63 sticky extraction

[1mathom1]

After a long search I found a nice 63 at a pawn shop a few weeks ago. I believe it dates to roughly 1969. Finally got a chance to get out and shoot it this last week and loved the way it shot except for very sticky extraction. Really had to push hard. Would not move until it gave way all of a sudden. Tried another cylinder full, same outcome, and stopped shooting it.
The ammo I had was some hot 37gr Winchester hollow points.

The ejected cases showed some signs of longitudinal scratching but of bigger concern was scored place around the cases about the same place as where the extractor met the cylinder.

Anybody have similar experiences? What should I be looking for? Could it be the ammo was too hot?

This is only my second Smith .22 revolver and the first one I've shot. My other is a basket case pre-18 that needs considerable work before shooting it. So...I am looking for any advice.

 

[22hipower]

"Sticky extraction" is a common complaint. Basic solution is keep the charge holes clean although there are more complex long term answers. Much discussion on this subject in previous threads so you might want to use the "Google Search" button at the top of the page. Nice 22, enjoy it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[H Richard]

Scrubbing the chambers, polishing the chambers, can help, but the only permanent fix is to have the chambers reamed with a SAAMI standard chamber reamer. S&W has continually cut their .22 chambers at a minimal dimension, and the currently most common .22's are high velocity or at least 1200 fps in order to reliably function in the semi-auto's. Way back when "modern" .22's were made the standard velocity ammo was about 1050 - 1075 fps, for accuracy. Today most people don't care as much about accuracy they just want their "tacticool" 22's to function reliably.

If the scrubbing and polishing of your chambers (and using standard velocity ammo) don't solve your problem, seek out having your chambers reamed out. (I've done 7 or 8 S&W's, vintage ranging from 1931 to 2006), and now they all extract reliably and accuracy did not change.

 

[jpage]

Dry-firing a .22 will cause the chamber to deform, resulting in extraction issues. This will deform the firing pin as well, look for evidence of the pin striking the shoulder of the chamber. As others have said, reaming is the solution.

 

[loeman]

The Md 63 is a great gun and I hope you get it resolved. Good luck. BTW, your Md 63 is probably at least a decade newer than you think. IIRC the Md 63 first arrived on the scene in the late 70s.

 

[toroflow1]

My 1979 vintage 63 has sticky extraction too. I just leave it in the safe and shoot my model 34 instead!

Not a very good answer, but, I have found that Federal .22 ammo works best in my S&W .22s. The cheap Remington ammo is hard to chamber, but the Fed goes in easily. Thus, I save the Federals for my revolvers, and shoot the Remington, Winchester, etc. in a 10-22 Ruger.

 

[1mathom1]

Thanks for all of the input and appreciate the correction on the vintage.

The ammo drops into the chambers with very little resistance, it's just extracting that is the issue.

The chamber mouths and firing pin show no sign of dry firing so I think I am OK there.

I may try polishing just to see but certainly do not have an issue finding a 'smith to ream the charge holes.

Will try standard velocity ammo as well. The hot Winchester stuff was all I had at the time.