S&W Cylinder Stop

K

ktmhk53

New member
Greetings,
While handling one of my S&W 629s I noticed that the cylinder could be rotated slightly while locked, and with the hammer down. When I cocked the hammer the amount of rotation was reduced, but still existed to some extent. Upon opening the cylinder I noticed that the cylinder stop had about .005" clearence between it and the left side of the cylinder stop window. It also appeared that the top of the stop was leaning very slightly to the right side of the frame. When I push the stop from the right side of its window to the left it moved freely, but appeared to arc slightly, with the top portion now being more vertically orientated than before.
Consulting Kuhnhausen's text left me with no answers, as he does not provide a clearence figure for the distance between the cylinder stop and its window, and only says not to widen the window unnecessarily. I have no acuracy issues with this weapon, and it is relatively new, but I would like to know what the cylinder stop clearence should be, and what is an acceptable amount of cylinder rotation with the hammer cocked, and not.
Can anyone help?

ktmhk53
 
ktmhk53 said:
"While handling one of my S&W 629s I noticed that the cylinder could be rotated slightly while locked, and with the hammer down. When I cocked the hammer the amount of rotation was reduced, but still existed to some extent."

Being CERTAIN that it's not loaded, cock it and release the hammer and leave the trigger pulled back. It should have even less or no movement.

That's the condition it's in when it fires.
 
Most revolvers have a certain amount of "play" built in. The action depends on some free movement of the cylinder to insure it can align itself with the barrel.

Only the older Colt's like the Python have 0% play during actual firing.

Kunhausen doesn't give specs, since there really isn't one.
Since your S&W is new, I'm sure it's within proper factory adjustment.

If it just bugs you, send it in to Smith for a check.
 
I don't know that you have a problem, but if you do S&W make an oversized cylinder stop that can be fitted by a gunsmith - or better yet, by the company. I would follow the previous suggestion and return it to them for a check-up and repairs as necessary.
 
Along the lines of what CharlieD said,

When cocked, the trigger is to the rear, thus the hand is bearing upward slightly on the ratchet star. That's why there's slightly less felt 'slop' than when the trigger is forward at rest. Now, as pull the trigger, the hand rises a just a bit more to bear on the star. That's the tightest lock-up the gun can achieve. This is also the critical point of examination on Colt revos, or so I'm told.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top