S&W 63 locks up

Doug Ridley · May 20, 2016, 05:23 AM

Took my new S&W 63 to the range and shot about 20 rounds and all of a sudden the cylinder stuck , trigger wouldn't pull, and I couldn't even cock the hammer. With some effort I got cylinder to open and it fired 8 rounds. Reloaded and it locked up again. Got it open again, emptied it, reloaded and it locked up again. This happened several more times. Somebody said maybe it was just dirty but how could 20 or so rounds cause that? Any ideas?

DnPRK · May 20, 2016, 05:40 AM

Mine does the same thing. It is a tolerance defect of the design.

dahermit · May 20, 2016, 06:41 AM

Without examining the gun, it is difficult to say. However, one of the most common reasons for a S&W double-action to lock up is the extractor rod backing out (unscrewing). Note that they have a left-hand thread.

Doug Ridley · May 20, 2016, 06:56 AM

Thanks, will check ejector rod.

dahermit · May 20, 2016, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Mine does the same thing. It is a tolerance defect of the design.

How can that be? Do not all J frame S&W's have the same lock-work?

g.willikers · May 20, 2016, 09:13 AM

I was thinking the same thing, considering as many of them that have been made.
An occasional goof up maybe, but an entire line of revolvers from a major and respected manufacturer all defective??

Doug Ridley · May 20, 2016, 04:53 PM

Got it fixed I think. Gunsmith found a metal bur in it that he thinks was the problem. Seems okay now. Will know for sure next week when I go to the range. Thanks for all the suggestions.

WIL TERRY · May 20, 2016, 05:12 PM

IT IS DIRT UNDER THE EXTRACTOR STAR. Always eject fired brass with the BBL held straight up so ALL brass/crud exits the charge holes.
And so it goes...

Doug Ridley · May 25, 2016, 05:58 AM

Took it to the range yesterday and ran about 100 rds thru it -- perfect -- no problems. I reckon it is fixed. Thanks for all the suggestions.

txray22 · May 25, 2016, 08:44 AM

I just traded off my M63. I had it for 20 years and it locking up from the start. Keep cleaning and shooting and it would work, but always had one tight chamber. I bought a SP101 .22 had two tight chambers. All the blue .22 revolvers run great.

RUT · May 25, 2016, 11:42 AM

Unfortunately, the .22 round is an inherently dirty one, and this is one of the consequences.

C7AR15 · May 25, 2016, 01:44 PM

I have had revolver trouble in the past too.

1. Ejector rod has loosened off Remove cylinder and crane from gun. Clamp knurled end in wood jaw vise. Put empty cases into cylinder and tighten counter clock wise. (ejector rod is a left hand thread )

2. You have dirt under extractor star.

3. High primer on 1 round will also lock up gun. Test ammo by standing on a flat surface, wobbly rounds have a high primer.

4. This problem cost me $$$$ I could not figure out why my SW 686 was locking up. Measured extractor run out with dial gauge, etc......
Mailed it to gunsmith (SW warranty guy MC ) Got it back and it turns out that the previous owner had snipped a bit off one of the coil springs inside. The little pig tail sticking out was the problem.

James K · May 25, 2016, 02:06 PM

"... the previous owner had snipped a bit off one of the coil springs inside."

Will the Ruger fans say that such a thing could never happen with a Ruger?

FWIW, in addition to the "dirt under the extractor", and the "ejector rod unscrews" answers, there is also a very tight barrel-cylinder gap. Most folks think a tight b-c gap is good (a poster once stated that anything over .001" is too much), but one that is too tight can result in the cylinder binding when it heats up from firing. Sometimes that takes only a few rounds. The shooter checks the other suggested solutions, and thinks he has solved the problem when the gun works. Actually, it works because in checking the other stuff, he allowed the cylinder to cool down.

Jim

Obambulate · May 25, 2016, 08:58 PM

On some rimfires it helps to check that all the rounds are fully seated. Sometimes the charge holes can get dirty and a round will stick up a bit if not pushed in completely.

