Problems with a S&W model 649

[bamaboy]

Hello all,

I am new to these forums so forgive me if this has already been discussed. My father recently passed and has left me with a few guns. Growing up we occasionally shot them, but then we lost time for that so they began to just sit there in the case. As it is now they all require a great deal of cleaning. Which brings me to my point (long-winded, I know).

I now have a S&W .38 model 649, the main problem with it I'm having are when pulling the trigger, sometimes the hammer sticks, then it does not slam back down, resulting in a non-fire (the pin is hitting the cartridge, just not hard or deep enough to ignite it). Also it's kinda finicky on resetting the trigger back into place. Sometimes it needs a little help from behind.

Does this sound like something that could possibly be fixed with a good deep cleaning? Or could it be something that will require someone far more experienced than me taking a look at it?

Thanks for your help

 

[hiram2005]

First thing I would do is give it a good cleaning. 49's sometimes let junk/crap down into the innards from the shroud. Cleaning +1

 

[Charles]

Sounds like dried up, caked grease to me. Hopefully, anyway. Strip it all the way down (under the sideplate) and hit it with some degreaser, clean, then re-lube it and reassemble.

I did purchase a model 30 that had a similar issue and it turned out to be the sear pin was slightly out of place and dragging on the inside of the frame. All it required to fix was re-seating the pin.

I highly recommend you get a copy of the Kuhnhausen book if you're not comfortable taking the 49 completely apart. It will talk you through the process quite well and might cost a tiny bit more than having a gun shop do the cleaning for you, but then you'll have an excellent reference and a new appreciation for your revolver.

 

[D7dun]

If there is any chance that you will be using any of the guns left to you for defense of you or yours, take them to a good gunsmith and have them cleaned and checked for reliability.

The is very cheap insurance in my book.

Good luck to you!