M15-3 Cylinder Rotation Stiff

[ColColt]

I have a M15-3 that is pristine in that I was told there had only been about 12 rounds through it and from the looks of it that was probably correct. It definitely hadn't been shot much at all. I took it out to the range and had several instances of the cylinder wanting to bind when you would cock the trigger back to index the next round. About two out of six would bind against the recoil shield and unless you just grabbed the cylinder with your left hand to try and get it in alignment it was a no go. Moreover, trying to release the cylinder to take out the offending round was difficult as well.

I originally thought maybe it was my reloads and that there were a few rounds I didn't get the primer seated deep enough but testing it with a couple of Speer 135 gr HP rounds it did it with one out of three with those. I honed the firing pin hole as I thought I felt a slight burr there and all the way across the recoil shield. If it helped at all it was only slight. It's like there's just not enough space between the recoil shield and the head of the brass to allow rotation. Any ideas?

 

[saemetric]

Is it clean underneath extractor

 

[rhorne]

Also check and see if the ejector rod it tight

 

[bloo]

ejector rod could be loose or powder/lead build up on the face of the cylinder or forcing cone. I have an 18 that needs to be watched for build up in the bc gap area and a 19 that has the ejector rod coming loose from time to time.

Ted

 

[TNDave]

It is hard to say but you might consider cleaning under the extractor star. I had a Model 10 that is a proven gun give me a hard time the other day. It turned out there was a cleaning brush bristle down inside the gun where the cylinder turns.

 

[ColColt]

None of the above. This was the first six rounds that I loaded in a clean gun and happened with the next six. No loose ejector rod and there was nothing under the extractor star. To the best of my remembrance, this is the first revolver I've had that caused this particular problem. It's super accurate-if you can get the cylinder to turn properly.

 

[TNDave]

I guess you are going to have to shoot it again and see if the same chambers cause the problem everytime. Where are you in TN?

 

[saemetric]

Check headspace!

 

[ColColt]

Headspace(without cartridge) is .060".

 

[saemetric]

What is it with cartridge(shell head clearance) -should be .006" Try with cartridges you had problem with.

 

[ColColt]

Unfortunately the gauges I have only have .008" and up to .035" and the .008" wont work...too tight. That would probably depend on case head rim thickness.

 

[saemetric]

With 6 cases in cylinder and you rotate cylinder, does the gap look the same on all 6.

 

[ColColt]

Yes, They do.

 

[saemetric]

Was the problem in DA and SA firing. I also assume there is no endshake.

 

[tennexplorer]

Bent ejector rod?

 

[oldafsp]

Sure sounds like a bent ejector rod.

As you rotate the cylinder, watch the rod and see if its rotating true when
the cylinder is locked in place..pay attention to the gap between the bottom of the barrel when doing this.

It really doesn't take much to bend one out of alignment. I've had to replace several on Model 10's and 15's over the years.

Actually had a 19 that the gas check was worn out on that caused the same problem.

 

[ColColt]

Since I don't shoot the M15-3 DA I was shooting for groups since I had a different bullet(150 gr SWC) I was trying out with two different loads. All shooting was SA only. There is zero end shake.

The ejector rod is straight as an arrow. No perceived wobble as the cylinder is turned throughout the six chambers. I held it up to a light source as I turned the cylinder by cocking the hammer and you could see a little light between the top of the rod and the bottom of the barrel where you could detect any bent condition and there was none.

 

[Shotguncoach]

Have you tried putting just one piece of EMPTY brass in the cylinder and cycling it all the way around? It'll take a few minutes to do all 6 chambers that way, but it might show us some things. I'm curious as to whether or not the bind is always in the same place regardless of which chamber is full OR if there is one chamber that binds all the way around.

 

[chief38]

So many possibilities that without the gun in front of me it's hard to pin it down precisely. All good possibilities above. If you strike out here, either send it in or locate a good LGS.

 

[toad67]

The OP probably won't read these responses, since the thread is over 11 years old....