Help - new 317 jams

[TCNTN]

My wife and I are new to shooting. We purchased a 317-3 for her and a MKIII 22/45 for me. The first time shooting with the 317 it jammed - trigger and cylinder would not move. I worked through 100 rounds with some rounds ok, but many of these problems: jamming, or a trigger so hard to pull it took both hands, and most of the time the empties would eject only with great difficulty. Next day at the gun shop it was explained to me that the ammo (CCI mini mags) were expanding and in some cases backing out and causing the problems. Next time we tried Remmington Yellow Jacket HP which had much better success, only one jam, only one or two difficult trigger pulls, but about half the time the shells were difficult to eject but not as bad as the CCIs.

We are disappointed in the gun's performance. Is the problem totally due to the ammo or could it be due to manufacturing tolerances? Is the cylinder aluminum and does that cause a problem?

We are thinking about trading for a model 63. One reason is to hopefully avoid the problems. The 63's frame and cylinder is stainless steel but I assume the action is the same. (maybe it was the luck of the draw that gave us a bad 317, and maybe the luck will be better with another gun) The other reason is that my wife doesn't care for the V sight on the 317 but has fired an SD9 and likes that rear sight better which I believe is the same type as on the 63.

Would welcome feedback on the 317 problems and whether a trade to a model 63 would yield better compatibility with the ammo.

 

[scooter123]

Your problem may be as simple as fouling in the chambers of the cylinder. I have a 617, which is all stainless, and when I am shooting the Winchester Wildcat or Xpert HV I have to scrub out the chambers in the cylinder after 50 rounds. If I don't do that it becomes progressively more difficult to seat the rounds in the chambers, when that happens I start getting misfires and rounds dragging on the recoil shield causes lots of drag. As for why I still shoot the Winchester, it's pretty simple, it is very very accurate in my 617.

However, when I'm not too concerned with accuracy I'll shoot with the Federal Bulk. It is MUCH MUCH cleaner shooting, I've run over 100 rounds downrange without ever having to touch the cylinder. In addition the after range session cleanup takes about 1/2 as long.

I'd suggest that you visit Walmart and pick up a box of the Federal and see if it helps with your issues. If so, you'll have a good clue to what's causing your issues. If you don't like the accuracy, then do what I do when I'm shooting the Winchester ammo, take a 22 caliber brush to the range and scrub each chamber out at a specific interval.

 

[whelenshooter]

Smith & Wesson revolvers have fairly tight tolerances. You need to be very careful that you don't get powder particles under the ejector star. Often times it only takes one particle to tie up the revolver so the cylinder doesn't want to turn. One thing that helps a lot is if you hold the revolver perfectly verticle with the muzzle pointed up when you eject the empty cartridges. Then the powder particles fall straight down and out instead of to the side where they land under the ejector star. Some brands of cartridges are worse than others for leaving powder particles under the star. An old toothbrush or and M16 cleaning brush is good for removing the powder particles at the range. It this doesn't make things better, it is time to send the gun back to Smith & Wesson for warranty repair.

If you do have to send it back for warranty repair, this would be a good time to have Smith & Wesson change the sights on your revolver to a flat topped front sight and a square rear sight. I have a S&W Model 317, and I don't like the sights either. Right now I'm in the middle of moving from Alaska to Idaho. Once I'm established in Idaho I intend to send my Model 317 back for different sights too. It is too hard to hold consistent elevation with a bead front sight and V-shaped rear sight.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

TCNTN, here's a thread you might find interesting.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/155218-sw-317-22-jamming-problems.html

 

[2storm6bird2]

TCNTN, I had the exact same problem w/my new 317 I purchased a few months ago. S&W shipped my gun back to the factory. They said it had too many issues. So, S&W sent me a brand new replacement 317. Customer service is outstanding imo.

 

[Cheyenne WYO]

I would try standard velocity ammo before coming to any conclusions.

 

[Ed333]

choice of ammo

I would try standard velocity ammo before coming to any conclusions.

plus one...when you are at Walmart, see if they have some Federal 510 in 50 round boxes, be about $1.49 per box...cheapest option, very accurate in my guns, and no operating issues. At the local club, where there is a youth training/competition program with the Anschutz competition target rifles, the word is, lead only, no copper jacketed or plated rounds, and don't clean the bore...that's what they tell me. (I still use my BoreSnake).

If you feel the need for higher velocity rounds, look into a .22 magnum...

 

[David Sinko]

Years ago I had a Model 63 that would start to bind when it got dirty. Certain brands of ammo (PMC comes to mind) caused extremely difficult extraction and had to be pounded out of the cyclinder. The .22 rimfire is a very dirty cartridge, with some brands being somewhat more offensive than others. The smaller J Frames do seem to be a bit more fickle. I have an older 617 that works fine with most everything.

Dave Sinko

 

[owenwd54]

317

I have two 317 and love them both. I have 1 with 17/8 and the other 3".
I changed out the springs in the 1 7/8 and polished the rebound slide. the 3 " is stock. the trigger will lighten up as you shoot it. It could be that the ejector rod is lose and this could cause the gun to lock up. I have polished the chambers of the clyinders on both of my 317.
Don't give up on your 317 the more you shoot it the better it will get.I do not shoot stingers out of mine and I also shoot Federal ammo out of mine.

 

[TCNTN]

Well, I have resolved the 317 issues. I traded the gun. On the 4th trip to the range with the 4th different type of ammo the gun was still having jamming issues though not nearly as bad as the first time. The gun had been cleaned after each trip. This time it was Federal bulk ammo from Wal Mart. None of the good stuff had worked so we went cheaper. This shot the best. Averaged 1 jam for every other cylinder full. She was firing it single action at 20 ft and getting better at her aim. I was shooting my brand new Ruger Mark III. She put the 317 down after a jam and wanted to try the Ruger. She never gave it back. She said the Ruger was hers and handed me the 317 to trade on whatever I wanted. I got another MK III.
I have an SD9 and She has a bodyguard 38 as her carry gun. So I am a big fan of S&W and wanted another when I was shopping for a 22 revolver for her. She on the other hand could care less about brand and was objective about the performance and in this case the Ruger was clearly better and was $200 less.