S&W 986 (new) binding with clips

[8shot]

Just rec'd my brand new 5" 986 revolver. Fit and finish are great, no barrel choke, double action is also great UNTIL you drop in a loaded 7 shot full moon clip, With clip installed the hand appears to be binding at the last bit of travel. It binds enough that the action locks up until I pull it with increased effort to release it.

Tried various clips and ammo manufacturers..same thing..you would think the S&W gunsmiths would asemble the revolvers with clips and dummy rounds during assembly. Getting tired of sending revolvers back to S&W.

 

[Retired W4]

No excuse. I guess S&W didn't want to go back to the complicated extraction system of the 547. Hope you get some satisfaction.

 

[Plinkasaurusrex]

Where is the hand binding?

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Does it bind on every chamber?

If the 986 has chamber shoulders for non-moonclipped ammo to headspace on see if it binds without moonclips on the loaded ammo.

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[comm2679]

Hate to hear this. I am going to be sending my 2.5” 986 back for poor fitment between the frame and yoke. Hate to see these kinds of issues at all, but especially not on Performance Center guns.

 

[chief38]

Hate to hear this. I am going to be sending my 2.5” 986 back for poor fitment between the frame and yoke. Hate to see these kinds of issues at all, but especially not on Performance Center guns.

I truly don't get this phenomenon! One would THINK that a premium priced Performance Center gun would be more thoroughly checked out and QC checked than a normal assembly line gun - but once again, the PC versions seem to have more issues than their standard line does. This has been happening for quite some time now. I simply can not believe that the big shots at S&W have not taken notice of this.

 

[Retired W4]

I read somewhere the 986 will headspace with 9x21 without moon clips, the case being 2 mm longer than the 9 mm Luger. Maybe S&W did that for the European/Mexican market. I really don't know.

Sometime last year I examined one at a gun store but was unable to come to terms on it. The piece was interesting, but then I'm interested in weird stuff anyway. I think the 986 would make a good companion to my 547.

I do have a stash of Fiocchi 9x21 But I don't see how this rimless cartridge can be ejected normally in the 986 without the clips. So I guess this post has been an exercise in futility. Maybe I'll try the 9x21 in my 547.

 

[8shot]

Maybe S&W could start selling "guns kits"...then we could put them together the correct way (via gunsmith) and not have to keep sending them back

I would love to locate a 986 non fluted cylinder to start with! But S&W says they don't have any for sale.

 

[Protocall_Design]

It sounds like there may be a bit of rotational play in the extractor That allows the hand to pass by the ratchets when empty, but when there are cases in the chambers, the ratchets are held in the normal place and binding the hand between the frame on the right side and ratchet on the left. If that is the case, a hand that is a couple thou. thinner would fix it. This is only a long distance guess.

 

[8shot]

It sounds like there may be a bit of rotational play in the extractor That allows the hand to pass by the ratchets when empty, but when there are cases in the chambers, the ratchets are held in the normal place and binding the hand between the frame on the right side and ratchet on the left. If that is the case, a hand that is a couple thou. thinner would fix it. This is only a long distance guess.

Got it worked out, reduced the hand body thickness in the "middle area and not in the upper spur area". It was binding up on the window as the ratchet was pushing the fully extended hand against the window. A little stone work made the difference.

Forgot to mention is that the revolver wouldn't cock single action initially because of the résistance.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I knew you'd figure it out. Now go enjoy shooting that thing!