Model 57 push-off

[drewjh]

Hello,

I recently purchased a beautiful 57, 6" blue in the presentation case for $700. It is my first S&W revolver. No dash, made in 1978. The gun is near mint and in my eagerness I checked everything BUT push-off in the store. Well, turns out it is pushing off with appx. 12 pounds of pressure. The trigger pull is very light, and it looks like the side plate has been off, so I'm guessing it is a victim of a less than expert trigger job.

I love this revolver and would rather not wait forever to find another example locally (I live in Cali, so local guns are the only option.) I would like advice on how to resolve the push off issue. As I understand 12 pounds is borderline, and if someone has stoned through the case hardening it is likely to get worse with use. It seems that original hammer/trigger combos are rare. Provided the gun needs a new hammer and trigger, would you suggest buying new MIM parts, or buying original but non-matched forged parts on gunbroker and hoping they mesh? Other suggestions?

Also, could I have made the situation worse by pushing it off the sear in the course of testing it?

BTW, everything I read says that push off is a dangerous condition, but I noticed that when it is pushed off it is caught by the hammer block. It seems that it still couldn't fire if dropped, so what makes push-off especially dangerous?

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

If you cock the gun and it slips, it will fire. So that needs to be fixed. Look up in the FAQ with a 6" stone you sharpen the trigger in such a way it will correct the light trigger & fix the push off.

 

[john traveler]

First thing to check is that the mainspring tension screw is fully tight.

Sometimes it is loosened with the idea of making the trigger lighter, which it does, but it also increases the chance of pushoff.

Next, thoroughly clean the action using solvent and toothbrush. Dried oil or grease can prevent full single-action sear engagement and give the appearance of a pushoff condition. This cleaning can be done with the sideplate on or off, and full disassembly is not required.

The test for a true pushoff condition is to repeatedly cycle the action in SA mode and note if it becomes easier and easier to go off. If it does, then the pushoff condition needs to be fixed. If it doesn't seem to change, then it is normal wear only.

A pushoff condition is dangerous because it sets up the shooter for an accidental discharge. The S&W revolver hammer block prevents firing unless the trigger is held fully rearward. In SA firing mode, this is presented with the hammer cocked and trigger finger on the trigger. That light trigger (pushoff condition) is now prone to AD.

 

[Alan Quackenbush]

Kuhnhausen's revolver book shows how to stone the sear to correct this. Pretty simple operation.

 

[drewjh]

Thanks for all the replies guys! As I am not properly equipped I have a gunsmith taking a look at it, hopefully the news will be good.

 

[kennyb]

yesterday my son purchased a 19-2 from a friend for sixty dollars...the grips are pachs,finish about 85% and has a case of "pushoff"...i still think he did just fine!

 

[drewjh]

I took it back to the shop where I bought it - the owner is a gunsmith with an excellent reputation around here. He said that the sear had been messed with (and in the wrong place) but the hammer was untouched. He recut the sear gratis, so no more push off!

 

[Drail]

Glad you have found an honest knowledgeable smith. There's not many left.

 

[Hired Gun]

Glad you got it fixed. With just a very little bit of normal wear you can make almost any S&W push off it you push hard enough. 12 pounds is way more than I have ever tried. True pushoff is probably in the neighborhood of no more than 3 pounds pressure. I had a competition trigger job done by the S&W proshop on my 686 no dash done when I bought it to compete with in 1985. I let a well know local gunsmith look at it and he pushed hard on mine and rounded my sear off. Then he charged me $50 to fix it so that it had so much creep I could not longer shoot it off hand in single action accuratly. I had it send it back to S&W to get it fixed again and they warned me to not let anyone push hard on my hammer again. They said to test with just very light pressure.

 

[dmar]

Glad you got it fixed. With just a very little bit of normal wear you can make almost any S&W push off it you push hard enough. 12 pounds is way more than I have ever tried. True pushoff is probably in the neighborhood of no more than 3 pounds pressure. I had a competition trigger job done by the S&W proshop on my 686 no dash done when I bought it to compete with in 1985. I let a well know local gunsmith look at it and he pushed hard on mine and rounded my sear off. Then he charged me $50 to fix it so that it had so much creep I could not longer shoot it off hand in single action accuratly. I had it send it back to S&W to get it fixed again and they warned me to not let anyone push hard on my hammer again. They said to test with just very light pressure.

That's good information. I always figured there was a line between checking for this condition, and damaging the gun, and it's nice to hear the advice straight from the factory...

 

[drewjh]

That's good information. I always figured there was a line between checking for this condition, and damaging the gun, and it's nice to hear the advice straight from the factory...

Seconded, I don't press quite so hard when testing now... I also read somewhere to use firm pressure but in a glancing motion.