"New" J frame

[robertrwalsh]

Just picked up a very nice, tight 2" Model 36. It has what appear to be factory stocks but they do not number to the gun. Has some florescent yellow paint on the sights and a turn ring but virtually no blue wear on the muzzle or cylinder front edge. It does, however, have significant blue wear on the butt and the back strap. Serial # J9538XX. If I shoot it much I will probably have to have the b/c gap adjusted as you can barely see daylight between the forcing cone and the front of the cylinder. I will try to take a photo in the next day or two when it isn't so bloody hot.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I'll look forward to seeing photos and hearing more, Robert.

Congrats.

 

[Green Frog]

You speak of a tight BC gap as though it were a bad thing.. Unless you are experiencing drag, you might want to leave it alone. Small gap gives higher velocities and better accuracy. You need enough gap to allow reliable action, especially if this is to be a self defense/EDC piece, but just having a tight gap is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. BTW, have you actually measured it yet, or just “eyeballed” it?

Froggie

 

[photoman]

I think the b/c gap spec is .002" at minimum so you might want to check first before changing anything.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I am definitely not going to do anything with it until a problem presents. I just picked it up yesterday and have neither cleaned nor shot it yet, and have not yet gauged the b/c gap.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Pics? Would love to see it.

Clean it and shoot it!

 

[robertrwalsh]

Here are the photos. Just for fun I dug out my feeler gauges. Couldn't get a 0.0015 into the b/c gap.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Yes, it does need a B/C gap adjustment. Going in to the smith today. Also I took the paint off the rear sight. Having both the front and rear the same rather garish color did NOT help sight picture acquisition.

 

[smithman]

Yes, it does need a B/C gap adjustment. Going in to the smith today. Also I took the paint off the rear sight. Having both the front and rear the same rather garish color did NOT help sight picture acquisition.

Serious question; wouldn’t a couple strokes with a file fix that gap?

 

[rosewood]

I put fluorescent yellow on the front site of my 67, was fine inside, outside in sunlight, couldn't make it out. Have orange/red now.

Rosewood

 

[haywood]

J9538xx is 1982 from what I see.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Smithman, I would rather give the smith (who has the correct tools) some money and make sure the face is 90 degrees from the bore when it is done, and maybe make sure the forcing cone is completely correct. Not that I have never done it that way, but.........

 

[Hondo44]

The former owner probably had sweaty hands and didn't clean the outside of the gun especially the back strap. Some people's perspiration is very acidic and can eat thru a blue finish pretty quick if not cleaned off.

 

[robertrwalsh]

The butt of the gun is exactly the same way as the bottom half of the backstrap. No blue wear around the muzzle or the front edge of the cylinder.

 

[chief38]

Before adjusting the B/C gap I hope your GS checks out the revolver thoroughly first before filing or cutting. That said, .0015” is very tight! IMHO .004”-.005” is about where I like mine but .006” is acceptable.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I am "old school" and remember when 0.004-0.006 was factory spec. That is what I am comfortable with. The guy who has it is very competent and has done two others for me within the last 18 months or so.

 

[Green Frog]

I’m amazed that your 36 has been around so long with virtually no BC gap. I agree that you need to increase it to have clearance, but remember, less is more here. If you’re paying a smith with proper tooling he should have no trouble cleaning up the breech end of the barrel (and checking your forcing cone at the same time) so you have a good, consistent gap of .003 or .004 all the way around the cylinder. He might need to dress the face of the cylinder too, but a good smith should know just what to do. Good luck with it.
Froggie