Gunsmith to chamfer a revolver cylinder?

[Warpspasm]

I live in Maryland (don't laugh) and shoot in a monthly steel shoot just across the state line in Southern Pennsylvania. For the last few years I've run an open sight CZ 75B and done pretty well for an old guy. I picked up a S&W 625JM a couple of months ago and finally decided to give it a try at the July match. I was surprised how well I did and LOVED competing with it. Now, I want to make a couple of mods to make me faster. One of the main things I want to do is have the cylinder charge holes chamfered. The problem is, I can't find an experienced revolver smith anywhere in the area. Maryland isn't exactly a gun friendly state. I thought about buying a chamfering tool from Brownell's and doing it myself, but I'm kind of scared to try it. So, now I'm thinking about finding an experienced revolver smith and then sending them my cylinder after the season is over at the end of October. Okay, long winded build up to answer a simple question. Can anybody recommend a really good gunsmith experienced with tweaking revolvers for competition? Maryland or Southern PA would be ideal, but I'd also mail it away for an excellent job.

 

[amazingflapjack]

S&W would be my recommendation.

 

[-db-]

You don't necessarily have to bring or send the cylinder to a gunsmith, per se. Any reputable general machine shop should be able to do a chamfering job for you. It's an easy 10-minute job with a Bridgeport.

 

[Warpspasm]

You don't necessarily have to bring or send the cylinder to a gunsmith, per se. Any reputable general machine shop should be able to do a chamfering job for you. It's an easy 10-minute job with a Bridgeport.

I was thinking an experienced gunsmith in order to get the right amount of run out and proper angle. No? I also thought this was hand work and not machine work.

 

[Blueduck]

S&W would be my recommendation.

Going to be a long wait if you go with them, I was quoted 6 months to a year last time I called.

 

[-db-]

I was thinking an experienced gunsmith in order to get the right amount of run out and proper angle. No? I also thought this was hand work and not machine work.

The angle is 45° and you only need to break the corner to a depth of 30 thousandths or so. It can be done by hand but a machine is much faster and when set up properly, more precise.

You really shouldn't fear the Brownell's kit if you're at all mechanically-inclined. The kit provides you with a pilot and everything else you need to where it's pretty much foolproof. See this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/95311-cylinder-chamfer.html

 

[OKFC05]

I thought the JM came with chamfer..run you finger on the edge of the chamber; if it does not feel like a knife edge, but it is smooth, you are good to go. Some cut a visible "funnel", but it serves no real purpose. All you need to do is break the knife edge so the cartridges don't hang up.
If you want to have you gun hand polished and set up to run, I'd have S&W do the master revolver package for $185 and not piecemeal the work.

By the way, when I was stationed at the Pentagon 20 years ago, Maryland Gun Works was doing some pretty revolver work. Are they still in business? Last I heard they were headed to GA?

 

[Aemsl69]

Gemini Customs. Mark has done Two of my S&W's. a 64-3 and my 640. Great work and good turnaround.

 

[rwsmith]

Just please DON'T do.

Please don't do what another poster did. He let his friend who was a 'Bubba' gunsmith, chamfer his cylinders and he apparently used a dremel tool. Made a mess of it.

 

[WR Moore]

An experienced machinist could probably do it in 5-10 minutes with a deburring scraper. On standard revolvers the extractor isn't chamfered. If you have any intention of ever using .45 Auto Rim cases, you'd be well advised to do the same on this revolver.

I'm not sure where Maryland Gun Works is, but they do make a lot of tools for the trade. Perhaps a search?

 

[Warpspasm]

It looks like Maryland Gunworks is indeed a Georgia based company now. No surprise. We just lost Beretta this year.

I may try using the Brownell's tool and doing it myself. If worse comes to worse I'd need to buy a new cylinder, but I don't think it would be that bad. I don't plan on shooting auto rims, so I'd probably chamfer the ejector as well.

 

[federali]

Slow Down, be Careful

Within the past two weeks or so, another forum member posted photos of his revolver cylinder that was chamfered by a butcher. I guess this is an easy job to screw up. I would suggest a gunsmith who has experience chamfering chambers.

I owned a Colt Python that I had chamfered correctly and it was a pleasure to use, especially with speed loaders.

 

[Glynngaddy]

You could box up the cylinder and send it to Jim Clark at Clark Custom Guns. He's Jerry's brother in law

 

[gwpercle]

You could box up the cylinder and send it to Jim Clark at Clark Custom Guns. He's Jerry's brother in law

Clark Custom Guns, they do some nice work. I have a Ruger MKII 22 LR accurized by them and I hate to say it but it out shoots my S&W model 41. The trigger on the Ruger is magical.

 

[ghstrydr164]

Go to this video and look at the 2:08 segment to see how S&W chamfers their cylinders in the Performance Center. I think you could do a nice job with the brownells tool, my friend does his with that tool and it works well for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ3HDLkB5l8

My 627 Pro Series has very deep chamfers and shoots like a dream if loaded without the moon clips the cases are exposed to the case groove without any ill affect to the cases when fired. That's how S&W does them.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Go to this video and look at the 2:08 segment to see how S&W chamfers their cylinders in the Performance Center. I think you could do a nice job with the brownells tool, my friend does his with that tool and it works well for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ3HDLkB5l8

Be awfully careful relying on the "way S&W does it" as shown in that video. If you don't know him, the man shown doing it free-hand is Jim Rae, who has been at S&W for about 132 years this year.

Seriously, I would be surprised if all cylinder chamfering is done by hand at S&W. I am not saying that there are others there who are not equally skilled, but intuitively, it seems the use of a machine and fixture appropriate to the task would be preferred and faster.

Like many things, I believe Jim Rae makes this look far easier than it is. It isn't a job for an inexperienced person, in my opinion.

 

[ghstrydr164]

Would not suggest doing it like the video. I would suggest that with the Brownells tool it is not difficult to do a good job and the investment in the tool makes it possible to do any of ones revolvers. Start slow and check often. It really isn't the great challenge that it might be without the proper tools.

 

[Hapworth]

Based on your location, you'd do equally well heading a little north to Pinnacle High Performance in Allentown PA, or a short jump south to see Sandy Garrett at Northern Virginia Gun Works in Springfield.

 

[Nick B]

Have a pro do it. Last month Alex Hamilton quoted me $45.00 plus shipping. He said in and out of the shop in less than a week.

 

[Warpspasm]

Have a pro do it. Last month Alex Hamilton quoted me $45.00 plus shipping. He said in and out of the shop in less than a week.

I keep flip flopping. Sometimes I think I might give it a try, then later I think not. I just looked at Ten Ring Precision and their complete action job looks like a steal for $165. I may have to go for that one. I just hate the fact that the revolver may be there for months.