Model 500 PC 3.5" "glitchy" DA pull & rough finish inside of action?

[shuter1]

Model 500 PC 3.5" "glitchy" DA pull & rough finish inside of action?

Hey guys, just picked up one of the 3.5" S&W 500 PC revolvers yesterday and it's a cool version for sure. The last part of the double action stroke is very difficult to pull through, though. Starts at the point where you'd pause to "stage" the DA pull (which I typically don't do). It's pretty smooth to that point, but then feels like I'm pulling through a rough spot that isn't normal. Cocking it in single action is very difficult at the end as well...almost like it "clunks" into place after pulling through the same kind of rough spot. This is different from my other X-frame and all my other Smiths. It's also intermittent, because it does it more on some chambers than on others.

Per pic, I popped the side plate and it was bone dry. Not only that, but there appeared to be a reddish brown coating inside that looked like rust. I wiped most of that out prior to this pic. But as you can see the inside is very rough...almost like it was cast vs forged. You can see the drag marks where the rebound slide was dragging on the frame...that can't be good for the DA pull! Thinking the reddish-brown "dust" may have been from the bead blasting process (the entire gun has the PC bead blasting)?

Just seems like the hammer pin, under the rebound slide, etc. needs polishing so the parts aren't moving around against that rough texture? Seems ridiculous to have to do that on a Performance Center gun, especially. Just wanted to see if anyone else had seen this inside of a bead-blasted Smith?

Thanks!

 

[RGNewell]

Main spring strain screw is loose or too short

 

[AmStaff64]

This thread from about a month or so back talked about the red "rust" looking residue. S&W said it is normal and part of the finishing process.
New 500 mag issue

Not sure about the hard trigger. Good luck.

Sad that we see a few of these PCs show up on here with issues.

 

[shocker]

Back to the factory for warranty work on the action.

 

[shuter1]

I went ahead and pulled the guts out, irrigated and scrubbed out the frame and all parts with solvent, lubricated (was dry as a bone from the Performance Center) and re-assembled. Feels maybe a bit smoother but still intermittently it "catches" between cylinder lock up and completion of trigger pull in DA. As I said before, it also does it intermittently when thumb-cocking for SA.

I'm guessing it's the cylinder ratchet? Maybe there are a couple of notches on it that are rough or incorrectly machined? It's not real bad but doesn't feel normal either. S&W sent me a return label that I'll use if need be. May go shoot it first and dry fire it some more to see if things smooth out without having to return it.

Thanks for your help on this!

 

[shuter1]

By the way, Does anyone know what a "Performance Center action tune" is supposed to entail? Mine was rough as a cob inside, with no evidence of honing or smoothing anything. Wondering if PC = nothing more than a bead blasted finish and roll-marking on the barrel/laser etching a logo?

Also, I wouldn't recommend lubricating the action of one of these without scrubbing it out first, otherwise all of that grit may turn to mud!

 

[Nightowl]

That sounds like hand/ratchet issue! The hand is too wide for some ratchets and shorter for others. The ratchets are not consistent, one of my gripes! Typical of the stuff they are peddling nowdays! I believe I would send it back and have them do it right. The problem is that it takes months to get it back, from what is reported, and that fitting ratchets is delicate work and if you are not properly instructed, can lead to late carry up.

 

[joebuck]

What do you expect for $1500!! Its 2021 you know.

 

[shuter1]

What do you expect for $1500!! Its 2021 you know.

Yeah...I guess I'm old school

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

My first thought was a ratchet problem. Possibly burrs or the hand doesnt release properly. Might need a scuff from a diamond file to break something free from either part.
Mark your cylinders to know which hang up.
Also polish that area of drag in the frame and the rebound slide. Go with 600 and see if it frees up immediately.
Sorry for so much work on a PC gun but my PC460 back in '12 needed work from the get go too.

 

[shuter1]

Well, after my flush out, lube and reassembly, I've now dry fired it a bunch more (with A-Zoom snap caps), and the issue seems to have resolved itself! Maybe there was a burr on the ratchet? Not sure, but as of now I'm good to go. Have to build some handloads and then it's off to the range to test.

By the way, I feel bad complaining after reading the thread linked above by AmStaff64! That poor dude!

I would highly recommend popping the side plate on a new bead-blasted S&W to make sure there isn't the heavy reddish grit that was inside mine. It's a shame to have to do that but I think it's prudent.

Thanks again guys for the support!

 

[__steve__]

Glad you fixed it. You will really enjoy that little beast, it's a fire ring flame thrower. My 4" with the muzzle comp is nowhere as fun to shoot than the 3.5 PC

 

[shuter1]

Glad you fixed it. You will really enjoy that little beast, it's a fire ring flame thrower. My 4" with the muzzle comp is nowhere as fun to shoot than the 3.5 PC

Thanks...hope to get it to the range soon if I can get some ammo built. Yeah I had one of the 4" 500's, and one of the 2.75" "ES" 500's. Sold both and wanted this one badly! Like the fact that it's a PC gun (for whatever that's worth, and that there's more actual barrel length than on the others (if I recall, my 4" gun only had about 2.75" of rifled barrel, when you subtract the length of the comp). I also have a 6.5" PC gun with Pic rail on top and a 2x Burris scope on it. Totally different beast for sure!

 

[shuter1]

So I finally got her to the range. I put together a handload consisting of the Hornady 350 gr XTP, 40.0 gr of H110 and Winchester WLR primers in Starline cases. It's only a "medium" load, but hot enough out of the little 3.5" beast!

After getting it sighted in, the final two 5-shot groups were right at 2" at 25 yards...that's as well as I can shoot almost any handgun with iron sights at that distance, especially one that bucks like this one does! By the way, I chronographed that load and got an average of 1,345 fps from the 3.5" gun and 1,555 from my 6.5" PC .500.

Both the double and single action pulls are fantastic now as well. I'm happy to say, after a little extra effort, I love this gun! I removed the lock guts and installed the plug from Original Precision...I've done 3 of them in the last month and highly recommend them. Nice tight fit in lock hole and a very close match in terms of finish.

I also installed a Bowen Classic Arms Rough Country rear sight, by the way. Not cheap, but worth the investment on a hard-use handgun, in my opinon. Also a super crisp sight picture.

Just wanted to update you guys...thanks again for all of the input!

Shuter