Cylinder issue with 1973 M28-2

[CSG]

This one has been in my safe so long I'd forgotten an issue with it. After posting a photo to the Highway Patrolman thread I went out back to fire a few rounds (.38 brass case). Loads fine, shoots fine, but three of six cases get stuck and won't extract without pushing them out with a pencil. This happened with some CCI Blazer (alum) as well.

The gun was 30 years old when I bought it 10 years ago but seemed to be fine mechanically.

I'm going to drop it off at a local gunsmith with the empty cases in the chambers. Seems obvious that three of the chambers are a fraction of an inch too narrow.

And yes, they're clean with no obvious issues, build up, etc. I wonder if that's why the previous owner sold it?

Anyone else experience something like this?

 

[Fkimble]

Nope, seems obvious that 3 of the chambers are too big, about 1/4 inch in from the recess. Someone probably touched off a few rounds with way too much power. Or someone tried to super clean the chambers with a power tool and ended up taking metal off after the carbon was removed. The cases are swelling up inside the chamber and are just a hair too big to come out the rear which is still the correct size.

 

[CSG]

Just got off the phone with S&W and they said the exact same thing (that those chambers are slightly too big). Whether it came like that from the factory 40 years ago or some yahoo did it later on, we'll never know.

It won't be worth trying to replace the cylinder because the bluing will never match correctly and I'd have more into the repair than the value of the gun. Will take it to a local gunsmith to confirm what the issue is.

I shoot my '78 which has no issues. I'd just like to use this older one too without hassling with extracting the cases.

 

[Pig Hunter]

If you might be in a selling mood shoot me a pm. Mark

 

[CSG]

I want to have it looked at first but I'm not really inclined to sell it anyway. Then I'd only have one!

Here are a couple photos. It's the top one.

 

[alwslate]

In your pics it looks like the blueing looks a bit different on the top
gun. If it has been reblued at some point in the past could some of the
chambers be stepped or out of round due to polishing? Like another
posted suggested overaggressive cleaning might have resulted in
slightly stepped chambers. If three chambers have only barely oversize
sections maybe a carefull honing could result in uniform diameters
of the affected chambers without rendering them useless.

 

[keithherrington]

So, what's more important to you, shooting a nice gun or keeping the bluing all matched up? Serious question. I've got a couple of recessed 28 cylinders, one new and unfit and the other near new. I only need to keep one for possible future repairs. It's simple to have the other fit and timed by S&W and who knows the blue might match close enough to suit you just fine. And even if it doesn't you'd have a gun that now shoots as good as it looks. No brainer from my perspective, but hey, that's just me.
Keith

 

[Fkimble]

Some light honing of the bad chambers at the rear of the cylinder may be enough to allow the slightly bulged cases to slide out without undue force on the extractor rod. Had to do this to a 57 no dash years ago. Brass fired it in gets a little extra workout and doesn't last quite as long, but the gun is functional.

 

[CSG]

I don't think the gun was ever reblued. The matte finish was pretty common on some of those models according to Mr. Jinks.

I'll have it looked at this week but I don't see any evidence of aggressive cleaning or anything out of the norm. S&W said it's possible it left the factory like that and simply was never addressed. However, after 40 years and me being at least the second owner, no warranty applies.

 

[CScott]

Convert it to 44 Special and you will never be sorry.
C Scott

 

[CSG]

Why on earth would I do that??

 

[nedlate]

Why on earth would I do that??

44 Specials are Special! You would not have a problem with the cylinder then!
Ed

 

[CSG]

Dropped it off at the LGS to give to the smith. The guy who booked it in and is a bit of a gun builder himself commented that it's a not uncommon problem with .357's that have seen a lot of .38 to develop an imperceptible ring deposit in the chambers where this is the result. We shall see in a few days.