S&W extractor problem ?

Dickie B · May 29, 2013, 07:22 PM

Fellow gun owners i need your help, just bought a S&W 29-3 and noticed the extractor hits frame face before center pin has a chance to push cylinder back. My question is the center pin to short or shoulder on pin wrong. our input would be appreciated Thanks

SgtLumpy · May 29, 2013, 09:07 PM

Not sure I can visualize what you're describing.

Cylinder swung out, as if loading/unloading?
In that position the extractor star hits the frame face?

Or something else?

Sgt Lumpy

Dickie B · May 29, 2013, 09:14 PM

When cylinder is closed extractor rubs frame face before center pin pushes cylinder towards cone

James K · May 29, 2013, 09:24 PM

The center pin is not supposed to "push the cylinder" forward. It is supposed to push the bolt (the part the thumb latch attaches to) back so it itself can push into the hole to keep the cylinder in place.

If the cylinder won't fully close because the extractor hits the frame, there may be dirt under the extractor, or there may be something else wrong. Hard to tell without seeing the gun.

Jim

SgtLumpy · May 30, 2013, 12:15 AM

Extractor rod tightly screwed into the extractor? (L or R hand threads).

My Chief's Special is having problems with exactly that. It's at the pistol doctor right now. In my case, simply re-tightening it was not enough.

Sgt Lumpy

Dickie B · May 30, 2013, 06:24 AM

I have a pic that i hope will help, the shinny spot on edge of face is where extractor rubs face before pin contacts lead in ramp. On my other guns pin hits ramp first. LMK

Bob Wright · May 30, 2013, 08:45 AM

Check under the extractor for powder particles or other gunk. Make sure the extractor seats corectly when the cylinder is swung out. Does you gun have aligning pins in the cylinder to align with holes (two or three) in the extractor star? If these are bent or unseated they may not allow the extractor to seat flush.

Bob Wright

Dickie B · May 30, 2013, 10:23 AM

Thanks Bob i had cleaned pocket for extractor but did not look under extractor itself and there lied the problem. Cleaned it and it works like it should. Thank for your time and help!!!

DaleA · May 30, 2013, 11:22 PM

Is this a great forum or what?

Sevens · May 30, 2013, 11:34 PM

The first time this happened to me (gunk under ejector star that simply won't allow it to sit flush), I was completely blown away by how WRONG the entire revolver was while having the problem.

If you've never experienced this, it's an eye-opener. The fitting is monumentally precise. I had just enough crud under the ejector so that I could close the cylinder, but not easily or naturally, and it would bind up horribly. It was a sickening feeling, like something went HORRIBLY wrong and wasn't likely to be fixable. You only sit there and imagine WHAT you did, which part got warped or bent or what you may have "blasted" out of shape to almost kill your prized revolver.

Well, not only was there no "fixing" of anything and absolutely nothing broken or bent, it was simply getting the offending crud out of the way. So slight that with the untrained eye, you could never see anything wrong.

Cleaned it out and back to "bank vault" kind of lock up and function. Like a Smith & Wesson is supposed to feel like. Precision mechanical operation with all parts working in full harmony.

If you didn't realize how much needs to be "in order" to allow a quality revolver to function as well as it does, you will learn something the first time it happens to you. And you'll forever laugh, maybe just quietly inside, every time you see someone talking about the "will always work, can't be stopped, ain't never ever gonna malfunction" nature of a nice revolver.

Man, I absolutely -LOVE- my revolvers. But I know far better than to think they are simple devices that can't or won't ever "stop." I know that it just doesn't take much at all to really stop one, and it isn't a simple tap-rack-bang to get running again.

Dickie B · May 31, 2013, 05:46 AM

AMEN

pete2 · May 31, 2013, 10:36 AM

I keep an old tooth brush handy during a match but I can usually clear it with my finger. I also dry brush the chambers to keep the fouling down where the rounds will drop in freely.

1911Tuner · June 1, 2013, 05:49 AM

Quote:

I know that it just doesn't take much at all to really stop one, and it isn't a simple tap-rack-bang to get running again.

Years ago, I had a nickel 6-inch Model 57 that would bind up after less than 12 rounds of ammunition loaded with 2400 unless it was a full on top-end charge...and then it would do it within 30 rounds...from just a few unburned powder grains. Oddly, 2400 was the only powder that it would do this trick with. Because it was wicked accurate with cast bullets and 2400, I used a lot of it, but I always included a mil-spec double-end toothbrush in the old kit bag, and just cleaned under the star after every cylinder full.

Sevens · June 1, 2013, 02:54 PM

I love 2400 and I'm very comfortable using it and likely won't ever be without a few pounds of it at the ready. With that said, it's definitely a part of the package that 2400 often leaves unburnt granules and it quite noticeable and often generates questions in the handloading forums about folks new to that particular powder.

1911Tuner · June 2, 2013, 05:51 AM

Oh, yeah. 2400 is the only slow "magnum class" pistol powder that I use. My other go-to powder is Unique. Recently, I've been using a little Bullseye after a 20-year hiatus.

