These cartridges would not fire.

[Jim Watson]

Wolff says stock J Smith mainspring is 8.5 lbs, they also offer 8 and 9. My 640 is good with an 8 and a lighter rebound spring, but it also got the action parts honed to reduce friction in proportion to spring load reduction. My box stock M38 needs the stock spring.



Or you could hit Smith up for a call tag and label to ship on their account for a warranty claim.

Edited, I see they have done that.

 

[aaaaa]

Starline brass. Buffalo Bore?

Looks like light primer strike. Have you messed with or changed the hammer spring?

I bought the gun used. No idea if it was modified, but the trigger pull feels the same as my other one.

 

[aaaaa]

Perhaps I missed something, but, those do not appear to be CCI primers as stated in the ammo company's add[this page]. Those look to possibly be Win or Remington primers.

No idea, just going on what the ammo company stated. This is the ammo

.38 Special 105 Grain TCFP BLACK Hi-Tek Coated Lead "Cowboy Choice" w/CCI PRIMERS~100% HAND LOADED!!

.38 Special 105 Grain TCFP BLACK Hi-Tek Coated Lead "Cowboy Choice" w/CCI PRIMERS~100% HAND LOADED!!

choiceammunition.com

 

[Bazoo]

Doubt anyone makes a spring that is stiffer than stock since most want a lighter spring. But why wouldn't shimming help? On a leaf main spring you can stiffen it with the adjusting screw and that works. Different kind of spring and I am not an engineer but seems a tigher packed coil spring would exert more force. Can't hurt to try.

I am mistaken. I was thinking of the spring rate, but I was not thinking of the momentum given to the hammer.

 

[GRIZ22]

Bad ammo or weak springs. I didn't read all the posts but I suspect weak springs

 

[Pat Riot]

So, when they return the gun to me does it have to go through a FFL? I am surprised I can even ship it, but I guess since I am not selling the gun, just sending it for repairs, it is different.

As I understand it, under Federal law, it is legal for a gun owner to ship the gun to a manufacturer or FFL when the recipient gives you the mailing label.
Regardless, if the shipper is FedEx or UPS you will have to take it to a “Service Center” to ship it. FedEx and UPS stores cannot / will not ship guns.
Now, the key is what do your state laws say about shipping guns? Some states do require that you send a gun by going to an FFL.
If you do have to go to an FFL under state law you will be turning the firearm over to them and when it returns you will have to fill out a new 4473 form.

I hope this helps. When you get your shipping label call the shipper’s local service center and ask them how they would like you to proceed. And get the name of the person you talk to. I say this because I drove 70 miles to ship a gun with UPS and the counter clerk wouldn’t accept the package. That lady just didn’t know UPS policy.
I went home and called the manufacturer and had them send me a FedEx label. I had no issues with their local service center.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Doubt anyone makes a spring that is stiffer than stock since most want a lighter spring. But why wouldn't shimming help? On a leaf main spring you can stiffen it with the adjusting screw and that works. Different kind of spring and I am not an engineer but seems a tigher packed coil spring would exert more force. Can't hurt to try.

Shimming the spring would have helped but unfortunately you can't shim the hammer spring on a J-frame because the hammer spring swivel has a recess that is used to hold the base of the spring in place. If you place a shim inside the swivel recess, the hammer spring base will no longer have a stable seat and will slide to one side, possibly dragging against something. So I absolutely advise against it.
I read that S&W will take care of your revolver but in my opinion you would have solved the problems with an extended firing pin and a stock powered or, better yet, a slightly overpowered hammer spring.
I used to own a Ruger SP101 DAO and purchased a Wolff kit to reduce the trigger weight. As the first try, I installed the poundage spring immediately lower than the stock hammer spring and the reduced power return spring. On the following range trip I had a couple of misfires and didn't like at all how soft was the forward return of the trigger. I so much prefer a strong, firm push of the trigger when returning to position. So I re-installed the stock springs and never looked back.

