That won't buff out...
- Thread starter Tom Servo
- Start date
It does appear to have been dropped on the muzzle at some point, and there was serious pitting underneath the grips.JT-AR-MG42
New member
For a minute there I thought I was looking at a hand select from SOG!
Must have happened on a Sunday when the Angels that hand out the Darwin Awards have the day off.
Thanks for sharing Tom,
JT
Must have happened on a Sunday when the Angels that hand out the Darwin Awards have the day off.
Thanks for sharing Tom,
JT
FrankenMauser
New member
Yea...
When I saw that muzzle photo yesterday, I took a lot of work to keep from getting rude. ...Even though the owner is not likely to be around.
Sometimes the cylinder gap is enough to prevent a barrel bulge. I was the senior range officer on an Air Force range in 1967, qualifying Academy Cadets with the S&W Combat Masterpiece when we had similar incident.
One of the Cadets firing on the line reported he couldn't get the cylinder to rotate out and was unable to clear the piece. On inspection we could see a faint copper glint in the cylinder/barrel gap, as well as a FMJ round nose bullet protruding from the muzzle.
The one sticking out was removed by our range gunsmith with a pair of pliers, and he used a brass drift to tap the others back down the bore. That freed up the cylinder as the one in the gap was pushed back into the cylinder throat. In all, there were 5 lodged in the gun.
The Cadet was a new shooter and had never fired a revolver before, and consequently had no knowledge of what normal recoil felt like and the noise of a 40 position range in full operation masked the dull pop of a squib.
We figured the squib was the first round fired, of the 5 loaded, the others stacking up behind it, til the 5th tied up the cylinder. Oddly enough, the barrel was not bulged and the gun functioned just fine when I test fired it. From rest, I managed six shots in less than 3" at 25 yds; a testament to S&W's in general and this particular .38 Special in particular. The .004"-.006" must have allowed the over pressure to dissipate before the barrel or cylinder gave way.
Best Regards, Rod
One of the Cadets firing on the line reported he couldn't get the cylinder to rotate out and was unable to clear the piece. On inspection we could see a faint copper glint in the cylinder/barrel gap, as well as a FMJ round nose bullet protruding from the muzzle.
The one sticking out was removed by our range gunsmith with a pair of pliers, and he used a brass drift to tap the others back down the bore. That freed up the cylinder as the one in the gap was pushed back into the cylinder throat. In all, there were 5 lodged in the gun.
The Cadet was a new shooter and had never fired a revolver before, and consequently had no knowledge of what normal recoil felt like and the noise of a 40 position range in full operation masked the dull pop of a squib.
We figured the squib was the first round fired, of the 5 loaded, the others stacking up behind it, til the 5th tied up the cylinder. Oddly enough, the barrel was not bulged and the gun functioned just fine when I test fired it. From rest, I managed six shots in less than 3" at 25 yds; a testament to S&W's in general and this particular .38 Special in particular. The .004"-.006" must have allowed the over pressure to dissipate before the barrel or cylinder gave way.
Best Regards, Rod
Last edited:
Mike Irwin
Staff
Who hammered it open? Not your smith, I hope.
A bulged but not cracked barrel can often shoot surprisingly well.
The proper yolk should be fairly easily obtainable. Chances are the grip pitting and being dropped on the muzzle happened when it was a police gun.
A bulged but not cracked barrel can often shoot surprisingly well.
The proper yolk should be fairly easily obtainable. Chances are the grip pitting and being dropped on the muzzle happened when it was a police gun.
"I doubt it was the loads."
I can't think of any other cause. I suppose it is possible that a bullet stuck at some time in the past and went undetected until the more recent incident, but it seems more likely to me that a cartridge fired at that session had no powder in it, with the result that the bullet stuck and the rest of the story went as usual.
Jim
I can't think of any other cause. I suppose it is possible that a bullet stuck at some time in the past and went undetected until the more recent incident, but it seems more likely to me that a cartridge fired at that session had no powder in it, with the result that the bullet stuck and the rest of the story went as usual.
Jim
m&p45acp10+1
New member
Light load with plated wadcutters?
I have had a squib problem using plated wadcutters, and Trail Boss. I was glad I noticed each one that did not fire. Out of 4 times 3 made it past the forcing cone. One tied up the cylinder. Needles to say I had to use a drill rod with a mallet to tap the round back enough to open the cylinder. The rest of the wadcutters were loaded with Bull's Eye and fired without a problem. I have not used wadcutters since I finished off that box.
I can see the damage to the crown, and the part of pliers to pull the bullet seems more likely than not.
I would clean that gun up, and make a nice display box for it, and not fire it.
I have had a squib problem using plated wadcutters, and Trail Boss. I was glad I noticed each one that did not fire. Out of 4 times 3 made it past the forcing cone. One tied up the cylinder. Needles to say I had to use a drill rod with a mallet to tap the round back enough to open the cylinder. The rest of the wadcutters were loaded with Bull's Eye and fired without a problem. I have not used wadcutters since I finished off that box.
I can see the damage to the crown, and the part of pliers to pull the bullet seems more likely than not.
I would clean that gun up, and make a nice display box for it, and not fire it.