Oversized Hand for a J-Frame.

[austinkroe]

Hello, I'm new here so I hope I am putting this in the correct place.
I got a new 442 for Christmas but all is not well. It only locks up on two out of the five chambers. So, I am looking for an oversized hand in the hopes of curing the timing problem. I am not looking to send the gun into S&W because of the cost and time. I know a new hand is a $20 part and I have fixed an issue I had with an N-Frame before with a new hand. However, I am having a hard time locating one for a J-Frame.
Anyone know of a place where I can get an oversize hand for a J-frame?
TIA

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I don't, although Brownell's may have such a thing. However, one of Brownell's books entitled Gunsmith Kinks suggested bending the existing hand by supporting it well on each end (an open vise worked for me) and smacking it not too hard in the center with an appropriate tool (for me, it was a chisel with the cutting edge rounded off, propelled by a 2-lb copper mallet; a 3-lb might work just as well). Be fairly gentle, and have your dial caliper or micrometer standing by. I have heard that this is not supposed to work, but it does, at least sometimes.

If you are concerned about the welfare of the existing hand, you might want to get a second opinion.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Send it back. It needs a new extractor. In the event you don't want to send it back, order the extractor.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Sorry - I read too quickly. I think that it is more likely that 500 Mag Nut is right about the extractor.

 

[Alk8944]

The new "Square extractors" have a lot of clearance between them and their recess in the cylinder. There can be several degrees of play, unlike the old style "Round" extractor that had alignment pins and a square key way and gib to align the extractor & cylinder. They depend on being loaded to function and "carry-up" properly.Have you checked the timing with loaded ammunition or empty cases in the cylinder?

Before you say it, I know, it doesn't make sense for it to work this way. The cold, hard fact is that this is how they work now. Some will carry-up normally, like the old ones, and some won't. Try this before you get carried away trying to "fix" it.

 

[K1500]

I would send it back if carry up is a problem when loaded with empty cases. As far as cost, S&W pays the bill both ways, so the grand total cost will be a cardboard box and the gas to get to FedEx. As far as time, I had a 617 in for that problem and total time out was less than 2 weeks.

 

[austinkroe]

Thanks for the help guys. After reading about the extractor I decided to try a few tests. Pulling the trigger slowly the cylinder doesn't follow up properly loaded or unloaded. Pulling fast lets the inertia do the work so it locks up properly. I then tried the cylinder in a 642 that I know works. the cylinder did the same thing. So I think it may be a problem above my level of do it yourself fixing so I will send it off. However, last time I had to send a gun back to the factory I had to pay shipping which was about 65 dollars. I hope I do not have to do that again.

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[magnum12pm]

Thanks for the help guys. After reading about the extractor I decided to try a few tests. Pulling the trigger slowly the cylinder doesn't follow up properly loaded or unloaded. Pulling fast lets the inertia do the work so it locks up properly. I then tried the cylinder in a 642 that I know works. the cylinder did the same thing. So I think it may be a problem above my level of do it yourself fixing so I will send it off. However, last time I had to send a gun back to the factory I had to pay shipping which was about 65 dollars. I hope I do not have to do that again.

Thanks for everyone's help.

E mail Smith they will email you a shipping label to put on the box, your good to go. This gun is under warranty, you said it was new correct, that cinches the cost question.

 

[cmj8591]

If it needs a new extractor, it must be properly fitted and should only be attempted by someone who knows what they are doing. Brownell's sells an oversized hand if you must fix it yourself but it seems to me that by the time you are done dinking around you could have the gun fixed at the factory. Do not bend the hand. If it is bent and is bearing on the side of the hand window it could enlarge it and ruin the gun and most likely void the warranty.