May 20, 2016, 05:23 AM	#1
Doug Ridley Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Posts: 121	S&W 63 locks up Took my new S&W 63 to the range and shot about 20 rounds and all of a sudden the cylinder stuck , trigger wouldn't pull, and I couldn't even cock the hammer. With some effort I got cylinder to open and it fired 8 rounds. Reloaded and it locked up again. Got it open again, emptied it, reloaded and it locked up again. This happened several more times. Somebody said maybe it was just dirty but how could 20 or so rounds cause that? Any ideas?

May 20, 2016, 09:13 AM	#6
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	I was thinking the same thing, considering as many of them that have been made. An occasional goof up maybe, but an entire line of revolvers from a major and respected manufacturer all defective?? __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

May 20, 2016, 04:53 PM	#7
Doug Ridley Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Posts: 121	Got it fixed I think. Gunsmith found a metal bur in it that he thinks was the problem. Seems okay now. Will know for sure next week when I go to the range. Thanks for all the suggestions. Last edited by Doug Ridley; May 21, 2016 at 05:28 AM.

May 25, 2016, 08:44 AM	#10
txray22 Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 167	I just traded off my M63. I had it for 20 years and it locking up from the start. Keep cleaning and shooting and it would work, but always had one tight chamber. I bought a SP101 .22 had two tight chambers. All the blue .22 revolvers run great. __________________ NRA Life Member, TSRA annual member Last edited by txray22; May 25, 2016 at 08:51 AM.

May 25, 2016, 11:42 AM	#11
RUT Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2004 Location: NH, USA Posts: 812	Unfortunately, the .22 round is an inherently dirty one, and this is one of the consequences. __________________ Liberals don't care what you do... as long as it's mandated.

May 20, 2016, 05:40 AM	#2
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	Mine does the same thing. It is a tolerance defect of the design.

May 20, 2016, 06:41 AM	#3
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	Without examining the gun, it is difficult to say. However, one of the most common reasons for a S&W double-action to lock up is the extractor rod backing out (unscrewing). Note that they have a left-hand thread.

May 20, 2016, 06:56 AM	#4
Doug Ridley Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Posts: 121	Thanks, will check ejector rod.

May 20, 2016, 05:12 PM	#8
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	IT IS DIRT UNDER THE EXTRACTOR STAR. Always eject fired brass with the BBL held straight up so ALL brass/crud exits the charge holes. And so it goes...

May 25, 2016, 05:58 AM	#9
Doug Ridley Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Posts: 121	Took it to the range yesterday and ran about 100 rds thru it -- perfect -- no problems. I reckon it is fixed. Thanks for all the suggestions.

May 25, 2016, 01:44 PM	#12
C7AR15 Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2011 Location: Burnaby Posts: 260	It's all covered by the posts I have had revolver trouble in the past too. 1. Ejector rod has loosened off Remove cylinder and crane from gun. Clamp knurled end in wood jaw vise. Put empty cases into cylinder and tighten counter clock wise. (ejector rod is a left hand thread ) 2. You have dirt under extractor star. 3. High primer on 1 round will also lock up gun. Test ammo by standing on a flat surface, wobbly rounds have a high primer. 4. This problem cost me $$$$ I could not figure out why my SW 686 was locking up. Measured extractor run out with dial gauge, etc...... Mailed it to gunsmith (SW warranty guy MC ) Got it back and it turns out that the previous owner had snipped a bit off one of the coil springs inside. The little pig tail sticking out was the problem.

May 25, 2016, 02:06 PM	#13
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	"... the previous owner had snipped a bit off one of the coil springs inside." Will the Ruger fans say that such a thing could never happen with a Ruger? FWIW, in addition to the "dirt under the extractor", and the "ejector rod unscrews" answers, there is also a very tight barrel-cylinder gap. Most folks think a tight b-c gap is good (a poster once stated that anything over .001" is too much), but one that is too tight can result in the cylinder binding when it heats up from firing. Sometimes that takes only a few rounds. The shooter checks the other suggested solutions, and thinks he has solved the problem when the gun works. Actually, it works because in checking the other stuff, he allowed the cylinder to cool down. Jim

May 25, 2016, 08:58 PM	#14
Obambulate Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2011 Posts: 582	On some rimfires it helps to check that all the rounds are fully seated. Sometimes the charge holes can get dirty and a round will stick up a bit if not pushed in completely.