Question about new 43C

[oldschool63]

I bought a new 43C last Thursday. When I shoot any ammo hotter that CCI mini mag the cylinder binds up and will not rotate to the next round.

There is a counter bore a few thousand deep around the firing pin that lets the case expand into and causes the cylinder to bind up.

Has anybody had this problem?

 

[geokeg]

Nope. Mine shoots Velocitors and Stingers just fine. No hang ups or ejection problems.

 

[SLCDW]

My 43c binds up and has difficulty ejecting copper plated Aguila, which, unfortunately, is my favorite ammo and what I have been stock piling. It will shoot most anything else. But, it is best and most accurate with Federal HV Match.

 

[Protocall_Design]

The firing pin bushing should be flush with the rest of the recoil shield. On yours, it's slightly recessed. I would talk to S&W about a warranty repair.

 

[oldschool63]

The firing pin bushing should be flush with the rest of the recoil shield. On yours, it's slightly recessed. I would talk to S&W about a warranty repair.

Thank You

I'll give S&W a call

 

[SLCDW]

Did you inspect your firing pin bushing and was it flush or protruding from the recoil shield? (Op's picture opened for me after I sent this and I see that it is recessed, and agree that is not correct, but still think that it is just as likely that it is an ammo issue)
After looking at my 17, 63 and 617, the firing pin and bushing on a 43c is different from that of other S&W rim fires. The former are identical to those in center fires, but are off center with the case head so that the round pin hits the rim and the bushing is visibly a separate part. The 43c's are centered with the case head, but the square pin is off center in the bushing so that that it contacts the case rim. The 43c's firing pin bushing should almost appear to be part of the shield.

The bushing on my 43c is flush with the shield, yet it still locks up with certain ammo because multiple rounds contact the shield. I believe that it is a combination of the rounds not inserting completely as the cylinder gets dirty and the base of the brass being slightly thicker with certain brands. I can shoot 150 rounds of Federal HV with no issue.

 

[Mark 40]

The bushing on my 43c is flush with the shield, yet it still locks up with certain ammo because multiple rounds contact the shield. I believe that it is a combination of the rounds not inserting completely as the cylinder gets dirty and the base of the brass being slightly thicker with certain brands. I can shoot 150 rounds of Federal HV with no issue.

Agreed and I've had the same issues with the Aguila

 

[StevethePirate]

After getting mine back from S&W (timing issue), about the only problem I have with any ammo is that Federal Punch cases take a lot of effort to eject. It isn't too bad at first, but after firing a few cylinders at the range, ejection requires more than my hand. I tend to carry Punch, but carry Velociters as a reload (when carrying it) in order to get reliable extraction after the first cylinder full of Punch.