Help needed with lead build up and endshake

[HUMONGO]

I had originally thought that it was holster wear as I bought it used, but when I took my 4" 19-5 completely apart for cleaning, I noticed that it had excessive lead build-up on the outer diameter of the cylinder near the front.

I do have a slight bit of excessive endshake, but I didn't think it was too bad. There is no sign of flame cutting, no cracked forcing cone. I have been shooting hand cast/loaded 158gr.
.38 +p's. Great accuracy, I can make a 6 inch plate ring at around 70 yrds.

I've never noticed this on any of my other revolvers, but this is the first revolver I have shot my own cast bullets out of. There is no lead build up in the barrel after 200rds.

Is this normal? Is this a sign that it's spitting? If I shim the yoke to fix the end shake, how do I close the gap?

Sorry, no pics as I cleaned it all up.

 

[Alk8944]

"I had originally thought that it was holster wear as I bought it used, but when I took my 4" 19-5 completely apart for cleaning, I noticed that it had excessive lead build-up on the outer diameter of the cylinder near the front."

Basically this is inherent to shooting cast bullets in a revolver, perfectly normal.

"I do have a slight bit of excessive endshake,"

Some endshake is normal. Have you measured it some way, or is it just that you can tell there is some? If it is just noticeable it is usually about .002-3, which is acceptable. Any more should be addressed.

"If I shim the yoke to fix the end shake, how do I close the gap?"

All you do by shimming the yoke is return the barrel/cylinder gap to what it originally was. It decreases as the yoke wears because the cylinder is allowed to move forward due to wear. So long as the B/C gap is under .012 don't worry about it. The only way to reduce the B/C gap is to have the barrel set back and re-fit the gap and, probably, the locking bolt/center pin. In spite of many posting about doing this it usually isn't worth the effort and cost unless the revolver is spitting.

 

[HUMONGO]

How can I tell if it is spitting? What are the signs?

I measured it the other day, it wan't too bad, but I don't remember. It is, however, double that of my 2 other 19s and 3 times that of my model 10 and 340pd.

I'll measure again tonight.

 

[HUMONGO]

Right side gap spaced at .004, left at .0015.

Measured with the cylinder pulled back is .011 and .009, respectively.


So, around .007+/- endshake.

 

[dfariswheel]

"How can I tell if it is spitting? What are the signs? "

A good indication is if you feel tiny particles of something hitting your hand or your face. A revolver that's really spitting badly can cause injury.
"Usually" spitting is something you get with a gun that's not locking up with the chamber in alignment with the bore, and the bullets are hitting off-center.
Most times in that case.... you'll know it.

Forget measuring on each side of the gap, that's not really useful information for this issue.
Just push the cylinder to the rear and hold it while you gage the gap.
Then push the cylinder forward and hold it while you gage again.
Subtract one from the other and that's the true end shake.

If your true end shake is 0.007" its time to start thinking about a repair.