PhilOhio
Member
Hammerdown77, there's lots of great info from all the posters above, but I'd like to add one thing which I've seen now and then, which may be contributing to your problem.
Some S&W revolvers are built on the minimum end of tolerance accumulation, i.e., really close and snug in the cylinder-to-frame fit and zero end shake. And with 2400 powder, especially in shorter barrels using heavy charges, there are likely to be some unburned and partially burned granules in the bore and also inside the empty case.
When you eject, you are quite likely to get some of those granules into the oily space between the underside of the ejector star and the cylinder recess. When you reload, you may not notice the reduced clearance between case head and recoil shield.
When you fire heavy loads, using softer and/or thinner primers like Federal or CCI, you combine slight (probably acceptable) primer extrusion with tolerances reduced by the thickness of those unburned granules and you may get a really tight jam. I've had this happen quite a few times with various S&W models, and it has nothing to do with overpressure. You know pressure is probably too high when cases are too tight in their chambers and do not eject easily, although pitted chambers and too soft brass can also cause this.
The best, most closely fitted Model 17 and 617 .22s are where I've seen the powder granule problem most. And overpressure is certainly not an issue there.
So next time you have this problem, immediately check for debris under the ejector, and I'm betting you will find some. Hold the rod back, clean it with a cloth so it is dry and not oily under there, and see if this precludes jams for awhile.
I guess it's the price of having a closely fitted gun. But again, your load is stiff, but not in dangerous territory.
Some S&W revolvers are built on the minimum end of tolerance accumulation, i.e., really close and snug in the cylinder-to-frame fit and zero end shake. And with 2400 powder, especially in shorter barrels using heavy charges, there are likely to be some unburned and partially burned granules in the bore and also inside the empty case.
When you eject, you are quite likely to get some of those granules into the oily space between the underside of the ejector star and the cylinder recess. When you reload, you may not notice the reduced clearance between case head and recoil shield.
When you fire heavy loads, using softer and/or thinner primers like Federal or CCI, you combine slight (probably acceptable) primer extrusion with tolerances reduced by the thickness of those unburned granules and you may get a really tight jam. I've had this happen quite a few times with various S&W models, and it has nothing to do with overpressure. You know pressure is probably too high when cases are too tight in their chambers and do not eject easily, although pitted chambers and too soft brass can also cause this.
The best, most closely fitted Model 17 and 617 .22s are where I've seen the powder granule problem most. And overpressure is certainly not an issue there.
So next time you have this problem, immediately check for debris under the ejector, and I'm betting you will find some. Hold the rod back, clean it with a cloth so it is dry and not oily under there, and see if this precludes jams for awhile.
I guess it's the price of having a closely fitted gun. But again, your load is stiff, but not in dangerous territory.
