4-screw Model 17 spent rounds stuck in cylinder

komodo5379 · May 24, 2025

My 4-Screw Model 17 serial K410074 is not fun at the range. The spent rounds stick in the cylinder and the ejector rod is hard to use to extract then. I have had to push it down on the table to get it to dislodge the cases. It acts like the firing pin is peening the cases into the extractor ring at the rear of the cylinder but not sure that that is it. has anyone had the same experience?

SweetMK · May 24, 2025

There are at least two possibilities,,

one is :
Have you fired any 22 shorts in the gun, before shooting the LR ammo?
Shorts will cause a ring in the cylinder that can grab the fired cases,,,
A brass brush will cure that issue.

Second,, that will be a longer story, I have not done that one,,

JP@AK · May 24, 2025

It is not uncommon for a K-22 to have difficult extraction. This is actually true of I/J frame .22 revolvers also. Chamber dimensions are sometimes simply too tight.

I've been fortunate, I guess, in that I've owned more than a dozen S&W .22 LR revolvers and have never had the problem. But many others have. Some of those guys will be along with advice on how to resolve your problem.

Dino44 · May 25, 2025

AS mentioned above some revolvers have issues and some don't. In my experience, keeping the cylinder chambers and underneath of the extractor and cylinder surface clean where the extractor seats before, during, and after shooting matters. The brand of ammo also matters. During a recent range trip I brought CCI, Reminton Golden Bullet, and Remington Semiauto 22LR. Only the semiauto flavor was problematic. K22 Outdoorsman no issues. M34-1 snub minimal issues, M18-3 minimal issues, M34-1 4" some difficulties. The more I shoot and clean it the easier it is getting. Some folks resort to a cylinder reaming tool and some people uses home remedies or have a gunsmith ream it. There are threads on this forum that recommend different methods on how to do it and name the correct 22 LR reaming tool to obtain if necessary. For me so far, frequent cleaning with the 22LR brass bore brush and mop is helping. Couple that with finding the ammo that works best, shooting more and having patience works.

Pine_Worker · May 25, 2025

I had similar extraction issues with my 17. Took it to a gunsmith to have the chambers finish reamed. Problem solved. He did it while I waited, about 20 minutes and $65.

H Richard · May 25, 2025

It is a very frequent problem with S&W 22's. If taking a bronze brush in your cordless drill (at slower speed), and using good quantities of a cleaner and lube such as Break Free or any similar. Then you need to ream the chambers. A Manson .22 Finishing chamber reamer will be the final fix of the problem. I have done 7 or 8 and there is no affect on accuracy.

chris66 · May 26, 2025

My brother's Model 63 no dash has the same problem, I read that a stainless steel brush should help.

Drm50 · May 26, 2025

First K22 NIB was 1964. First “range” session in local gravel pit at about 250-300 rds empties were getting hard to eject.
We knew it was due to close tolerances. Then gun was not wanting to cock. My dad shut down the session and said we would have smith look at it, not damaging it by forcing to cock. Turns out that was tolerance too from residue on cylinder face. I still have that k22 and would never relieve cylinder for easy extraction. I always figured the close tolerances were reason for superb accuracy. Keep it clean and you will have no problem. Range shooting have your brush with you.
I also once sold a guy a mint 63. He made habit of punching out empties by striking ejector rod on edge of bench. He ended up damaging the gun. These are precision made and you have to use common sense shooting and maintaining them.

NovaJoe · May 26, 2025

I have a 17-1 that I can shoot all day with no issues, and a 17-4 that starts to exhibit sticky ejection after 100 rounds. No problem - like Drm50 I keep a short rod and brush in my shooting bag. A couple of pokes through each charging hole, and she's good to go again.

cmansguns · May 26, 2025

There are many, many Members here who have had the problem of S&W 22's with sticky chambers. I have a Manson reamer program running right now with two (2) correct Manson reamers, tap handles, and instruction sheet all for free. This is a loaner program whereby I send it to you via USPS Small Box Priority Mail and when you are finished you send it back to me same way. Read all about it in the "Smithing" sub forum...look for Manson reamer loaner program, and then add your screen name to the list in the post titled "Memorial day update loaner program" and I'll contact you when it is your turn and I'm sending it to you. At the rate we are going it should be within a few more weeks.

All the Members who have used this reamer have reported new ammo drop in, drop out fired cases when gun is inverted....just the way it should be. The blame seems to be on worn reamers used by S&W during factory manufacturing which is why some have some not. In any event the reamer will NOT enlarge your chambers, it will simply bring them up to SAAMI 22LR Sporting dimensions and they will now handle all ammo without any adverse effect on accuracy. All you need is a shop vise, and some cutting fluid as I can't send liquids through the mail. Tap Magic is cheap and available.

Sign on..get the reamer, do the job (takes maybe an hour tops)....you will be very happy you did!

Doug M. · May 27, 2025

Whatever the facts are with any particular gun I don't know, but Elmer Keith reported on this in the first edition of "Sixguns", which came out in the the ...mid-late 50s.

cruiserdan · May 29, 2025

I've reamed one .22LR cylinder and then hit it lightly with a .22 mag chamber hone to "polish" it a bit. Works perfectly now.

4-screw Model 17 spent rounds stuck in cylinder

komodo5379

SweetMK

Member

JP@AK

US Veteran

Dino44

Member

Pine_Worker

Member

H Richard

US Veteran

chris66

Member

Drm50

Member

NovaJoe

Member

cmansguns

US Veteran

Attachments

Doug M.

Member

cruiserdan

Member

Similar threads

Latest posts