Model 58 issue

[GavinLee]

This summer I bought a M-58 from the man who bought it new in the late '60s. As he was a game biologist it was carried for years, but but shot less than a box of shells. The bluing is about 85% and the grips are scuffed up, but almost no turn ring. The issue is that about every other cylinder full the cylinder/crane will come unlatched slightly after a couple of shots, just enough it can't be re-cocked requiring pushing the cylinder back in. I'm using a 240gr. cast with 7.5 gr. Unique, a mid range load. I talked to him later and he said that he did remember the cylinder becoming unlatched when he shot full factory loads. My question is if this seems like a fix that should be sent back to S&W. We don't have any high end gunsmithing talent in town, so don't want someone just "fooling" with it. I love the Model 58 and the cartridge! I also have an Model 57 8 3/8 that I enjoy a lot. I do want this 58 to be right!

 

[captainjohnsofd]

Contact Customer Service at Smith and Wesson. They will be glad to help you with you Model 58 difficulty. You can't go wrong with them. I also have a beloved Model 58 which will never be sold off in my lifetime. The best way to tame it is to reload, which we both do. It feels like a .38 Special Model 10 with 5 grains of Titegroup topped with a 210 grain LSWC. Hope you get the help you need.

 

[dant]

Is the centerpin sticking?? not protruding enough back into the recoil shield?? could be gummed up from lack of use,,,sounds like it was carried but not shot much...soak the centerpin with Kroil, or better yet take the cylinder assembly apart and make sure all is clean and assembled correctly.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I had a Smith 41 mag that had lock up problems . The latch didn't travel all the way back when I closed the cylinder , it would still have slack to the rear . The center pin was mushrooming on the end where it locked up under the barrel . I filed it down twice , kept doing it . Sent it to Smith , they replaced it , no problems since . It was just a soft pin .

 

[GavinLee]

Thank you for the responses! All helpful. I think you may have hit on it Dant that it may be a sticky centerpin as the cylinder release has a strange, not smooth, feel to it and sometimes requires more pressure to disengage the cylinder than it should. Captain I'll have to try the Titegroup load with the 210 cast. Sounds like fun. Mostly I have been using 240gr. Rim rock FBSWCs with either 7.5 gr of Unique or 8.5 gr of WSF. Both seem to work well. Cowboy4evr I may wind up contacting Smith & Wesson if the cleanup of the centerpin doesn't help. Cowboy I really enjoy your posts, especially on the .41 mags. You're the one that got me onto using WSF when I couldn't get Unique a while back. I've been real happy with it. I am certainly really amped up on the .41 Smiths these days! Thanks again to all.

 

[moralem]

I have yet to shoot these recently acquired .41s but hope to soon. Just couldn’t resist tossing a picture up to illustrate the thread. My 57 and 58.

 

[jaymoore]

The issue is that about every other cylinder full the cylinder/crane will come unlatched slightly after a couple of shots, just enough it can't be re-cocked requiring pushing the cylinder back in. I'm using a 240gr. cast with 7.5 gr. Unique, a mid range load. I talked to him later and he said that he did remember the cylinder becoming unlatched when he shot full factory loads....

I had a 58 that would do the same with factory loads. But the other two have been fine in that regard. Never did figure out just why it unlatched, everything seemed OK internally. The ugly 58 I have now is quite accurate but has occasional misfires. The pretty one isn't very accurate at all (by my standards) but is otherwise drama free. Go figure.

One of the internal upgrades to the .44s that came with the Endurance package was an additional piece opposite the sideplate which keeps the cylinder release from moving forward relative to the frame during recoil. Had I kept that 58, I would have probably milled the frame to incorporate the mod.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Those 58s look soooo businesslike!Just like a model 13 on steroids!Gotta love them!
Qc

 

[cowboy4evr]

I have a real love affair for the 41 magnum . I have 4 , 3 smiths and one ruger NMBH . I cast several bullets for the 41mag, but always come back to the HG 258 , 220 swc , the real " Keith " designed bullet . The mold is available through Northern Valley Machine Co , in Minn. They have all of H&G's spec's . If I could only have one handgun , make mine a 41 magnum , S&W .

 

[GavinLee]

The Model 58 really compliments the 57 well. I use my 57 primarily at the range and the model 58 also goes to the range but it is my one to pack. I snowmachine a lot and plan to carry it in a shoulder holster inside my parka. With the clean design I can slide it out of my parka without the sights getting caught on clothing. I used to carry a 2 1/2" model 19 but the .41 gives a much bigger comfort level. It is my feeling that the .41 magnum is about the ideal size for the Smith & Wesson N frame and that the .44 magnum is kinda pushing the limits for this frame. That being said, I do love my .44 mag N frame, I just don't load it to hot. Just my $.02 worth.

 

[SuperMan]

Hope you get the roblem all worked out...58s are one of the best guns Smith ever made....

7.5 grains of Unique with a 210-220 grain bullet will run about 900 fps. 8.0 is 950+- which duplicates the factory 210 LSW Police load...it is also very accurate.

I have have had 10 58s over the years and have two left....a 64 that someone parkerized and a 70s that someone did a lot of custom work to...

The 'unofficial' 58 Club

Bob

 

[cowboy4evr]

I have only 1 , model 58 . I had my friend at " Cochise Leatherworks " make a left handed shoulder holster for it . I have carried it many times , under my denim jacket . I bought a couple of speed loaders and have always kept it loaded with factory stuff , speed loaders too . I like 8.4grs of WSF with a 210-220 gr cast bullet for practice / fun with my 58 . My next one will be in nickel , I love nickel smiths and the 58 . Regards, Paul

 

[cowboy4evr]

BTW: I have read in the past that the std police load was a 210gr lead (swaged) bullet loaded with 7.0 grs of Bullseye powder . It really leaded the barrels from all accounts . They also had a full magnum load , much hotter . My std 41 magnum target load is 6.0 grs of either WST , Bullseye , Red Dot or IMR 700X with a 210-220 cast bullet loaded in magnum case , large pistol primer . Elmer Keiths " gallery load " as he referred to it was 4.5grs of Bullseye using his 220gr cast bullet , (H&G 258) in the 41 magnum .
Maybe Bob (Superman) can comment further on this subject about that Police load with Bullseye powder.