Another cylinder lock up question

F

FullEffect1911

New member
First things first, do all revos eventually get play in the rotating direction? I've fired around 150 rounds out of a new SW 686 and the clyinder will move a little bit more in full lock up. There is no perceivable endshake, just some movement in the direction of rotation (and the direction opposite of rotation). Following the revolver checkout procedure i noticed that when looking down the barrel in full lock up (believe me i checked for clear) i can just barely notice the edge of the clyinder wall when i move the cylinder in one direction. Now i really have to be looking for this and i have to move the cylinder in one direction to do it.

1) should i worry about it?
2) do revolvers just loosen up like this over time?
3) is it out of time?
4) will the problem likely get worse?
5) is there even a problem or am i just being parinoid?

The gun shoots great and is accurate, i'm just worried it might be a cronic problem.

Thanks in advance.
 
Your 686 will shoot many many thousands of rounds without falling to bits. Don't worry about it. Do check the tightness of screws and clyinder axle from time to time, don't over oil it, and keep the cylinders, barrel and extractor clean.
 
"lock-up" is a little misleading, as it is fairly normal for smiths to have some play in the cylinder when the hammer is fully pulled back (SA) or the trigger is pulled (DA).

on the other hand (intended play on words) the colt python really does "lock-up". the pulling of the trigger to the point of release actually raises the hand which locks the cylinder into battery. unfortunately this tighter lock-up means the action takes more of a beating when fired...it sorta beats up the action.
 
As above, the S&W and all more modern revolvers are intended to allow the cylinder to be slightly loose at the moment of ignition.

This is to allow the cylinder to align itself with the bore.
Only the older Colt design like the Python locks the cylinder tightly in perfect alignment with the bore during ignition.

As for looking down the bore to check cylinder alignment, this really doesn't work.
The only valid check is to use a special tool known as a range rod, which is inserted down the bore, and indicates whether the chamber is properly aligned or not.

The key here is, your revolver is shooting accurately, which is a good indication everything is in adjustment and working as intended.

The things that might indicate problems are:
Inaccuracy.
Spitting lead from the barrel/cylinder gap.
End shake in the cylinder. (Which is the most common S&W problem).
 
how can you tell if a revo is spitting lead? Lead shavings around the b/c gap? This is my first revolver btw...
Click to expand...
You will see a bunch of lead shavings around the forcing cone after shooting.
 
I've never seen a Smith or a Ruger that didn't have a tiny amount of play when the gun is in full lock up.

Colts are impressive in this department. That cylinder just doesn't move!
 
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