Newbie - new model 60 Pro series defective?

[hcgaloi]

Hello,

I have very little experience with firearms, and I just bought a possibly defective 357 magnum model 60 pro series.

Just a little info about myself for clarification. About 25 years ago, my wife and I took a home defense class, and bought a S&W 357 magnum model 13-2. We shot it a couple of times then I clean it and store away hoping that we would never have to touch it again.

Recently we had a home invasion when my wife was home alone, however, she had enough time to grab the gun. Luckily, it ended peacefully when the intruder saw she was pointing a gun at him and running off. Due to the incident, she wanted another gun to keep downstairs, and she liked the semi-autos that she saw police officers were carried.

So, we took another home defense class at a Glock store. During shooting session, every single Glock that the instructor had us tried was jammed. We tried probably 10 to 15 different model Glock's, and none of them could fire more than 3 rounds before having some kind of malfunction. Finally, we asked to shoot with our revolver. We were amazed that it would fire all 6 rounds after sitting and collecting dust for over 25 years. We shot a couple of 38 special boxes after that without any problem whatsoever.

Because of the terrible experience with semi-auto and total trust in S&W revolver, we bought a S&W 357 magnum model 60 pro series. My wife is petite (5'1" and 90lbs), and the J-frame fit her hand well. Also, she could hit target shooting standard 38 special on a rental gun.

After purchasing the model 60 pro series, we shot a box of 38 special Hornady Critical Defense lite (pink bullet). The gun function flawlessly on all 25 rounds, and we were very happy with it .

When we got home, I watched some Youtube videos on how to clean and lube a revolver. I have purchased a revolver cleaning kit, Hoppe's 357 boresnake pistol cleaner, Hoppe's #9 gun bore cleaner, and Break-Free CLP-4 Cleaner Lubricant. To clean the gun, I brushed the barrel and cylinder with copper brush and Hoppe's #9. Then, I run cleaning patches through until they came out clean. I used a light to see if I could spot any debris. Everything looked spotless.

Next, I run the snakebore damped with Hoppe's #9 through the barrel and cylinder 5 times each. After that I clean with patches. They came out clean on the first try. Then, I wiped the gun with Break-Free CLP-4 making sure to keep the chamber holes dry. This was how I cleaned the gun.

On the next shooting at a range, we shot with Hornady standard 38 special (125 gr XTP). After shooting the first 5 rounds, on a second reload, I noticed a round wouldn't fall into a particular chamber smoothly. It stuck half way, and I had to lightly push it down. The 5 rounds fired fine, but when I tried to reject only 4 round fell out but one wouldn't. I had to pry it out with a finger nail. I checked to see if there were more debris in that chamber compared to the other four. However, they all looked the same.
So, for the next 40 rounds that I shot, one round wouldn't eject properly, and I had to pull it out with finger nail.

BTW, I cleaned the model 13-2 the same way, and it function flawlessly at the range shooting the same ammos.

So, I would like to know if the gun is defective or I didn't clean it correctly? Since I have limited experience with firearm, I don't know if I should send the gun in for repair or this is a normal behavior.

Thanks so much in advance for your time and effort in helping a newbie.

 

[629sixgun]

You will no doubt get many responses but here is my .02 cents.
I am not an advocate of over cleaning guns. More damage is often done cleaning than shooting the gun. That being said I would clean the cylinder especially the problem hole with a brush and some #9. Try inserting and removing the shells without even closing the cylinder. SAFTEY first no need to go past that point with live ammo. Most likely a piece of lead or debris is lodged in the hole. If problem persists get a strong light and a magnifying glass to look in the problem spot. If it was good before it should still be good now.

 

[Scorpion520AZ]

After purchasing the model 60 pro series, we shot a box of 38 special Hornady Critical Defense lite (pink bullet). ***The gun function flawlessly on all 25 rounds, and we were very happy with it*** .

Stick with what you know works "flawlessly" and don't look back.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

. . .

On the next shooting at a range, we shot with Hornady standard 38 special (125 gr XTP). After shooting the first 5 rounds, on a second reload, I noticed a round wouldn't fall into a particular chamber smoothly. It stuck half way, and I had to lightly push it down. The 5 rounds fired fine, but when I tried to reject only 4 round fell out but one wouldn't. I had to pry it out with a finger nail. I checked to see if there were more debris in that chamber compared to the other four. However, they all looked the same.
So, for the next 40 rounds that I shot, one round wouldn't eject properly, and I had to pull it out with finger nail.

So, I would like to know if the gun is defective or I didn't clean it correctly? Since I have limited experience with firearm, I don't know if I should send the gun in for repair or this is a normal behavior.

How are you "ejecting" the empty cartridge cases? The most common method is to point the gun skyward and smack the ejector rod with the palm of your hand. Quite often, most or even all of the cases will fall out before you even smack the ejector rod. Somehow, I have a feeling that you are not doing this.

If you are doing this, and the ejector star is, for some reason, immediately riding over the cartridge rim and not at least starting to eject that one cartridge, there is something wrong. It would probably be very easy for an experienced revolver shooter to see with the gun in front of him, but a little difficult to guess at this distance. In the world I was brought up in, a friend or LGS or gunsmith would scope this out without charge, and chances are the fix might not cost anything, either, although that would depend on what it turns out to be. It is certainly possible that it would involve a return to the factory.

My first recommendation would be to go to the dealer from whom you bought the gun.

 

[H Richard]

My thoughts are the one chamber has a rough spot in it, and when the cartridge is fired it swells up and fills the chamber and the one chamber with the rough spot the shell fills into the rough spot and makes ejection a little more difficult.

My remedy for this is to take the bronze brush, insert it into a cordless drill, wrap a cleaning patch tightly around it and apply some "Flitz" or "Mothers Mag Polish". These are mild polishing compounds. Run the drill in and out of the chamber slowly and polish for several minutes. Clean it up to remove all the residue and then test it. Repeat if necessary.

 

[Minorcan]

I’m with 629 on this. It is not uncommon to get a round of ammo that leaves a bit of material in the chamber or it could have been a piece of dirt from cleaning. I had a friend clean his Model 14 with a polyester rag. He accidentally left a small piece of the rag, really just a thread in the chamber. When he loaded the gun he had trouble ejecting. What had happened the polyester was melted on to the chamber wall by the heat from firing the cartridge. A good solvent cleaner and everything was back as good as new. Clean it again and take a close look at the chamber walls. Good Luck

 

[lunger]

So, we took another home defense class at a Glock store. During shooting session, every single Glock that the instructor had us tried was jammed. We tried probably 10 to 15 different model Glock's, and none of them could fire more than 3 rounds before having some kind of malfunction.

10 to 15 Glock's that could not fire more than 3 rounds and at a "Glock Store". That just doesn't sound right. I would find a different Glock store.

Isn,t the 60 Pro a 3".The ejector rod should drive the full case out if done as described above.