Putting a stripped 629-2 Together For A Friend

[Retired W4]

A buddy, who is a retired Sheriff from N. Georgia, came to me a while ago with this 629-2 that was frame/barrel with cylinder and yoke, and that's all. It had the side plate but no screws. He knew I had a lot of parts and asked me if I could make it whole again. I had every thing but the rear sight and cylinder bolt with spring and pin.

I got a bolt from one source and the spring and pin from another. My problem is, either the spring and pin are too long or the hole in the bolt is not deep enough. When assembled, the spring is exposed so that the pin is not seated in the bolt. I thought about cutting a few coils off the spring but I thought about bringing my problem here before I did.

Also, I have 4 K frame rear sights but none for an N frame but that is a separate issue. One other, minor issue, is the one and only cylinder stop I have for the newer guns gives me a little rotational play but it should be in specs. All my other stops are for 4/5 screw guns. I just don't want any shaving in a 44 magnum.

This will be strictly a truck gun but I want it to function perfectly for him.

One other foolish thought I had was to deepen the hole in the bolt but I don't have a drill bit that tiny.

 

[Shotguncoach]

I ran into a similar spring/plunger issue and it turned out that the original spring was still in the hole....I was trying to stack two springs. Have you tried just the plunger by itself to see if there is anything in the hole? A flashlight and a stiff wire (like a straightened paper clip) may be helpful.

 

[mmande]

I have experienced this myself and concluded that at some point in time S&W switched from a long plunger to a short one. The hole in the bolt was also not as deep as older ones. You could shorten the plunger you have to make it work. I don't know if Numrich Arms has figured this out or not but I would think shipping would be more than the cost of a plunger.
Mike

 

[Retired W4]

I trimmed 4 coils off the spring and now the plunger seats properly, and the bolt works.