F224
Member
I had the same issues with a former Michigan State Police M38 that I had hard chromed. It was basically over sized in the frame, barrel breech, and cylinder area and would lock up after about fifty quick rounds till it cooled off.
Vintage S&W model 19 locks up
- Thread starter mj2008
- Start date
I had the same issues with a former Michigan State Police M38 that I had hard chromed. It was basically over sized in the frame, barrel breech, and cylinder area and would lock up after about fifty quick rounds till it cooled off.
Went to the range today. I shot one box of 158 grain and than I shot 24 rounds of Speer short barrel 135 grain magnums. I did the same as before firing and reloading quickly. No issues. Gun operated and shot very good. I think I just have to lay off the light 110/125 grain magnums. 38 +P or these Speer magnums and I think I'll be good to go. I also brought my M&P 340 shooting a box of the 158 grain and 20 rounds of Gold Dot mags. No issues at all but of course significantly more recoil with both. I keep it loaded with Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P's when I carry it.
I have a 2.5” 66-1 that the flat spot on the forcing cone was very eroded. It did exactly as you described. Once the barrel heated up, even from 38+P, it would lock up until it cooled down. I purchased it knowing this and a spare barrel was included. I sent it in to the Smith Performance Center and asked for a barrel swap. Returned good as new.
Check your barrel to cylinder gap cold, then after a couple cylinders of 38. Also, take a good look at your forcing cone, especially the bottom.
Put my readers on when I cleaned it after the range. I gave special attention to the flat part of the forcing cone. No cracks and it looked good. When I was at the range shooting the mags it got hot. Not as hot as when I shot the 110’s last time but reloading it, it was pretty hot. Still I kept firing because I wanted to see if it would lock up which it didn't. I would rather if something was going to break it happens at the range not when Im carrying it. I know it cant be replaced, they’re not building any pinned and recessed revolvers anymore. But I have enough safe queens and I really like being able to carry this one. It be nice if you could buy a new one but the 19 carry comp or a new 66 is not anything like my 19-4 or your 66-1. Build quality, MIM parts and that friggin hole. I could live with the MIM parts but sloppy build and that hole…
Another reason to avoid the 110 grain JHP 357 Magnum loads is poor penetration. The high velocity, light weight bullet will expand in an impressive manner, but tends to produce poor penetration.
True. On the videos Ive seen it doesnt usually penetrate 12". I think it would hit hard but still you would want a bit more penetration. I think the Gold Dots are good because in either magnum or +P you get good penetration and you also get expansion.
My 2.5” 66-1 has locked up after shooting 3-4 cylinders of magnums - the ejector rod was tight. Interestingly, I couldn’t get any of my other 2.5” 66/19s to lock up. The only difference between my guns and the first 66, was that I had installed a .003 end shake bushing. Removed the bushing and the locking up problem went away. I’ve learned to I’ve with a little end shake.
I am betting it is the cylinder to yoke fit. Minimal endshake, tighter than normal fit of the OD of yoke tube to center of cylinder, the gas ring binding. That brings up where is the gas ring on this one? On the yoke or cylinder?
Might not have been the guns heat, but a small bit if hot debris that shrunk as it cooled
Might not have been the guns heat, but a small bit if hot debris that shrunk as it cooled
You got me. Idk.i only had a problem with the 110 mags. 38, 38 +P and Gold Dot 135 grain mags, np. It was hot yesterday after I shot the Gold Dots but not as bad as the 110’s a couple of weeks back. When I cleaned it yesterday I looked for cracks or damage at the base of the forcing cone and I didnt see any.