 

[aaaaa]

Gun has been shipped off by FedEx with the label S&W provided. Later at the GS I had the owner test a brand new 642 (same as 442 but silver color) and he used a plastic stick pen. It shot the pen about 18 inches in the air. When i got home I figured to try a stick pen instead of the pencil and my 442-1 shot the pen maybe 10 or so inches in the air, so I don't think there is anything wrong with it. I tried a few more times and the pen hardly move, then because the pen plug is convex, I had to carefully center it over the firing pin and again it shot the pen 10 or so inches out of the barrel.

The 442-2 would have done better with a plastic stick pen, but no matter, a >50% failure rate on 30 rounds of one ammo brand is beyond unacceptable. Let's see what S&W does with it. I see the return delivery is signature. I have to be there to receive it, and that is good because leaving the package on the porch would be a bad idea with a gun in it.

I asked Fed Ex about shipping a box or ammo to my son and they said I have to go to one of two locations that handle dangerous materials. Ha! dangerous? They are sealed and quite innocuous short of a fire in the warehouse. So I took them to UPS and they sent them no problem. But they mentioned something about small quantity, so I think there must be some quantity restriction for either Michigan or private citizens sending ammo.

 

[aaaaa]

Hit them harder, looks like light strikes.

Maybe I put then in a vise and hit it with a center punch! Good You Tube material, eh?

 

[Pat Riot]

I’m glad you got it sent off, @aaaaa
Hopefully it will be returned quickly after repairs.
Don’t be surprised if the accompanying paperwork you get back is vague on what was done, but a phone call to them should get you better answers.

 

[aaaaa]

Guess there is no rush as it was a spare 442 used for dry fire and range practice.

One other observation. As I was firing my carry 442 at the range I had pulled out my carry ammo, which is wad cutters. Somewhere along the way I had the wad cutters on the stand with the other ammo, etc and had been throwing all the spend cases in my range bag. Anyway, thinking the wad cutters were still in my pocket and swept them up and tossed them into the range bag, only to realize what I had done as I was about to leave the range. Well try finding 5 wad cutters in a pile of about 90 spent cases. You can look for no dent in the primer, the lead inside the other end, or feel for the weight.

Oh, and an ink pen in the range bag is not so good an idea. It wouldn't write and I had to keep scribbling to draw more ink, could barely record what I was doing. A pencil and jack knife to sharpen it would be better.

 

[Pat Riot]

Well try finding 5 wad cutters in a pile of about 90 spent cases. You can look for no dent in the primer, the lead inside the other end, or feel for the weight.

The wadcutter rounds should migrate to the bottom of a can or container. Dump them all in then shake it up a bit. Scoop out the cases on top and the WC cartridges should be at the bottom. Should be…

 

[trackskippy]

Well try finding 5 wad cutters in a pile of about 90 spent cases. You can look for no dent in the primer, the lead inside the other end, or feel for the weight.

LOL. Wadcutters, what'cha gonna do?


I think sending it back is the right thing to do. Youll get it back stock, and then if you still don't like it, "you" can address what you think best and know what the changes are and what was done.

 

[aaaaa]

LOL. Wadcutters, what'cha gonna do?

Hopefully do nothing but carry them. Would hate to be in a situation where I had to use them in SD. But supposedly they will do better at stopping a threat than hollow points that don't open because of the 1&7/8" barrel is too short for needed velocity.

 

[trackskippy]

The biggest problem I would have there with them is the reload. They tend to suck trying to get them into the gun quickly, and no matter how you choose to carry them as a reload. SWC's would be better there.

 

[aaaaa]

The biggest problem I would have there with them is the reload. They tend to suck trying to get them into the gun quickly, and no matter how you choose to carry them as a reload. SWC's would be better there.

Right, but I don't want let bullets in my pocket, so my speed strip is filled with Remington Golden Saber Compact Handgun .38 Special +P 125 Grain Jacket Hollow Point Brass Cased Personal Defense

Hey, i was looking at my speed strip today and wondered if it qualifies as a clip?

