Vanity- Please help with gun question- S&W 357 mag

[ladyrustic]

I took my brother and his girlfriend (her first time, and she had a great time, and she's a lib, too) shooting today and as we finished up something weird happened with my S&W model 686 .357 mag pistol which I need advice/info about:

We were shooting it with 38 specials at first, then .357 mag rounds after that. When my son's last turn to shoot came, he went to load it with .357's and the cartridges would not fit all the way into the chamber anymore. They almost fit all the way but not quite-- about an eighth of an inch sticks out.

We wrapped up and came home, and when everyone left I cleaned the gun carefully, and examined it (everything looks fine), and tried again but the cartridges just won't fit (and I tried cartridges from 2 different makers.)! What could possibly have happened? Why can't I fit the 357 rounds all the way into my 357 pistol?

[ladyrustic]

"It is possible a few grains of unburned powder of sand etc. got caught under the extraction star. Easy to tell. If it is not flush with the rest of the back of the cylinder, that could be it."

I just checked, it's flush, thanks.

[Tarpaulin]

No, I own a S&W .357, but I've never tried the .38 load in it.

Yes, I know it can fire the round.

I'm just shocked to hear about a S&W failure. I've never had a problem with any of their products.

Now, Taurus on the other hand...

[fish hawk]

Smith and Wessons will shoot 38 specials and or 357 magnums but also will shoot liberals without jamming up much.

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1335238/posts
Posting refresher course - Please read
Admin Lecture Series ^ | February 3, 2005 | Olive


Posted on 02/03/2005 1:21:36 PM CST by Admin Moderator


We've had a lot of new folks join up recently. Welcome aboard, this thread is a gentle reminder of some basic posting guidelines. (And for some of you old timers as well) Please read the follow, and ask any questions. We will all try to help you out.

Click on general/chat to post a vanity

[Cornpone]

The 38 Special cartridge is about .14 inches shorter (1/8') in length than the 357 Magnum. As a result, I agree with edskid, that if you shot many rounds of 38 you built up a ring of gunk composed of unburned powder, condensation and lead that resulted in the 357 cartridge not seating properly. You need to clean the chamber between changing calibers.

[sgtbono2002]

Or maybe Sarah Brady could help LOL

[satchmodog9]

I agree with the posters about the fouling in the cylinder. I also have experienced problems with CCI 357 ammo not fitting. Just a thought. Soak that baby and scrub it.

[yarddog]

Let this be a lesson to those who think a revolver can't jam.

[TC Rider]

You probably still have a slight ring of lead and/or assorted fouling in the chambers that are preventing the .357's from seating. Used to happen to me a lot with certain revolvers and types of ammunition.

There's your answer.

The cylinder is cut for the longer .357s. Shooting the .38 will foul the clyinder between the end of the 38 case and the cut for the headspace for .357s.

Wet some patchs in bore cleaner, swab your cylinder and let it soak for 15 or 20 minutes, scrub briskly with an oversize bore brush if you have one. Like .40/10mm, or even a .45 brush.

Repeat as needed.

[Larry Lucido]

I have a 686 that has never given me a problem.

Of course, when I wash it, I tumble dry on a low setting. That prevents shrinking.

[Klickitat]

If you want to shoot lower recoil rounds but still use 357 cases try buying cowboy ammo like that made by PMC and black hills. They chamber 357 ammo but it's got less punch than a standard 38. Good for beginning shooters like your lib friend.

[ladyrustic]

"By the way what did you girl friend being a liberal have to do with this question?"

She is not my girlfriend, she is my brother's girlfriend, as I clearly stated in my post. I much prefer men.

I mentioned the fact that she is a lib to my friends here on FR so that they can know that I am trying to do my little part to educate the benighted, gunless folk in my area...

[ladyrustic]

Thank you for your advice, I'm going to follow it exactly.

From what everyone's saying it sounds like that will solve the problem quickly and inexpensively (no gunsmith required in all probability)

[Arkie2]

I had the same problem with my Ruger .357 revolver. After shooting .38 special I had a hard time loading the .357 ammo. The manager told me to clean the cylinders with a wire brush before loading the .357 rounds as the 38 specials were shorter rounds and powder residue was collecting in each cylinder. It worked like a charm.

[TC Rider]

Let this be a lesson to those who think a revolver can't jam.

Hey, I resemble that comment.

And I will still stand by it. Any dirty, fouled gun can jam.

But a clean, loaded revolver will always be more reliable than an clean bottomfeeding autoloader.

And especially so after a week, a month, or years in a nightstand. (Though no firearm should be left alone, neglected for so long, without a little playtime at the range.)

[TC Rider]

Thank you for your advice, I'm going to follow it exactly.

Aw shucks Mam, it weren't nothing but what my Daddy taught me.

I just got home from an IDPA match an hour or so ago and need to go clean a hundred rounds worth of crud out of my S&W Model 24, a .44 special. (glad I didn't get the .44 magnum, or I'd have your problem)

[ladyrustic]

Meg, I so wanted to post this question correctly! (I never post things myself, but this was sort of a mild emergency, and I knew my fellow freepers could help)

I clicked on the button to make it a vanity, but I did not see a general/chat button-- I'll have to be more careful if there's ever a next time...

[JRandomFreeper]

Newbie.

Ok. I'll behave.

/john

[MEG33]

First go to the sidebar and click on General/chat Before clicking on Post at the top. if you are in news/activism when you hit post at the top..that's where anything you post will appear..