When to use an oversized cylinder stop?

Casimer · January 23, 2009, 04:54 PM

One of my S&W revolvers is going to need a new cylinder stop before too long.
This is a DAO Model 10. There's a bit too much play, in lock-up, in a few of the cylinder notches, and some of these are beginning to show signs of peening above the contact face of the notch.

Would an oversized stop help to inhibit peening? (e.g. like Power Custom's wide stop)

Do you typically use a heavier spring w/ a tighter stop?

Is an oversized stop a liability for rapid DA shooting, or reliability generally?

ActivShootr · January 23, 2009, 09:44 PM

If the play is not the same in all of the notches, you may want to check them too.

James K · January 24, 2009, 08:29 PM

The peening is caused by the cylinder hitting the cylinder stop, and that will happen regardless of the thickness of the stop. In fact, a thicker cylinder stop may cause the cylinder to "skip", and the edge of the notch would take even more of a beating. The peening can be tapped back using a light hammer, but the only real "solution" is to stop doing rapid fire DA. (The real DA "artists" usually have sponsors (like S&W) so wearing out guns is not a problem; they just have them rebuilt or get a new one.)

FWIW, S&W used to set a hard piece of steel into a slot in the cylinder at the edge of the notch, but they discontinued that almost a century ago because of the cost and because they started to heat treat the cylinders. I have heard that some company is doing that work, but can't recall who.

Jim

Casimer · January 25, 2009, 06:31 PM

Thanks Jim. That's what I was wondering.

January 23, 2009, 04:54 PM	#1
Casimer Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 1,918	When to use an oversized cylinder stop? One of my S&W revolvers is going to need a new cylinder stop before too long. This is a DAO Model 10. There's a bit too much play, in lock-up, in a few of the cylinder notches, and some of these are beginning to show signs of peening above the contact face of the notch. Would an oversized stop help to inhibit peening? (e.g. like Power Custom's wide stop) Do you typically use a heavier spring w/ a tighter stop? Is an oversized stop a liability for rapid DA shooting, or reliability generally?

January 23, 2009, 09:44 PM	#2
ActivShootr Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2007 Posts: 1,040	If the play is not the same in all of the notches, you may want to check them too.

January 24, 2009, 08:29 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The peening is caused by the cylinder hitting the cylinder stop, and that will happen regardless of the thickness of the stop. In fact, a thicker cylinder stop may cause the cylinder to "skip", and the edge of the notch would take even more of a beating. The peening can be tapped back using a light hammer, but the only real "solution" is to stop doing rapid fire DA. (The real DA "artists" usually have sponsors (like S&W) so wearing out guns is not a problem; they just have them rebuilt or get a new one.) FWIW, S&W used to set a hard piece of steel into a slot in the cylinder at the edge of the notch, but they discontinued that almost a century ago because of the cost and because they started to heat treat the cylinders. I have heard that some company is doing that work, but can't recall who. Jim

January 25, 2009, 06:31 PM	#4
Casimer Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 1,918	Thanks Jim. That's what I was wondering.