642 'check for sing'

[Rusty Shackleford]

Per the FAQ in this forum: "Press trigger back enough to clear the cylinder stop, then spin cylinder. Listen for the hand clicking on the ratchets."

My current 642 will not let the cylinder spin once the stop has disengaged; it will turn counter-clockwise almost to the next chamber, then it encounters heavy resistance (the hand?). Instead of pushing the hand back into the window, the cylinder is stopped by the hand. I have verified that the hand can easily be pushed back into the hand window with the cylinder out, so I'm not sure why it's able to stop the cylinder from turning.

Is this something I should be concerned about?



If anyone has any suggestions or can provide any insight into this I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jellybean]

"Press trigger back enough to clear the cylinder stop,..."

And hold it there. Watch the cylinder stop to make sure it doesn't re-engage the cylinder as slight movement forward or backward of the trigger will let the stop move also.

Does that help?

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

And hold it there. Watch the cylinder stop to make sure it doesn't re-engage the cylinder as slight movement forward or backward of the trigger will let the stop move also.

Does that help?

Unfortunately I have ruled out the stop. As I hold the trigger in place, I can actually cause the cylinder to move the trigger when I try to rotate it (yes, counterclockwise).

 

[Jellybean]

Not trying to insult you, but you are turning counter clockwise looking from the back aren't you?

I've never had a 642 but I wouldn't think they would be much different than anything else.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Not trying to insult you, but you are turning counter clockwise looking from the back aren't you?

I've never had a 642 but I wouldn't think they would be much different than anything else.

No offense taken. I prefer not to point guns at myself so yes I am looking from the back, trying to turn the cylinder in the same direction that it turns in double-action cycling.

Although I no longer have my previous 642, 637, or 686 for direct comparison I don't remember them acting like this. The Colt DS and Taurus 85 that we still have perform exactly as one would expect when doing the same test. You can literally spin the cylinder just by getting it started once the stop is kept out of the way.

I can, it turns out, force the cylinder on this new 642 to turn, but it requires constant pressure, and appears to be chewing up the back sides of the ratchet teeth. ("back" in comparison to where double-action cycling causes the hand to push on them)

 

[Jellybean]

Rusty, If it's damaging the ratchet teeth it can't be doing the hand any good either, you might want to stop until you can get some better advice. I know a loose ejector rod can cause cylinder binding but it shouldn't be causing any damage from the hand.

The more knowledgable folks around here will start logging in after their second pot of coffee. Hopefully they will have better information.

 

[enfield]

I just tried this with my 638 and was successful. I did get a little bit of resistance at first, but when I pulled a little tighter on the trigger I was able to freely spin the cylinder.

However, a few years ago I did use some riffling files to remove the burrs from the 'ratchet teeth'. (What's the correct term?)

 

[Protocall_Design]

Most likely the end of the nose on the hand needs to be stoned just
below the surface that pushes the ratchets. Sounds like a burr or sharp corner underneath catching on the top of the ratchet.

 

[Skip357]

Can you please tell me why do want to spin your cylinder like you are!
By spinning the cylinder with the trigger back and your finger slips you will rip your stop notch up and have a hell of a burr on it.I replace more cylinders because of this.

 

[GLV]

Per the FAQ in this forum: "Press trigger back enough to clear the cylinder stop, then spin cylinder. Listen for the hand clicking on the ratchets."

My current 642 will not let the cylinder spin once the stop has disengaged; it will turn counter-clockwise almost to the next chamber, then it encounters heavy resistance (the hand?). Instead of pushing the hand back into the window, the cylinder is stopped by the hand. I have verified that the hand can easily be pushed back into the hand window with the cylinder out, so I'm not sure why it's able to stop the cylinder from turning.

Is this something I should be concerned about?

Rusty, does gun shoot? Does it have mechanical problems? If not I would leave it alone.

The only reason I know of to use this procedure was to check for high primers. I have seen experienced shooters use this procedure and have unintended discharges. There is really no reason to do this to a gun that has no problems. Just the opinion on one old fart

 

[Jellybean]

The only reason I know of to use this procedure was to check for high primers.

This should be done with an unloaded firearm and doesn't have anything to do with the ammunition.

"Checking for sing" is a procedure to check to see if your hand is binding in the hand window. It should be turned slowly and not spun like in the movies and on TV.

 

[GLV]

This should be done with an unloaded firearm and doesn't have anything to do with the ammunition.

"Checking for sing" is a procedure to check to see if your hand is binding in the hand window. It should be turned slowly and not spun like in the movies and on TV.

Common practice in action pistol shooting when it was mostly revolvers.