Need help with new guns

[bluegrass1945]

Hello all, I'm new to the forum and had a question to pose to you all. I recently acquired 2 Smiths from the 70s, a Model 10-5 and a Model 36. Both in good working order. Today, I went out and shot them for the first time. I was shooting Winchester 130 gr. FMJ Range and Target rounds. From everything I have read, these loads should work just fine in these guns. However, a few times while shooting the 36, when I went to eject the spent casings, they got jammed in the cylinder, as if the casing had swelled, and I had to punch them out. This happened more than once in different bores, not always the same ones. Any ideas why this would happen? The rounds went easily into the cylinder and didn't become hard to remove until after they were spent. Cylinder bores didn't have much buildup. The ammo was older (probably purchased 10 years ago) but wasn't corroded or anything. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[ezb57]

Welcome, you have 2 excellent revolvers. Make sure the chambers are really clean and the ejector rod moves freely. If those are OK I would try different ammo in the 36 and save the sticky stuff for the 10.

 

[oldcrotchety]

First, make sure the chambers are shiny clean. Fire each chamber, one at a time, and identify which chamber(s) are having the ejection issue. One possibility is a bulged chamber. I recently experienced this issue with a 1940s pre-10. Keep us informed as to what you find.

 

[alwslate]

Sounds like your 36 might have some bulged chambers from being fired with handloads that were too hot.

 

[alwslate]

Another possibility is that your 36 may have had the chambers lengthened to accept .357 magnum ammunition. Yes it did happen to some model 10s and 36s back in the early 70s. Try a .357 ctg in the 36 and see if it will go all the way in. If rechambered the cyl might have bulged chambers or be out of round due to a poor job of rechambering.

 

[stansdds]

Welcome to the S&W Forums. You have been given some good advice regarding the sticky extraction of spent shells in your Model 36. Dirty chambers will definitely cause difficult extraction. Bulged chambers from handloads that exceeded safe pressure levels will do it too.

 

[Baxter6551]

Welcome to a great forum. Lots of knowledgeable folks here as you have already seen.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum! If you post some pictures and the s/n's of your Model 10-5 and Model 36 we can identify the dates of manufacture for you and probably better assess your issue.

 

[mtgianni]

I would clean the chambers and then mark the outside of the cylinder with a pencil 1-5 or 1-6. I would then fire each cartridge one at a time and eject them, look at the spent cartridge for bulging in the middle and repeat for all chambers. That should help you define the problem of one chamber or ammo with a higher pressure.