S&W Model 17-5 Cylinder Lock Doesn't

[mikemyers]

I have a Model 17-5 that never shot as well as I thought it should, although I mostly blamed myself, not the gun. Then it got much worse, so I let a more experienced friend try it, and for him too, the holes were splattered all over - no group.

I'll skip over a lot of miscellaneous stuff, and get right to where I'm at now.

First discovery - the cylinder is NOT locked in place by the cylinder lock. With the hammer back, ready to shoot, I can place my hand on the cylinder and rotate it back and forth. Apparently the cylinder lock under the cylinder is supposed to fit into the opening on the cylinder, and lock things in place.

Second discovery - if I swing out the cylinder, and put my hand over the cylinder lock, it sort of felt like I could slide it back and forth left to right. After a lot of trial and error, I no longer think it is SLIDING back and forth - it's more like it "pivots" to one side or another, which is what is allowing the cylinder to turn one way or another. I suspect this is counter-productive in terms of shooting well.

I don't remember what holds the cylinder lock in place. Maybe it's broken, or maybe it's worn out, or maybe something is coming loose.

I will post a photo of what it looks like, but I don't know how to show why I think it is broken, or coming loose. All I can say is I can hold the cylinder stop in my hands, and "rock it" to the left or right, moving it as I do so, meaning the cylinder can rotate to either side and back quite a bit. If the cylinder stop was held firmly in place, this issue would be solved.

I should add that I haven't decided yet if I should take it apart, or take it to my gunsmith. Probably the latter, as he will "feel" the problem and probably immediately know what's needed......

 

[colt_saa]

Based on your description my first thought would be to check the cylinder stop spring

If you do not feel confident taking the side p;ate off the revolver, please listen to yourself and go see the local gunsmith

It is much easier to diagnose something when it is in your hand as opposed to over the internet

 

[ken158]

Sounds like you have a spring out of place or broken. If you have no knowledge of the workings... take it to a gunsmith.

 

[GaryHK]

Yep probably a broken spring. The stop itself can also be broken underneath the plate. It is so tight in there that you would not be able to tell, visibly, from the outside.

 

[stansdds]

First thought is the cylinder stop spring. It could be broken, there could also be congealed oil and dirt inhibiting the proper function of the cylinder stop.

 

[mikemyers]

Based on your description my first thought would be to check the cylinder stop spring

If you do not feel confident taking the side p;ate off the revolver, please listen to yourself and go see the local gunsmith

It is much easier to diagnose something when it is in your hand as opposed to over the internet

I have the replacement parts coming - should have them in a few days. I called my gunsmith - he has done all my work since I moved to Florida. I'll bring him the parts once I get them, and he thinks the gun will be ready for me the next day.

Ten minutes into this video, I learned a lot more than I was looking for:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g08ANGFJsmI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g08ANGFJsmI[/ame]

 

[mikemyers]

..........If you do not feel confident taking the side p;ate off the revolver, please listen to yourself and go see the local gunsmith.........It is much easier to diagnose something when it is in your hand as opposed to over the internet

I do feel "confident" that I can take off the side plate and get to this part - have done that two years ago, closely following instructions. I certainly don't feel "comfortable" doing so, and I think the gunsmith would better understand everything if he started with the gun all together, not a bushel basket of parts. There is also the small chance that machining will be necessary, which I absolutely do NOT feel confident about doing.

 

[mikemyers]

Note:

The best video I have found explaining how to disassemble and reassemble a S&W revolver is this one. It answered all my questions, as well as questions I didn't yet know to ask, and allowed me to take apart my Model 28 Highway Patrolman for the first time, feeling confident I was doing it right:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ujyLn3lHBc"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ujyLn3lHBc[/ame]