My Roscoe balks!

[John Joseph]

I took my CCW renewal course last night. I had my S&W Centennial and a box of Remington Target(Remington, not the Remington UMC box) .38 Spl LSWC for my range ammo.
The first ten rounds performed as expected but the next five rounds, while chambered, would not let me close the cylinder.
I punched out the offending five, loaded another five rounds and everything worked.
I tried loading the miscreant five rounds again and once again, the cylinder wouldn’t lock in place.
I selected a different five rounds and all went as expected.
Then I loaded the despicable five again and no lockup.

I set the offending five aside and this morning did a side by side comparison with the other rounds in the box and there is no discernible difference I can see. Case length, OAL, rim thickness look the same as the rest of the box. No protruding primers either.

Has anyone here experience this?
Is the problem with my S&W(I seriously doubt this but I have to admit my confidence is shaken being this is one of my carry pieces!) Or is it with Remington?

I loaded each round individually and tried closing the cylinder with only one cartridge in place.
Well, one of the five was the stinker! The only visible difference I could see is that the case lacks a cannelure and the rim is flattened on one side—I didn’t notice this before—I suspect from repeatedly trying to close the cylinder.

This raises a disturbing situation I’ve never thought of as a wheel gunner,
Obviously if I had loaded this into a speed loader and actually got into a serious situation where I needed to reload, it could have put me in a tragic position!

I’m now thinking every speed loader’s worth of ammo needs to be first chambered and cylinder locked before being reinserted into the speed loader for carry.

Does anyone else do this?
Do you veteran revolver guys recommend this practice, or not?

 

[.38 Special]

Back in my competition days it was common to pull the hammer back slightly and give the loaded cylinder a spin prior to holstering. This was to ensure that nothing was binding. Not sure if it still done today, but there you go.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

[QUOTE="John Joseph, post: 11519220, member: 240060"

I’m now thinking every speed loader’s worth of ammo needs to be first chambered and cylinder locked before being reinserted into the speed loader for carry.

Does anyone else do this?
Do you veteran revolver guys recommend this practice, or not?[/QUOTE]

You betcha, Red Ryder! I chamber every round I carry. I have had high primers, swollen cases, overly-long rounds and various other problems over the years. And for the M1911, every round takes the plunk test.

 

[SteadyD]

I pre check all rounds to make sure they will load properly. Prior to leaving the range I select five rounds as a reload and after firing my last cylinder I then load those rounds and close the cylinder. If all is well I set those rounds aside for a speed strip.

 

[bersaguy]

I'm fairly new to revolvers, but I just had a similar situation recently. I loaded my first 38spl rounds with cast bullets, and had a few (3 total) that would bind the cylinder of my Security Six. Turned out I had some Winchester brass that had thick rims. Not by much, the thickest measured .062". One of them would rotate with some resistance, just dragging, measured .060". Most of my other brass that worked fine, the rims measured between .048" and .058". If I'm reading the sammi drawing correctly, the rim should measure between .048 and .059. So, it looks like just being 2-3 thousands over spec can jam up the works.

 

[gotboostvr]

Back in my competition days it was common to pull the hammer back slightly and give the loaded cylinder a spin prior to holstering. This was to ensure that nothing was binding. Not sure if it still done today, but there you go.

I still do the spin check. Learned it from watching Jerry Miculek videos.

 

[MedWheeler]

John Joseph writes:

I’m now thinking every speed loader’s worth of ammo needs to be first chambered and cylinder locked before being reinserted into the speed loader for carry.

Kind of late for me, as I switched from a duty revolver to a duty autoloader in 1990, and haven't carried a reload for a revolver since, but definitely a valid concern. I don't remember ever thinking of that back in the day. Certainly wasn't taught about it.

 

[Riomouse911]

I’ll get occasional thick rims in .38 Spl and .44 Mag. when I’m reloading, they won’t fit in my shell holder.... but they fire just fine (or I wouldn’t be reloading them ).

It is always a good idea to visually examine every round you’re counting on for defense, auto or revolver. And in revolvers, it’s good to check the fit first as well.

Stay safe.

 

[.38 Special]

I still do the spin check. Learned it from watching Jerry Miculek videos.

Yeah, I taught him how to do that.

 

[J-Bar]

This is the reason many of us use only one brand of ammo, or one brand of brass for reloading, in addition to gauge checking each round before competition or carry.

Guns are snowflakes; each one is an individual with preferences for brass and brands.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Back in my competition days it was common to pull the hammer back slightly and give the loaded cylinder a spin prior to holstering. This was to ensure that nothing was binding. Not sure if it still done today, but there you go.

Yup I still do it after given the order, "Load and Make Ready". I've gotten some strange looks from the S.O., but they really don't have anything to say as long as my finger isn't on the trigger. I sort of miss it on my DAO revolvers where I've had the hammer spur removed

 

[9mmepiphany]

I’m now thinking every speed loader’s worth of ammo needs to be first chambered and cylinder locked before being reinserted into the speed loader for carry.

Does anyone else do this?
Do you veteran revolver guys recommend this practice, or not?

At the very least, I'll chamber check all my ammo. A thicker rim will stand a bit proud ...also a good time to check that primers aren't standing a bit proud

 

[JohnKSa]

You can get a ammo checker/cartridge gauge and test every round without having to manipulate a loaded gun to check your ammo. They are usually under $20.

Here are a couple of examples.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018249683
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101827769

 

[Armored farmer]

If you look closely at the slip-topbox in this picture, it says 'sp101 checkmark'. When I was carrying this gun with my own reloads, I would check them to ensure they would chamber up properly.

 

[Dave T]

During my probationary period with the Sheriff's Department (6 months out of the academy) I routinely loaded all the ammunition I carried in my Model 28-2, then I would spin the cylinder to make sure there was no drag. Did the same with my first off duty gun, a S&W M-60.

Did the same thing for the M-58 I carried just before switching to the 1911 and 45 ACP. I carried hand loads in the M-58 because the Rem factory ammo leaded so bad. Oh for those simple by-gone days. (smile)

Dave

 

[.38 Special]

Yup I still do it after given the order, "Load and Make Ready". I've gotten some strange looks from the S.O., but they really don't have anything to say as long as my finger isn't on the trigger. I sort of miss it on my DAO revolvers where I've had the hammer spur removed

We would point the DAO guns at the dirt and pull back slightly on the trigger to free the cylinder. I imagine that would set any modern RO's hair on fire.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

We would point the DAO guns at the dirt and pull back slightly on the trigger to free the cylinder. I imagine that would set any modern RO's hair on fire.

What's the problem? You have plenty of toes.

 

[BobWright]

I carry a Ruger Blackhawk. I clear the revolver when not wearing it. Each time I load it for the day I load the six rounds (ITS A NEW MODEL), close the loading gate and cock the hammer. Then place my thumb of my off hand between the hammer and frame (thumb still attached to my hand) and press the trigger to ease the hammer down. I have done this with my extra cartridges, too. So I know each round will chamber and the cylinder rotates freely.


Bob Wright