I loaded and shot some snakeshot loads in my s&w model 60. The cases came out with the appearance of an indented ring near the forcing cone. After some cleaning and further investigation, it is not a ring, but a step from 0.3805" to 0.374" None of my other smith revolvers have the "step".
Should send it back to S&W, or get the cylinder reamed with a 357 reamer to clean up the step?
Would you worry about the step?
The 2 cases on the left were fired in a 686 and a model 19.
Did they cut it for 38 Special? That really looks odd, like something was not finished at the factory.
Model 60 was originally a 38 Special, IIRC. Did someone do a cylinder swap and represent it as 357? Ore you the original owner? How old is it?
[The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze
This is a newer model 60 3" adj sight with Hillary hole, a factory 357, maybe a 60-15., havent looked in a while.
I have had it for maybe 10 yrs, bought new by me.
Good catch MT Gianni, I was thinking of the 66 and glossed over the model number. But, I do think they made 60's in 357 as well.
Just never noticed how the cylinder was cut before
That definitely is not right. A trip home may be in order, unless you feel like paying for the repair.
You could send the cylinder and let me get pin gages to the chambers to determine if the ridge is under spec. If it isn't a finishing reamer won't remove it unless it is a special order reamer made just for that cylinder. Most 357 cylinders are .381" at the case mouth, with a .358" loaded that leaves .023" then subtract the brass (each side) which if the brass is .011" on the case wall thickness, you have .002" left, or basically .001" on each side. If the ridge was under spec, you likely couldn't load a .358" and get it to chamber.
How did you determine the measurements you listed? According to your figures, a finishing reamer SHOULD clean that up.
Got a .22 .30 .32 .357 .38 .40 .41 .44 .45 .480 or .500 S&W cylinder that needs throats honed? 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh cylinder that needs the "step" reamed to 6° 30min chamfer? Click here to send me a PM You can also find me on Facebook Click Here.
Doug Guy, the measurements listed were the negative impression from the fired 357 max shotshell. I have a set of - pin gauges, just haven't gotten to that point yet. So allowing for brass springback, The step ID might be around 0.373, but by comparison it is a 0.003 step tighter than the chamber.
This step is forward of the location of the mouth of a .357 mag case and is more like a throat before the forcing cone.
I lost my first post I typed out, The length to the step is around 1.322 +/-
Last edited by BK7saum; 09-22-2020 at 08:24 PM.
I would return it to the factory for reaming. Just don't tell them you are using Max cases in a Mag chamber!
How long are the cases?
The step is forward of the location of a 357 mag case.
If that "ring" is ahead of a proper 357 mag case, then you should never see it while shooting normal .357 rounds.
Wondering the why of using the MAX cases? No condemnation here ... just wondering the why.
Next question is ... do your regular 357 rounds shoot accurately?
I thought the forcing cone is in the barrel and what we are looking at is the throat. That step is small enough that the bullet should never touch it unless you use 38 specials and the bullet gets a little sideways before it gets into the throat. At 0.374" that throat seems very loose for bullets sized 0.358" but I would guess that it tapers down to something smaller toward the front. Usually you want size bullets to the throat diameter.
Tim
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OP did say they were making snakeshot loads, that is why the max cases.
UH??? aren't those "ridges" the "Throats" of the Chambers?
Cylinder Throats are usually .001 bigger than the Groove Dia. of the barrel,,, and.001 smaller than your boolits,? .357 grooves, .358 throats and .359 boolits? or whatever.
But,,, In any event, I don't believe that fired brass is going to be an accurate way to measure Throat Diameters and base any lasting decisions on.
Pin Gauges please, then we'll know for sure what you've got.
How many rounds have been fired thru that gun,,, maybe thousands? Those ridges didn't just grow in there lately? Ain't Broke, Don't Fix!
Just sayin'
My .02
Randy
Last edited by W.R.Buchanan; 10-03-2020 at 07:21 PM.
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I have pin gauges, just haven't pinned it yet. This rebolver has seen less than 500 rounds, more likely 200-300. However, it will be about a 0.003" step in the chamber before the funnel to the throat. Really saw no reason to pin gauge it, it shouldn't be there to start with.
Yes, this is the area in front of the throats of the cylinder where the chamber transitions to the throat. I have never seen this in any other revolver. I am wondering just how the heck did this get machined this way. I probably would have never noticed except for stepped brass in my snake shot loads.
S&W is supposed to send me a shipping label. Well see what they have to say.
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