PROBLEMS WITH MY MODEL 49

[idarbc]

ThI had a problem with my Model 49 at the range today and its going to the gunsmith on Friday. Until then I wanted to throw this out for all you guys to troubleshoot. I went through 20 rounds of new 130 grain fmj American Eagle 38 special. On the 5th cylinder load I fired the 4th round and when I pulled the trigger for the last round the cylinder would not rotate. I pulled as hard as I could but couldn't get the cylinder to rotate to the 5th round. I tried this three more times with the same results. With no shells in the cylinder it rotates with no problem. With either live or spent shells the cylinder will not rotate when it gets to one particular spot. The range owner looked at it as well as another knowledgeable revolver enthusiast and neither could see any wrong. The weapon has not been damaged or dropped or abused in any way. Have any of you guys ever experienced anything like this?

 

[rhetlaw]

I am having the same problem with my model 27-2.
I was using the same ammunition - American Eagle 130 grain fmj 38 special.
I dropped it off at my local gunsmith who has great creditionals. He was carefully working off some metal on the spur of the particular chamber on the cylinder. He thought he had it repaired. It test fired very well for him.
I took it to the range last week and the first set of six rounds went through well. On the next six, the cylinder hung up on one chamber. The trigger would not complete its action in DA and I was unable to pull the trigger back in SA.
I am currently vacationing in Calgary, Canada. Upon my return I will be taking it back to my gunsmith.

Any ideas from the forum's base of knowledgable folks would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[cochise]

not likely but it could be a bullet "jump".

Does the cylinder open normally after the incident?
Check for debris?
I would mark that camber with magic marker and see if it re-occurs on the same chamber in the cylinder. It does require furether investigation before making a judgement call on the problem.

 

[idarbc]

When the cylinder is in a particular setting it is more difficult to open and close than normal when loaded, not empty. I put one spent shell in and could not replicate the problem. Two rounds OK. Three or more rounds it will hang up at either one of two particular chambers.

 

[Imaposer]

cylinder/barrel gap? Excessive fouling on the cylinder face or under the extractor star? Before taking it to a 'smith I'd perform a thorough cleaning and see what happens.

 

[Imaposer]

Another unlikely thing, but one to maybe at least check, is primer seat depth. I know that you're using factory ammo, but QC issues have been known to happen before, sooo....

Mainly shooting my own reloads in my revolvers, I learned many years ago that if you aren't careful to fully seat your primers, and leave any "high" in the pocket, that it can cause problems similar to yours. Once fired, the primers are mostly going to be fully seated though, so check unfired cases. Also worth checking another brand/type of ammo.

The only other thing that comes to mind would be a slight out of true crane. If the cylinder is not running true, the tolerances could be stacking at particular point in its rotation. Add a little heat and fouling and it can cause binding in one particular location.

Just some random ideas that come to mind...

Good luck with your revolver...

EDIT: Nevermind some of the above... I just caught your earlier post about the cylinder not closing when loaded with fired cases. That probably rules out the primers as a possible cause...

 

[idarbc]

Thanks guys. Later today I will give it a thorough cleaning before visiting the Smith and let you know what happens. The ammo idea is interesting because there was another post where a gentleman was having the same problem with the exact same ammo.

 

[cochise]

did you try different brands of ammo?
Does this occur each time a cylinder "full" is loaded and shot?
Did you "look" to see if you have bent crane? The smaller revolvers are often abused by ignorant shooters who "flip" the cylinder closed. I bought a used Colt Detective that had a bent crane and missed it when I examined the gun. I sent the revolver to the factory to be repaired and it is good as new.

 

[idarbc]

did you try different brands of ammo?
Does this occur each time a cylinder "full" is loaded and shot?
Did you "look" to see if you have bent crane? The smaller revolvers are often abused by ignorant shooters who "flip" the cylinder closed. I bought a used Colt Detective that had a bent crane and missed it when I examined the gun. I sent the revolver to the factory to be repaired and it is good as new.

Tomorrow I hope to try a different brand of ammo. The problem occurs when 3 or more rounds are loaded. 1 or 2 rounds it works good. I don't think the crane is bent. I purchased this gun in 1970, have never flipped it closed, its never been dropped or damaged in anyway and the problem just occurred this week.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

cylinder/barrel gap? Excessive fouling on the cylinder face or under the extractor star? Before taking it to a 'smith I'd perform a thorough cleaning and see what happens.

...I'd guess something under the extractor star...or something hanging up the locking plunger at the front of the ejector rod..not allowing the extractor to fully seat...

 

[snubbyfan]

I'm going with something under the extractor. The only other time I ran across something like this was a bent double action sear on a 1963 Herbert Schmidt but then the problem was all the time.

 

[cochise]

Good mentioning to check the ejector rod being loose.
Hold the EMPTY revolver "sideways" in a bright light so you can see the barrel- cylinder gap . Then slowly cock the gun looking at the gap. You might be able to see a change in the gap.

Put the fired cases in the chambers and see if it hangs up while cycling the action.

 

[David Jackson]

I have a 49, no dash, serial J482526. Don't know when it was made. My gun has a problem with opening the crane. Sometimes I have to push the thumb piece really hard to get the gun to open. Any ideas about how to fix? Some new parts?

 

[chief38]

ER may not be properly fit.

 

[Hondo44]

Confirm that the extractor rod has not started to unscrew.

If it has always done that since new, it's likely a poor fitting issue. Open cyl and push ctr pin forward to be flush with extractor star. Then confirm that the ctr pin in the extractor rod is flush with or slightly sticks out of the front end of the extractor rod for a proper fit.