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 08-01-2020, 02:23 PM
38SPL HV's Avatar
38SPL HV 38SPL HV is offline
Member
SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 957
Liked 948 Times in 418 Posts
Default SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets

Followed Ruger’s SP101 instructions to prevent cylinder binding when using lead bullets by lubricating the crane/cylinder gap with Breakfree CLP/Mil Spec (I just used a couple drops). It seemed to work but after 50 rounds of Remington 38 Spl +P 158 gr lead HPs, the cylinder would not rotate/spin smoothly, very rough. My other SP101 (blued version) can shoot 200 rounds using lead bullets straight without any cylinder binding.

The problem appears that excess Breakfree is seeping down from the crane/cylinder gap and onto the ejector. When I wipe this excess lube from the ejector, the cylinder will spin freely and I can continue my shooting session. Wished they designed the SP101 to shoot lead bullets as S&W did theirs with the addition of a “ring” which precludes lead bullet fouling entering the crane cylinder and causing binding.

Never any problem shooting jacketed bullets from the stainless SP101.

Please also share your SP101 experiences shooting lead and whether your cylinders would bind also.

Last edited by 38SPL HV; 08-01-2020 at 02:25 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-02-2020, 12:07 PM
38SPL HV's Avatar
38SPL HV 38SPL HV is offline
Member
SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 957
Liked 948 Times in 418 Posts
Default

This Ruger is terrible. Made sure there was no oily residue on the ejector. Cylinder no longer rotated after firing 35 rds of 38 Special 158 gr lead RNL. I’m calling up Ruger tomorrow for return authorization. This will be the third time. First time was for the binding and most surprisingly the cutout in frame on bottom breach face was not cut out adequately and rims of the cartridges were being caught on the frame. They had to cut out the frame to be in spec. and said they fixed the binding. Binding still was not fixed and I noticed bad machine marks down the grooves which was fouling the heck out of the barrel. Of it went for the second time..new barrel and said binding was fixed and gun polished. The binding problem remains and not fixed. I’m going to request a new crane and yoke assembly and new cylinder.

What happened to US quality?

Last edited by 38SPL HV; 08-02-2020 at 12:17 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-03-2020, 01:29 PM
38SPL HV's Avatar
38SPL HV 38SPL HV is offline
Member
SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 957
Liked 948 Times in 418 Posts
Default

...sorry this was a duplicate, see below for the post

Last edited by 38SPL HV; 08-04-2020 at 01:17 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #4  
Old 08-03-2020, 01:37 PM
38SPL HV's Avatar
38SPL HV 38SPL HV is offline
Member
SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 957
Liked 948 Times in 418 Posts
Default

...I disassembled my SP101 for the first time. Removed all sorts of filth from the crane/arbor using brush and Hoppes 9, also cleaned out the center opening of the cylinder. Wiped down and applied a smooth layer of Breakfree LP (not CLP) along the crane/arbor. LP was designed to lubricate mil grade weaponry and stainless steel. Cylinder was back in business and was spinning as smooth as silk.

Placed some Mil Spec CLP (96 Synthetic CLP) in space between where cylinder meets crane/arbor...and off to my favorite shooting spot. I sent down range 100 rounds of 158 gr SWC (Hi Tek Poly coated)...cylinder spun smoothly after my shooting session...most importantly, this revolver shoots very accurately for me. Granted, I wasn’t using my traditional lubed cast bullets but I was satisfied.

I wonder how it will do with factory lead rounds for example, using either the Remington 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP or it’s bigger cousin, 357 Mag 158 gr lead SWC!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 08-03-2020, 01:40 PM
ContinentalOp's Avatar
ContinentalOp ContinentalOp is offline
Member
SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 6,315
Likes: 13,115
Liked 12,802 Times in 4,228 Posts
Default

Glad you got it resolved. A good reason to open up a new gun and give it a good inspection and clean-and-lube. I've heard stories of new S&W revolvers with metal shavings inside. Even better would be manufacturers doing a better job with QC to make that unnecessary.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 08-03-2020, 01:42 PM
ContinentalOp's Avatar
ContinentalOp ContinentalOp is offline
Member
SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 6,315
Likes: 13,115
Liked 12,802 Times in 4,228 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 38SPL HV View Post
I wonder how it will do with factory lead rounds for example, using either the Remington 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP or it’s bigger cousin, 357 Mag 158 gr lead SWC!
If I were in your place, I'd be curious to see if the clean-and-lube improved performance with the lead rounds that were causing the problem.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #7  
Old 08-03-2020, 01:57 PM
Drm50 Drm50 is offline
Member
SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets SP101 cylinder bind lead bullets  
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Monroe cnty. Ohio
Posts: 6,923
Likes: 4,410
Liked 10,022 Times in 3,676 Posts
Default

It has always been my policy to strip a new gun all the way down, clean and reassemble. Burrs, shavings, ect are done away with.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Problem with 66-8: powder fouling causing cylinder to bind irapollock S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 47 07-01-2016 09:03 PM
686 No-Dash Cylinder Bind Cobbler S&W-Smithing 7 10-28-2015 11:04 PM
Out of time/ratchet bind after fixing cylinder endshake schneiderguy S&W-Smithing 12 11-21-2014 09:12 AM
29-2 cylinder bind/age of revolver Tango 106 S&W-Smithing 3 04-27-2010 09:06 AM
29-2 cylinder bind Tango 106 S&W-Smithing 4 04-08-2010 05:09 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 06:12 AM.


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