Md 66-1 cylinder sticking after S&W Action Job

[cporfe]

Hi, I'm hoping someone might have an idea about my problem I haven't thought of yet.

Last year around this time I sent my "new to me" used Md 66-1 to S&W for an action job and refinish. It took 9 months but it came back in time for Christmas. I recently got to shoot it. Only .38 Specials. About 50 or so rounds of 158grn. Zero problems. I then put 20 rounds a Super Vel 90grn .38 Special +P. I didn't notice any problems then.

When I got home and cleaned the gun, I the cylinder began hanging up intermittently and/or not locking in place when in SA/DA action. This seemed to happen near one particular chamber. The cylinder was not hanging up on the forcing cone or ejector star.

Tonight I made a very careful inspection of the gun. With the CYLINDER OPEN, the ejector rod, what there is to it, is straight. It is tight and not loose. There is no debris under the ejector star. The cylinder will spin in reverse (clockwise) freely with no issue. The cylinder spins counter-clockwise but frequently stops at the same point. There doesn't seem to be any outward issue with the cylinder stop or hand.

So, my next guess might be something in the ejector mechanism. What do you think?

I don't want to send it back to S&W, I don't have another year for them to work on this thing. Anything I could do myself? Or use my local gunsmith and pay again?

Thanks
Chris

 

[colt_saa]

You paid your money, send it back so they have a chance to make it right

 

[cporfe]

No offense intended, but I wasn't happy with the 9 month turn around time in the beginning. And the lack of forthright information from S&W each time I called. Why give them another chance to screw this up??

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Did you check if the ejector rod is tight or did it work itself slightly loose? Since this is the first time you had a chance to shoot the gun it is a possibility.

I would also check the space between the cylinder and forcing cone at that one cylinder you pointed out.

I hope it's an easy fix. I hate it when someone is disappointed with their new toy...

 

[minconrevo]

Just a WAG based on the scant info, ejector rod has come partly unscrewed?

 

[Pisgah]

My bet -- the ejector rod is loose or slightly bent.

 

[M29since14]

I usually agree with Colt_saa and certainly think it is normally good business to give a vendor "the right to cure," but 9-months…

I would look around for an S&W armorer that you can take your gun to and get it back in a more reasonable length of time. It's a shame that there are so few knowledgeable revolversmiths around these days, but they are out there. Track down one close to home, if you can.

 

[cporfe]

Thanks for the comments. In my original post I made a typo, the ejector rod is NOT LOOSE. I typed "now loose" and missed it after two read throughs. It is corrected in my OP. As the cylinder issues presents itself when the cylinder is not in the frame but open as if to load, it can only be a cylinder/ejector rod issue. The rod is NOT BENT and even if it where, being outside the frame wouldn't cause this issue (past experience with a 4" K frame with a bent rod). I have spun the cylinder backwards and can see no wobble in the rod. I've taken the cylinder out of the gun and am deep cleaning it now. I'll post my results tonight.

Thanks to all the commenters. Sorry if my typo lead you astray.

 

[CH4]

Was this new Super Vel or the vintage stuff? The old stuff was known for being a little rough on guns.

 

[cporfe]

This was new Super Vel. I would think a .357Mag gun would handle even hot Super Vel. But who knows the light weight bullet might have an effect on the M66.

Now on to the results of my deep clean. I sprayed Hornady's One Shot liberally on the crane (inside and out) and into the ejector rod area. I didn't see any fouling come out but I did notice some high spots (very shinny rings) on the crane (which had been bead blasted along with the gun). I worked the area slightly and everything worked as expected. I can only think there was a burr somewhere and the cleaning and hand work helped. So closes the mystery of why the cylinder hung up!

 

[schutz5]

Great news!
Thanks for the updates.
P.S can you post pics?
I would like to see the finish.

My 66-1 could use the grey kitchen pad to tidy up.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, great news. I'm glad everything worked out well and the gun is now performing as intended. You might have had a small piece of metal or a bead fragment from the bead blast stuck somewhere in there. I'm betting you have a big smile on your face like the day your revolver was returned!

 

[cporfe]

schutz5 asked for some pictures. Here's what I have. I don't have anything fancy, just an older cell phone so I hope these will do. The finish is evenly done on the whole gun. On the lower part of the left side of the frame, LAPP was engraved for "Louisiana Probation and Parole" I believe. They took that out during the re-finish. Inside the frame window is an etched 4 digit number which was not removed but the new finish minimizes the view. These are Altamont grips. Not the best color for this gun, but the original Altamont grips in rosewood I bought for this gun last year didn't fit to my liking.

Hope you guys like the pics.
Chris

 

[jem102]

schutz5 asked for some pictures. Here's what I have. I don't have anything fancy, just an older cell phone so I hope these will do. The finish is evenly done on the whole gun. On the lower part of the left side of the frame, LAPP was engraved for "Louisiana Probation and Parole" I believe. They took that out during the re-finish. Inside the frame window is an etched 4 digit number which was not removed but the new finish minimizes the view. These are Altamont grips. Not the best color for this gun, but the original Altamont grips in rosewood I bought for this gun last year didn't fit to my liking.

Hope you guys like the pics.
Chris

I think it looks good! Easily as nice as my 66-8.