m&p bodyguard 38 locked up

[pmandayam]

So I was dry firing my polymer m&p bodyguard 38 revolver with snap caps and the cylinder and trigger started locking up. So when it did, I manually adjusted the cylinder or trigger to get it back to normal before continuing the dry fire. It slowly started getting worse, and eventually it locked up completely.

Now the cylinder is out, and I can't push it back into the frame because the metal star inside the frame that rotates the cylinder isn't pushing in all the way to make room for the cylinder.

So, is there any fix I can do that doesn't void the warranty or do I need to ship this back to S&W?

I've been aware of the "locking up" complaints levied against this model by many members on the web and especially on this forum, and I just hoped that it wouldn't happen to my gun.

What a bummer, this revolver fit my hand perfectly and was super light weight.

After S&W fixes it, I'm not sure what to do with it. I really really don't want to sell it, but if it's this unreliable, I might just trade it in for a 442 j-frame. Or just give up on revolvers altogether.

 

[Head-hog]

Check to make sure the ejector rod is not backing out. It is a lefthand thread and they will sometimes back out as the cylinder rotates. You can disassemble it and put a very small drop of purple Loctite on the thread, but be very sparing.

Paul

 

[Pine_Worker]

Usually the ejector rod backs out (becomes unscrewed) which results in the condition you describe.

 

[robertrwalsh]

If the snap caps are plastic it is BARELY POSSIBLE they have shaved a bit and the shavings are pushing the star out enough it won't seat. Much more likely the ejector rod issue mentioned 2X above.

 

[pmandayam]

If the snap caps are plastic it is BARELY POSSIBLE they have shaved a bit and the shavings are pushing the star out enough it won't seat. Much more likely the ejector rod issue mentioned 2X above.

These are the snap caps I used.