I bought a S&W 686+ with a 4" barrel a while ago and have been shooting .38 special through it. Today I sprung for a box of .357 magnum (125 grain) and wooa! A GREAT DEAL of flash coming from the sides of the gun like I've never seen from a .38. I assume this is normal with .357? A few times I felt "something" come back and hit me, sort of like specks of debris. Didn't happen often, and didn't happen with any one particular chamber. Is this just un-burned powder? Of course I always wear proper eye protection, but I'm wondering just what's flying through the air. I haven't actually seen any evidence of the debris, just felt it.
Is this normal for a .357 magnum?
- Thread starter marca
- Start date
Not normal.
Could have had a build up of crud left from the specials, which sometimes is enough to inhibit the casemouth expansion for bullet release of the magnums. Hence, high pressure.
Could be a tad out of time and not noticed with the lighter loads.
Or both.
Drop a spent (empty) magnum in each chamber immediatly after shootin specials. Knocks enough crud out to make it safe for the longer loads even if you don't finish cleaning the chambers.
Sam
Could have had a build up of crud left from the specials, which sometimes is enough to inhibit the casemouth expansion for bullet release of the magnums. Hence, high pressure.
Could be a tad out of time and not noticed with the lighter loads.
Or both.
Drop a spent (empty) magnum in each chamber immediatly after shootin specials. Knocks enough crud out to make it safe for the longer loads even if you don't finish cleaning the chambers.
Sam
I had a similar problem with a brand-new Model 640 (.357 Magnum) several years ago. My dealer, who was a former S&W employee said it was not normal and he sent it back to the factory for repair. Came back and it was doing the same thing. He sent it back with a STRONG note and they ended up replacing the barrel because of some sort of alignment problem. Supposedly I got a new barrel from the Performance Center.
If you are keeping it clean and it is still spitting stuff back at you, I suggest that you send it back for a check-up.
If you are keeping it clean and it is still spitting stuff back at you, I suggest that you send it back for a check-up.
VictorLouis
New member
I'd also try a few other brands of .357
I've got an N-frame that just hates Silvertip, but does fine with others.
I've got an N-frame that just hates Silvertip, but does fine with others.
Check the cylinder - barrel gap, too.
It shouldn't be more than about .006". Too much gap will allow more flash. (Like that's a shocker, right?)
Also, close the cylinder and see how much side to side play there is at the rear of the cylinder. The axis hole in the recoil shield can wear oblong and allow some movement. That will cause spitting.
It shouldn't be more than about .006". Too much gap will allow more flash. (Like that's a shocker, right?)
Also, close the cylinder and see how much side to side play there is at the rear of the cylinder. The axis hole in the recoil shield can wear oblong and allow some movement. That will cause spitting.
Tropical Z
New member
Interesting!
I shot a friends S&W 686 back to back with my EAA Windicator and wondered exactly why his gun had three times the flash of mine.We were using Fiocchi's .357mag which is quite a handful.
P.S.my friend doesn't believe in .38spl and i am quite sure his gun has never had one in it.
I shot a friends S&W 686 back to back with my EAA Windicator and wondered exactly why his gun had three times the flash of mine.We were using Fiocchi's .357mag which is quite a handful.
P.S.my friend doesn't believe in .38spl and i am quite sure his gun has never had one in it.
You might want to have the "timing" and "cylinder locking" checked. Just to make sure everything is lineing up before the hammer drops. If a revolver is out of time, it will throw lead or bullet fragments out the sides.
It could be as noted, just some crud from the .38s still around the forceing cone and top strap getting thrown back because of the hotter .357 loads.
Clem
USMC
Retired
It could be as noted, just some crud from the .38s still around the forceing cone and top strap getting thrown back because of the hotter .357 loads.
Clem
USMC
Retired
Flash is normal with most 357 magnums,also the shorter barrels will show more flash.Most defense loads show little flash like the cor-bons or golden sabres.The ammo with the loudest report and muzzle flash that i've fired was some armscor 125gr fmj,lots of flash.and much recoil from my 4"model 28,i checked their websight and armscor lists a velocity of 1775fps from a 5' barrel and a velocity of 1500fps with the 158gr fmj.
from a 5' barrel and a velocity of 1500fps with the 158gr fmj.KEN CHAVEZ
New member
I own three S&W revolvers a model-360Sc, model-386PD and a model-686+, all .357MAG. Out of all three guns only the model-360Sc has flashed anything into my face. Like you I can not tell you what it was, I just felt it hit my face. I can tell you this though that out of the two Rugers and three S&W's that I have owned the only gun that has done this is my model-360Sc. When I put my three S&W revolvers side by side I have noticed that out of all three models the gap between the barrel and cylinder is the widest on the model-360Sc. This being only an observation you make your own conclusions, I have made mine.