New S&W 63 - what a disappointment!

[IkenI]

After much consideration I decided I wanted a new S&W 63 with the 5" bbl to carry when I take a rifle to the woods. I picked it up this morning. The size felt good and I put on some larger, more comfortable grips and was planning on ordering a custom made field holster for it. Took it out of the box, cleaned it and headed to the range to compare different type ammunition in it. Out of six different ammo selections only one would allow the cylinder to close easily. None of the different brands of ammo would allow the cylinder to turn and lock up. It's a wonder some of the ammo didn't go off since it's rimfire. So...not one round fired. I called my dealer and he said he could send it back to S&W for me if I paid for it. He said he was tired of sending Smiths back. Needless to say I'm on the phone in the morning to customer service to give them the opportunity to make this right.

I have other Smiths, but they are all older guns. None of them have the lock and the lock on the new 63 obviously had nothing to do with this problem. It just makes me wonder what other quality issues there are. The reason I bought new was I really liked the five inch bbl configuration for what I wanted to use it for. I'll keep the forum posted on what happens with this little 63.

 

[IkenI]

After much consideration I decided I wanted a new S&W 63 with the 5" bbl to carry when I take a rifle to the woods. I picked it up this morning. The size felt good and I put on some larger, more comfortable grips and was planning on ordering a custom made field holster for it. Took it out of the box, cleaned it and headed to the range to compare different type ammunition in it. Out of six different ammo selections only one would allow the cylinder to close easily. None of the different brands of ammo would allow the cylinder to turn and lock up. It's a wonder some of the ammo didn't go off since it's rimfire. So...not one round fired. I called my dealer and he said he could send it back to S&W for me if I paid for it. He said he was tired of sending Smiths back. Needless to say I'm on the phone in the morning to customer service to give them the opportunity to make this right.

I have other Smiths, but they are all older guns. None of them have the lock and the lock on the new 63 obviously had nothing to do with this problem. It just makes me wonder what other quality issues there are. The reason I bought new was I really liked the five inch bbl configuration for what I wanted to use it for. I'll keep the forum posted on what happens with this little 63.

 

[Camster]

I'm on the verge of ordering one,however after examining one at my local shop, I have some concerns over quality.All looked fine on the store example,however when I looked at the muzzle, the bore looked hexagonal.Maybe I should just go ahead and shoot my NIB 63 no dash.

 

[Guest]

IkenI,
Not sure what your experience with rimfire revolvers is, so take this as just an FYI.
First thing I'd do is push the ejector rod all the way out, take a rag and wipe any oil off the cylinder surface that mates to the underside of the ejector star, then wipe the underside of the ejector star. Oil and "junk" can accumulate there causing the exact symptom you are seeing. In many cases, it's not the revolver, but maintenance that causes that symptom. If the revolver is new, it can have factory oil residue in that area.
Give it a try and then attempt to chamber those same rounds. Might be a different scenario.
Rimfires are problematic in this way.
For what it's worth, might save you some time, agravation and expense.

 

[RAMS]

The reason S&W is higher priced than Charter, Taurus and Ruger is because of the service. Ask that they send you a free shipping label to get it fixed.

After it is repaired, you will be glad you got a new M63-4. Mine is the most accurate S&W .22 revolver I've ever owned, including 17s and 18s, and lighter and more rugged than both of those earlier favorites. The action is sweet; so sweet I suspect it was touched up a bit by S&W (it was a demo/test gun for gun mag writers.)

The point is, you probably have a jewel in the rough. When you get it back, put a box or two of Stingers through it to work out the kinks, and smooth up the action if you know how.

Mine, along with a M35, are my two, all-time .22 favorites.

 

[RAMS]

I thought that might wake you up, Bruce ;-)

 

[IkenI]

RAMS - I'm hopeful mine will turn out like yours when S&W finishes with it.

Smithnut - I disassembled it when I cleaned it so I was pretty certain it was okay. After reading your post I cleaned it again, well. Unfortunely there was no change. Appreciate the advice tho'.

I'm calling S&W in the morning. Keep you posted.

IkenI

 

[Stainz]

Stingers fit okay? I've found that they - and some other CCI rounds - are a bit tight in my CZ .22LR rifles' chambers. I just wonder if the 63 has 'tight' spec chambers. I had considered one - but they are only $30 less locally than a new 4"/6" 10-shot 617.

Stainz

 

[DeanD]

I was looking at a friend's new 686 a few days ago and was disappointed. The lock-up was not tight at all and the action just didn't feel solid. That gun had more rotational play in the cylinder than my old S&W's that have been shot thousands of rounds.

 

[Dale53]

My experience with several new S&W's (within the last year) have been VERY positive. Some of the finest revolvers I have owned (I've been a Smith man for nearly sixty years)...

Dale53

 

[Dot_mdb]

Do the rounds drop into the chambers normally? Can you feel the head of the cartridge sticking up above the cylinder? Have you tried pushing in each round with your thumb?

I wonder how this gun was test fired at the factory.

Bill

 

[K-22]

Originally posted by bdGreen:

Mine, along with a M35, are my two, all-time .22 favorites.

What's a M35?

bdGreen

That would be the one in the sequence between the M34 and the M36.

Best,
Gary

 

[RAMS]

Originally posted by Stainz:
Stingers fit okay? I've found that they - and some other CCI rounds - are a bit tight in my CZ .22LR rifles' chambers. I just wonder if the 63 has 'tight' spec chambers.

Stingers fit fine in 63s, old and new. (Don't use them in 34s, 35s and 317s, except when carrying for "self-defense." Metallurgy problems.)

Stinger cases are a tenth of an inch longer than other cases, so they may not fit well in rifles with target chambers.

 

[ElmerKeith]

M 35 is the target version. There was a Classic Test Report in G&A magazine about ten years ago.
I'll try to find out what issue it was.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Don't use them in 34s, 35s and 317s, except when carrying for "self-defense." Metallurgy problems.

What about this? Never heard it before. Not that big a deal with me because I'm no fan of Stingers but am surprised that at least the Models 34 and 35 couldn't relish a diet of Stingers.

 

[CMcDermott]

All looked fine on the store example,however when I looked at the muzzle, the bore looked hexagonal

This tells me that S&W is using "polygonal" rifling on the new model 63's that is formed by electro-chemical machining (ECM). This also means the two piece barrel assembly is being used.

Model 35 is the 22/32 target, with the 6" barrel versus the Model 34 4" barrel.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Originally posted by bdGreen:

Mine, along with a M35, are my two, all-time .22 favorites.

What's a M35?

bdGreen

I have a nickle model 17 SSN 1K3xxx-I'm looking to swap for a 617.

 

[IkenI]

The customer service call was very positive this morning. Waiting on the shipping label and didn't have to ask for it.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Glad to hear that S&W is taking care of it. The original 63's weren't so great, either. When I bought mine in the early 70's, I had to look at about half a dozen before I found one that cycled properly without ammo in it. Then when you put ammo into the gun, you open up a whole new can of worms.

BTW, I have never seen a problem with Stinger ammo in my 4" pre-34, which will hardly extract anything but CCI.

 

[Camster]

his tells me that S&W is using "polygonal" rifling on the new model 63's that is formed by electro-chemical machining (ECM). This also means the two piece barrel assembly is being used.

Interesting.I knew that it had a two piece barrel and only joked with the clerk that "hexagonal" was Smith's new rifling process.