does require some precision measuring instruments. It's also something that requires a fairly high level of skill, so I would advise that you find a competant gunsmith to tune it up.

Note, carryup problems such as you have described can sometimes occur in a gun with a near perfect state of tune. If you have been "staging" your trigger in double action, you may find that pulling the trigger in one continuous stroke solves your problem. Doing that allows the inertia of the cylinder to carry the gun into lock even if the carryup is just a tick short.

S&W intentionally builds their revolvers on the loose side for carryup to reduce hand fitting and insure that it will function properly in a Combat mode of shooting even when it's not been properly cleaned or maintained. They also advise AGAINST staging the trigger in double action shooting in their current manuals. If you are in the habit of staging your trigger in double action, I would suggest you break that habit.

If you don't stage your trigger in double action, then without a doubt you need to have your model 57 tuned up. While it's not cheap, due to shipping costs, I personally would have S&W do the work. Turnaround on service work seems to run 2-4 months from the posts I've seen concerning this but the results have been 100% positive in every post I've seen. They'll not only correct the carryup, but will also make sure that gun is 100% perfect in every respect before returning it to you. The only complaint I've seen in regards to S&W's service is that on a few occasions they didn't return the gun with the grips it was sent in with. Tip, remove your grips before you send it in for service or send it in with a cheap set of Pachmayr's.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-31-2011, 08:03 PM
redhawk444 redhawk444 is offline
Banned
Lockup Lockup Lockup Lockup Lockup  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times in 11 Posts
Default

Thank you for the response.

I have the measuring tools as I am a retired Journeyman Machinist, but knowing exactly what to do and where to get the properly dimensioned part would be the problem for me.

I will check out the cleaning aspect of the problem and if that is not it, just send it to S&W for adjustment. I have plenty of other guns to play with in the meantime.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-31-2011, 09:06 PM
stantheman86 stantheman86 is offline
US Veteran
Lockup Lockup Lockup Lockup Lockup  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,468
Likes: 6
Liked 473 Times in 236 Posts
Default

Sounds like what a Dan Wesson does......never heard of a S&W having a cylinder that "spins" out of lockup. It also could be a weak bolt spring, or junk clogging up the bolt area.

Both my Dan Wessons will do this, though. On full lockup I can grab the cylinder and twist it out of lockup. This is the reason I haven't and won't buy any more DW's.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
657, cartridge, dan wesson, gunsmith, lock, model 57, pachmayr, solvent

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
19-4 lockup shocker S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 2 03-06-2013 02:08 PM
K38 lockup smokin54 S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 1 07-05-2012 08:39 PM
lockup on my 624? cougar14 S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 2 09-15-2010 09:54 PM
686 lockup roughcreek S&W-Smithing 6 03-29-2009 07:14 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:06 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)