19-3 .357 6" Combat Magnum won't eject

[fem]

Just shot my S&W today and it won't eject the fired cases. Tried 3 different brands of .357 none of the will eject. I get the cases out with a wooden dowell

I tried "super cleaning" the chambers. I ran a copper cleaning brush through the chambers (which looked perfect before I ever shot it) didn't help.............put a light coat of oil in the chambers and shot it. Didn't help.

Called S&W they said it's out of warrenty(it was mfg in 1971) and shipping is on my dime. Got any suggestion on how to make it eject the fired casings?

Thanks

 

[axlracing]

first of all, Do you have a micrometer, If so mic the inside of the chambers then mike the inside of the barrel and see what the difference is, aslo what grain bullet are you using, are these possibly hot handloads?

 

[Maximumbob54]

Is this something it has started doing or did you just get it?

 

[yukonb]

I had a the same problem with a 2 1/2 in MD 19-3 a couple months ago. However they would eject ok if I waited a min or so for the cylinder to cool. I super cleaned the cylinder like you did and it cleared up the problem. I have only put about 100 rds through it since the problem but it seems fine. I thought may be there was a build up in the cylinder from shooting 38's and it was causing the 357's to hang up. Now I am not sure ????

 

[m1gunner]

Out of warranty? It must be considered dead (lifetime warranty, and all).

Get some polish (mothers, flitz, semmi-chrome, etc) and an electric drill. Put the polish on a tight fitting bore mop and polish the chambers.

Do it several times. Then clean real well with solvent (like brake cleaner) and wipe down in and out with some breakfree. Run a dry mop or patch through the chambers before you shoot it.

 

[fem]

19-3 .357 Combat Magnum

Axlracing: The 3 different .357 loads(CCI, Monarch, S&B) were all 158gr Factory loads,not hot at all. The barrel measured+-0.331....The chambers measured: +- (1) 0.334 (2)0.338 (3) 0.338 (4) 0.337 (5) 0.339 (6) 0.338...The gun fires great groups. The empties just won't extract from the chambers when pushing on the (extractor rod?)

Maximumbob54: I got the gun a year ago, just now getting around to shooting it. Too much work, too many S&W's.....Not enough time.
38 Special +P and plain 38 Special fire and eject from the chambers perfectly. I'm thinking of running my "plumber's snake" through the chambers.(just kiddin')

Frank

 

[fem]

19-3 .357 Combat Magnum won't eject.

Yukonb and M1gunner (me too) Thanks for the suggestions. I will jump on it tommorow with the bore mop,flitz,etc and electric drill....I betcha that does it. I was kinda leaning that way. But you guys gave me some exact specific things to do. I had made up my mind to only shoot 38 Specials, but then figgered I should "fix it" so that it will shoot .357's if I ever sell it. That "out of warranty" comment was made to me by the S&W (toad)in the Service Dept today.

Thanks

 

[Maximumbob54]

I don't know what year the "lifetime" starts to cover, but I think it has something to do with the start of MIM parts as major issue in the guns. With the minimal hand fitting they offer I think that is the only way they can afford the lifetime coverage on their guns.

I would allow the cylinders to soak for a while with a good cleaner/solvent before trying the light abrasive on them. Once you do that there is no going back and I find it unlikely that has been going on for the lifetime of the gun. It is far more likely you just have layers of carbon build up that your eye can't see or isn't getting cleaned out with your typical CLP level cleaner. I'm still a believer in Hoppes #9 even though I know it is nowhere near as good as some of the fancy new cleaners. But I really think a good cleaning will fix this and I would be real careful about trying to open up the cylinders by hand with a drill, swab, and abrasive. I don’t know what the real tool is to do that professionally, but I know it’s not in your garage…

 

[tomcatt51]

38 Special +P and plain 38 Special fire and eject from the chambers perfectly.

And they leave crud in the chamber at the end of the case that makes shooting .357's a problem. It's burnt on carbon that can be difficult to remove. Many times all you're doing is polishing the carbon (it's really hard) so the chambers look clean but aren't. Soak the cylinder in Hoppe's or similar. Then use a drill motor with a .40 cal bore brush on a short piece of cleaning rod and more Hoppe's in the chambers.