 

[Titanvk56]

Just FYI, I sent my 686+ in last year for their Master Revolver Action Package and a cosmetic repair; it took six months. Got an email when they received it and that they will be in touch with an estimate. Three months later I got a phone call with an estimate and gave them payment info. They said will charge card and send an email with shipping info when completed. Three months later got the tracking info. That was July through January with all the holidays in the mix so hopefully your repair will not take that long and have some priority!

 

[aaaaa]

Have not heard from S&W on my gun I sent in, but FedEx has sent me notification that a package has shipped out of Springfield MA and will arrive to me on Monday requiring adult signature. Has to be the gun. Anyway, i was hoping they would call me to say they have to replace the gun and only have the no-lock versions, but nope, this sounds like it, at best, has had some kind of repair work. Will report back when the package arrives.

 

[alfsauve]

A Custom Master package obviously is backed up, while I think basic repair is a faster pipeline. Rebarreled a plain 686 last year and it took about 3 weeks door-to-door. Looking forward to hearing how it turned out aaaaa.

 

[unclenunzie]

I have this dumb test I use. Unloaded, cylinder out of battery, hold the the cylinder release back to defeat the interlock while placing a finger over the firing pin hole. Pull trigger. If it stings, its good

 

[aaaaa]

I have this dumb test I use. Unloaded, cylinder out of battery, hold the the cylinder release back to defeat the interlock while placing a finger over the firing pin hole. Pull trigger. If it stings, its good

Ouch! i'll stay with the pencil or stick pen test.

 

[exbrit49]

I took 10 rounds of this brand X ammo to the range (among other stuff) and ran them in my S&W 442-2 (with lock). Of the 10 rounds 6 would not fire, even though I tried to fire them 2 or 3 times. I ran the same brand X ammo in the Bond Derringer .44 Special with no misfires out of 10 rounds.

From the image below, does it looks like the gun's firing pin was doing its job? Note that I also ran about 40 rounds of Winchester white box through the gun and did experience two misfires but those fired on the second try.

I plan to go back and see if these six will fire in my 442-1 (no lock). If they don't fire in the 442-1 I will try them in my Bond Arms derringer .38 Special barrel.


View attachment 1197905

One lesson from the range session is that while my dry firing has been encouraging, at the range it was not so good. I could get some tight groups at 5 yards but only with a lot of concentration--something one does not necessarily have in a SD event.

Definetely light primer strikes!

 

[CajunBass]

What is the problem with CCI primers? That is what I got. Now I have to check the .44 Special and ,.41 Magnums I bought to see if those are CCI.

I know this was asked sometime back, and probably addressed, but there is nothing "wrong" with CCI primers. I used them for years, but when I got my first 2020 Python I (and others) had trouble with light strikes. So I switched to Federal primers which had a reputation for being "softer." No more light strikes with any gun. About that same time the Covid hit and the only primers I could find were Federal anyway, so I've just ended up using nothing but Federal since. I still don't think I've seen CCI's at the LGS.

 

[aaaaa]

So I got the gun back today. The note in the box (they gave me a free S&W box anyway) said that they repaired the yoke. That is it. I called and the rep looked it up, said they repaired the yoke and then test firing worked. No idea if they test fired before and after and it did fire Norma and PMC fine, but only 50% of ChoiceAmmunition and 80% of WWB. Only a trip to the range will tell.

So I guess the yoke is part of the crane?

Now I have that and my new Bond .327 Magnum barrel to take to the range when I get a chance. Will report back, but could be a couple weeks. Turnaround was quick though, about 2.5 weeks from from shipping to receiving it back.

 

[Jim Watson]

So I guess the yoke is part of the crane?

Brand specific nomenclature.
If it is a Smith and Wesson the Internet Swing Arm is the yoke, if it is a Colt the Internet Swing Arm is its crane.

I see a lot of Internet Drums on revolvers, too. This may be a translation from European languages, many such cites are from abroad.