Clearing Jammed Revolvers - Mas AYOOB

[flagman1776]

While it's possible for a mechanical problem to arise with a DA revolver (being machines, after all) ...

Revolvers, especially service revolvers used in LE, were often considered prime candidates for daily neglect and being subjected to abusive conditions. In older days blued revolvers left in leather holsters could develop rust.
Some didn't appear to take such simple precautions, though, as every now and then a S&W revolver or Colt Python would require some attention by the revolver armorer in order for it to be able fire and function for the qual course.

A buddy of mine was then a part-timer in a rural town in Northern Massachusetts. On qualification day, Officer Joe Friendly (name changed to protect the guilty) tried to draw his issue 4" M10 from his leather holster. When the dust settled, it was determined 'ole Joe had planted a 158 gr RNL in the dirt next to his toe. The gun was still in what remained of the holster though it now had a vent flap bottom. The R. O. cleared the range.

It seems the gun had been on duty since the previous qualification and hadn't been out of the holster. The remaining cartridges had to removed from the cylinder with tools. The 12 cartridges in his drop boxes were so green none would chamber.

By the time Joe's revolver was fuctional, everyone else had qualified and someone had made a coffee run. There was a crowd. Was anyone manning dispatch? Joe qualified... alone. The R. O. used the patrol unit's P. A. to give range commands from the parking lot with everyone behind cover.

I'd like to think they instituted inspections after that, but i really don't know. Back then, I also carried in a holster with an exposed trigger guard. Why did we do that? There are better designs today.

 

[ruger 22]

I have had the extractor rod loosen on my son's 63 which can make it hard to open/close the cylinder. An occasional tightening fixes that easily. Also I have had a hang fire where the firing pin on the hammer got stuck in the primer. That one took a lot of tugging to get loose---only happened once in over 60 years of shooting and was most likely a soft primer.

 

[flagman1776]

Long ago, when I first went to work for the local PD... I carried my nearly new M19. It was a few months before I was able to find and buy a 4" M66-1 at the LGS.
I made a really rookie mistake. I just switched to the 66. They are identical guns, right? Same ammo, same speedloaders. The first time I went to practice... the six in the gun I had the primer flow back around the firing pin in this funny volcano shape, locking the hammer down. I was able to free it by rocking the cylinder. They were hot Super Vels... worked fine in my blue 19.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

I paid significant personal funds to take a training program by nationally recognized trainers. I was using my duty gear. BUGs weren't allowed. The only thing my PD provided was practice ammo, 38swc reloads. On one drill, myself and my partner were to exit the "patrol unit" take cover on the drivers side and engage 2 hostiles on the passenger's side. My first round was a squib, lodged in the forcing cone and locked the cylinder. I didn't carry a range rod. I don't even think I knew there was such a thing other than on a cleaning bench. There was nothing I could do except take cover.
Both myself and my partner were judged "dead". Since I couldn't engage, it was presumed my perp had gone around the front of the car to outflank us.
I have never had a squib with any ammo before or since. I immediately added a suitable brass rod to my key chain. I also carried a BUG.
Lesson Learned.

Another reason to carry TWO guns-- AND NEVER trust your life to reloads-- When your life is on the line stupid rules go out the window--

 

[biku324]

A brother officer in the NMSP was issued a highly prized 686. He hated cleaning, and thought stainless would allow shortcuts. He wiped the bore, chambers and exterior with Hoppes #9, loaded it, and carried it. We had an unusual schedule change for qualification a month or so later; he had not unloaded the revolver since 'cleaning' it. Well, the nickel-cased Federal 357 125 grain JHPs wouldn't eject! The Hoppes had turned the nickel plating into a sticky slurry - it took serious tapping on the end of the ejector rod to finally get the rounds out. The nickel slurry came out less easily.

We cleaned the rounds off - all fired, but he would have been unable to reload.