 

[k5lwq]

It can't be fixed! Just send it to me and I will dispose of it properly! LOL
Just kidding, the M-19 is my all time favorite gun! Hope you get her back in shape!

 

[fem]

19-3 .357 Combat Magnum won't eject

Tried maximumbob94's suggestion this morning used a "gun mop" covered with a product called J-B, a bore cleaner. I tried the stuff on a "slow speed" on my drill. I think the "mop" was too small, cause I had the same symptoms this morning after using the J-B. It would not eject.

I'll try yours and Tomcatt51's suggestion of soaking with Hoppes # 9 and a 40 cal wire brush.. Wish me luck.

K5Lwq.....I would have expected your comment from a fellow East Texan !!
I'm originally from Groveton, nr Lufkin... Where you from cuz?

Thanks for all the suggestions...I'll take it slow and easy..

Frank

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Could the last half of the ejector rod be slighty bent?
The shorter .38spl cases would use the first part of the ejector rod with negative problem. The longer .357 cases would require the full length of the ejector rod.
Check the ejector rod for wear or scratches.
Jimmy

 

[wvr357]

If you would like to know what is going on-- call me at 540-659-2422
Pete.
Walter V. Roberts ( Pete ) SWCA 957

 

[hsguy]

If you would like to know what is going on-- call me at 540-659-2422
Pete.
Walter V. Roberts ( Pete ) SWCA 957

I think we would all like to know if you are willing to share.

 

[ikor]

If the magnum loads will not even start to eject after firing without beating on the rod, then tomcatt51 probably has it right. I have seen many older magnum revolvers that have been shot almost exclusively with lead .38 loads for years, and that carbon will get caked in the chambers and is difficult to see and to get out. Polishing often only polishes the carbon. I am not a big fan of the drill technique (have replaced a couple of cylinders over the years when guys got too enthusiastic with the drill and dinged up the back of the cylinder / chambers) and prefer instead something like the old Lewis Lead Remover or a piece of copper pot scrubber twisted around a cleaning brush with Hoppes and elbow grease. It will take a while but if carbon is the culprit this should be the cure.

 

[hsguy]

Another technique I have heard mention if you reload is to expand the mouth of a 357 case until is a tight fit into the chamber and push it in to cut out the fouling. I have never tried it but it seems to make sense.

 

[tomcatt51]

I am not a big fan of the drill technique (have replaced a couple of cylinders over the years when guys got too enthusiastic with the drill and dinged up the back of the cylinder / chambers)

That's why I put the brush in a piece of cleaning rod about 5" long and chuck that in a drill motor. This way you can leave the cylinder in the gun and the spinning drill chuck stays away from the back of the cylinder and you're grips. Just chucking the threaded end of the brush in the drill motor (and I've seen it done) is asking for a problem.

 

[k5lwq]

Tried maximumbob94's suggestion this morning used a "gun mop" covered with a product called J-B, a bore cleaner. I tried the stuff on a "slow speed" on my drill. I think the "mop" was too small, cause I had the same symptoms this morning after using the J-B. It would not eject.

I'll try yours and Tomcatt51's suggestion of soaking with Hoppes # 9 and a 40 cal wire brush.. Wish me luck.

K5Lwq.....I would have expected your comment from a fellow East Texan !!
I'm originally from Groveton, nr Lufkin... Where you from cuz?

Thanks for all the suggestions...I'll take it slow and easy..

Frank

I live in Mineola now, have lived in Tyler and Frankston as well. I sure hope you can get the problem solved.

Tims

 

[fem]

19-3 4" 357 Combat Magnum won't eject.

Mucho thanks to all the Forum guys who gave me suggestions After several attempts with polish (etc,etc) Finally got it to eject today. Been going out to my back porch and shooting it after each try at cleaning the chambers. TODAY it worked. Wrapped copper pot cleaner around a .38 mop and used a lot of elbow grease and Kroil...Shot it - ejected perfectly...The ammo was S&B .357 158 gr. Thanks again guys... This is what the forum is about. Helping each other....

Frank

 

[tomcatt51]

Glad you got it. The burnt on caron shooting 38's leaves in the chambers can be tough to get out.