610-2 Pre Lock

[captainwayne]

Just paid the considerable freight on a beautiful 610-2 pre lock 40cal/10 mm revolver.
Finally after a month or so I got to shoot it. To my dismay, one cylinder would light strike and not fire. I'll try to post photos, but what are the solutions to this if any? I look forward to your responses.

 

[SmithNut]

You'll need to provide some additional information.
For instance, was it always the same chamber?
Were you using a moon clip? If so, do you have more than one (in order to remove that from consideration.
What kind of ammo, reloads or new?
If new, what manufacturer (will tell us if they have hard primers or soft).
Have you tightened the main spring strain screw all the way in?
Does the gun have original factory parts, or has anything been modified/replaced (specifically the main spring)

Help us help you...

 

[k22fan]

First, answer all of SmithNut's questions before assuming that what fixed mine will fix yours.

I bought one new with a 3 7/8" barrel at a "Smith & Wesson Days" promotion that included S&W employees behind the counter of a local gun store. While I was not impressed when the hansom young factory rep did not know what a Model 28 was he seemed to be up to steam on recent introductions. I was a regular customer. The store's owner told me I was experienced enough to know to choose a Model 625 over that inexpiable odd ball. I'm a collector. Odd balls are our cup of tea. The owner was so frustrated and pissed his face turned red before he stomped off leaving his clerk to do the paper work. It was $480 plus tax.

It missfired Winchester & Remington primers to often to be used in matches. The fix was a longer firing pin which was a drop in after market part from Brownell's. With the longer pin and chamfered chambers it was my most often used match revolver for years. In matches I always shot clipped .40 S&W. While .45s are the fastest revolvers to reload I liked being the only competitor with the odd ball 610-2.

 

[smithrjd]

10MM auto without moon clips or 40 S&W? The 40 S&W will not work without moon clips. Just got my new to me 610-2 6 1/2" tonight after the waiting period. Will have to see how mine works.

 

[k22fan]

10MM auto without moon clips or 40 S&W? [...]

I'm not sure if your question was addressed to me but mine missfired with clipped .40 S&W. I like the less expensive brass. Getting the highest velocity is not an issue. Our steel targets were made or are adjusted so that a well placed 9 mm will knock them down.

This is a little off topic but I wonder if S&W could make a 7 shot Model 610. My guess is that they'd have to drill the hole for the barrel shank higher in the frame like they did with 8 shot .357s. I doubt S&W views 10 mm as a good enough seller to be worth the trouble but I think it is a good idea.

 

[smithrjd]

Have not shot mine yet, just what I have read. They "should" work with 10MM Auto without clips, but you have to push the brass out one by one. Have 40 S&W now, 10MM Auto brass on the way. Not sure there would be room for 7, it's an N Frame already.

 

[captainwayne]

thanks Smithnut, I share your passion!I guess I shot off a post without complete information. I was shooting new Winchester 40 cal with moonclips, and it was misfiring on only one cylinder. I have photos but cannot get them from my phone to this site. The light strikes are glaring compared to the fired ones. The mainspring was tightened. I'm considering getting a new longer firing pin, as I really don't want to give this gun back!
The previous owner informed me yesterday that he never had an issue with 10 mm ammo, which aren't used with monoclips

 

[captainwayne]

k22fan; if you bought a new 610 for $480 you got the deal of the century! They are going for $1500 to $3000 depending on the model! you can make a quick $1000 on any forum.
I also share with you the fun of shooting and owning oddball guns. I will shoot this gun in steel challenge as well as USPSA, which I just joined. I could care less about beating anyone, just want to shoot what I want to shoot, and sort it out later!

 

[k22fan]

It was not the deal of the century. It was the sale price on an unwanted turkey that S&W was having trouble moving out of inventory. If you stick with good quality brands today's unwanted turkey will become tomorrow's collector item.

I do not sell guns so current value is only mildly interesting. That said, $3,000 is more believable for one of the original 610 no dashes with the uncommon 5" barrel that for some odd reason laid around in its box unloved and unfired for about 27 years. Even then you'd have to have two well funded bidders that really, really wanted the old turkey. Before prices climbed beyond reason I used to want one but the only ones I handled looked like they had been ridden hard and put in the stable wet.