None of my other revolvers has ever given me a problem with 2400, but it does tend to leave a lot of those little discolored granules unless loaded up hot.

May 29, 2013, 07:22 PM	#1
Dickie B Junior Member Join Date: May 27, 2013 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 9	S&W extractor problem ? Fellow gun owners i need your help, just bought a S&W 29-3 and noticed the extractor hits frame face before center pin has a chance to push cylinder back. My question is the center pin to short or shoulder on pin wrong. our input would be appreciated Thanks

May 30, 2013, 11:34 PM	#10
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	The first time this happened to me (gunk under ejector star that simply won't allow it to sit flush), I was completely blown away by how WRONG the entire revolver was while having the problem. If you've never experienced this, it's an eye-opener. The fitting is monumentally precise. I had just enough crud under the ejector so that I could close the cylinder, but not easily or naturally, and it would bind up horribly. It was a sickening feeling, like something went HORRIBLY wrong and wasn't likely to be fixable. You only sit there and imagine WHAT you did, which part got warped or bent or what you may have "blasted" out of shape to almost kill your prized revolver. Well, not only was there no "fixing" of anything and absolutely nothing broken or bent, it was simply getting the offending crud out of the way. So slight that with the untrained eye, you could never see anything wrong. Cleaned it out and back to "bank vault" kind of lock up and function. Like a Smith & Wesson is supposed to feel like. Precision mechanical operation with all parts working in full harmony. If you didn't realize how much needs to be "in order" to allow a quality revolver to function as well as it does, you will learn something the first time it happens to you. And you'll forever laugh, maybe just quietly inside, every time you see someone talking about the "will always work, can't be stopped, ain't never ever gonna malfunction" nature of a nice revolver. Man, I absolutely -LOVE- my revolvers. But I know far better than to think they are simple devices that can't or won't ever "stop." I know that it just doesn't take much at all to really stop one, and it isn't a simple tap-rack-bang to get running again. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

June 1, 2013, 02:54 PM	#14
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I love 2400 and I'm very comfortable using it and likely won't ever be without a few pounds of it at the ready. With that said, it's definitely a part of the package that 2400 often leaves unburnt granules and it quite noticeable and often generates questions in the handloading forums about folks new to that particular powder. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

June 2, 2013, 05:51 AM	#15
1911Tuner Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Location: NC Piedmont/Foothills Posts: 666	2400 Oh, yeah. 2400 is the only slow "magnum class" pistol powder that I use. My other go-to powder is Unique. Recently, I've been using a little Bullseye after a 20-year hiatus. None of my other revolvers has ever given me a problem with 2400, but it does tend to leave a lot of those little discolored granules unless loaded up hot. __________________ If your front porch collapses and kills more than three dogs...You just might be a redneck

May 29, 2013, 09:07 PM	#2
SgtLumpy Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2013 Posts: 779	Not sure I can visualize what you're describing. Cylinder swung out, as if loading/unloading? In that position the extractor star hits the frame face? Or something else? Sgt Lumpy

May 29, 2013, 09:14 PM	#3
Dickie B Junior Member Join Date: May 27, 2013 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 9	When cylinder is closed extractor rubs frame face before center pin pushes cylinder towards cone

May 29, 2013, 09:24 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The center pin is not supposed to "push the cylinder" forward. It is supposed to push the bolt (the part the thumb latch attaches to) back so it itself can push into the hole to keep the cylinder in place. If the cylinder won't fully close because the extractor hits the frame, there may be dirt under the extractor, or there may be something else wrong. Hard to tell without seeing the gun. Jim

May 30, 2013, 12:15 AM	#5
SgtLumpy Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2013 Posts: 779	Extractor rod tightly screwed into the extractor? (L or R hand threads). My Chief's Special is having problems with exactly that. It's at the pistol doctor right now. In my case, simply re-tightening it was not enough. Sgt Lumpy

May 30, 2013, 08:45 AM	#7
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	Check under the extractor for powder particles or other gunk. Make sure the extractor seats corectly when the cylinder is swung out. Does you gun have aligning pins in the cylinder to align with holes (two or three) in the extractor star? If these are bent or unseated they may not allow the extractor to seat flush. Bob Wright

May 30, 2013, 10:23 AM	#8
Dickie B Junior Member Join Date: May 27, 2013 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 9	Thanks Bob i had cleaned pocket for extractor but did not look under extractor itself and there lied the problem. Cleaned it and it works like it should. Thank for your time and help!!!

May 30, 2013, 11:22 PM	#9
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,312	Is this a great forum or what?

May 31, 2013, 05:46 AM	#11
Dickie B Junior Member Join Date: May 27, 2013 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 9	AMEN

May 31, 2013, 10:36 AM	#12
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	I keep an old tooth brush handy during a match but I can usually clear it with my finger. I also dry brush the chambers to keep the fouling down where the rounds will drop in freely.