Dan Wesson .357 snub - AAAARGH!

[Torquemada]

Two chambers won't fire, pretty consistently, and the chambers are NOT next to each other.

The primers on the unfired rounds look just like fired rounds. Some of the rounds were hit three times before firing, and there would be three distinctive hits on the primer. A few of the unfired rounds were moved to the other chambers and went off on the second strike. A few times it did fire thru all six chambers but that was rare.

S&B (Berdan primed?) .38/158gr. LRN worked fine; Winchester .357/110 JHP and .38/158 range, Federal .38/130 FMJ and CCI .38+P/158 TMJ had problems.

The last time it happened I used Outers Nitro bore cleaner and a brush, Gunscrubber and a brush, and CLP with a brush. I let each set for 15 minutes followed by dry patches between each chemical. I also disassembled, CLP'd and wiped down the internals.

It has acted up in the past but a good cleaning "fixed" it, and it never went "bad" this fast. I'm lost now because everything [i/seems[/i] in order and think it's time to take it to a gunsmith. Anything else I should look for before I take it in?

 

[stans]

Since it is the same two chambers that will not fire, I am thinking it is a head space problem with these two chambers. It is possible that the cylinder was poorly machined. Some Dan Wessons showed quality control problems, though most were very nice.

 

[JoeHatley]

The Dan Wesson has recessed cylinders. Double check the recessed area isn't "crudded" up on a couple of chambers.

If that doesn't work, you should stick in a fresh full power mainspring. You can get them from the factory or from www.gunsprings.com

If you have excessive headspace that is showing up on a couple of chambers that are recessed a touch too much, Ron Power endshake shims sold for S&W revolvers should fit. www.brownells.com has them.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[VTR996]

I had a problem with a 44 mag.,sometimes it would go boom, sometimes it would'nt. Took it to a gunsmith to have it "fixed",he charged me $90.00 and said it was, even test fired it, I took it home thinking ,oh boy, only to find the same thing still happening, it was fine to test your flinch with & target practice but I could'nt trust it to be there when I really needed it. I finally sold it about a year later,the new owner knew of the problem but just could'nt pass it up.

 

[caz223]

I got the same problem with a 715 with a 4" barrel.
I took off the sideplate, and found a lot of lead shavings.
Took all the guts out, deburred the housing with fine steel wool, and flitzed it.
After, of course, giving it a good cleaning.
Re-assembled it with a light coating of moly grease on the guts.
It now works fine.
I don't know for how long, though.
I think the mainspring is worn out.
I sent mine to the gunsmith for this, and requested a new 10 lug barrel for an accuracy problem.
The accuracy problem is fixed.
The gun is now a shooter, making a hard decision, even more difficult.

 

[TonyB]

A buddy had the same problem,he sent the gun back 2X...it's goingback a 3RD......I heard DW was back and better than ever,but Ikeep hearing these stories......