Problems with my CCW during range qualifying for renewal...

[magnumwheelman]

curious if there are any educated guesses out there... ( & yes I passed... even though the revolver was not working properly, I knew enough about revolver function to complete my range qualification target )

just had my S&W 351 PD out 2 weeks ago, & shot up the ammo I've been carrying in the gun through the last 3 months of hot sweaty stuff... gun & ammo ( Speer Gold Dot Short barrel 22 Mag ) functioned perfectly... afterwards I did my standard cleaning & light oiling ( also oiled the cylinder latch & screw a little more heavily, as it was getting more brown than blued, from being carried in this heat & humidity ) reloaded fresh ammo, & back into the holster it went...

...got to range qualifying portion of my license renewal, & the gun fired normally for the 1st 2 shots, then the trigger did not reset... I quickly checked if the cylinder was latching into position... it was, then finger flipped the trigger forward, to reset it, & it fired... I had to do this for the remaining shots during range qualifying... it kinda clicks when the trigger goes forward, ( I wouldn't think it would be audible like that if it was just pocket lint ) I'd assume the innards would be stainless, & thus resistant to rusting...

... the side cover has never been off the gun, & the gaps are so tight, it almost looks like it may have been coated in place??? I'm not much of one to ever remove the side covers, unless there is a problem, so it's never been off... I did buy this gun used, but its was out of a group the guy bought for his wife to try out... it supposedly had less than 50 rounds through it when I bought it... I may have put another 150 rounds through it at the most... so it's been carried more than it has been shot... it is a new "lock" gun...

thoughts on what the problem is??? or how I should proceed... hate to pull the side cover off, if it'll damage the finish... I've rotated my 32 H&R Magnum J frame into the carry holster, so it would be no problem sending it back to S&W... just curious if any of you have had a similar problem, or are familiar enough with the insides of a double action Smith, to give me some ideas...

Thanks... & "carry" on

[tek4260]

It's got to be an issue with the rebound slide off the top of my head. Either the springs been clipped in an attempt to "improve" the trigger, or lint/rust/debris. Maybe the pin that the rebound spring sits on has broken in a worst case scenario. In any case, I'd remove the grips, side plate screws, and lift the plate. It shouldn't damage the finish.

[magnumwheelman]

thanks... & BTW... it does reset some times ( maybe 50% ) after I got it home, dry firing with the spent cases still in it... had MRS family rebellion yesterday, so I haven't had time to look it over... the 351 PD is one of the aluminum frame guns... still think the side cover will come off with out damage to the finish??? I highly doubt that the spring has been clipped, & the gun has functioned perfectly for the 150 or so rounds that I've put through it previously... but since I didn't buy it new, I suppose you can't guarantee that it wasn't messed with by the previous owner... but I got it with the box & everything looked brand new...

[tek4260]

It shouldn't, and if it does Smith will fix it. I've always been impressed at how well Smith side plates fit and blend, but I've never seen one "finished in place" unless it was some Bubbasmiths Duracoat job

[magnumwheelman]

thanks... can barely see the line... looks really well finished

[JSilva]

I've had the springs rust out in pocket guns before while the rest of the gun is fine. On my sig, it took 2 summers. I'd check there first.

[magnumwheelman]

I had that problem with a Taurus TCP on the mag release spring... but that took several years of carry ( at least 2 summers ) ... this is the 1st summer of carry on this gun...

[500fksjr]

Congrats on passing...

[magnumwheelman]

thanks... this was my 3rd time ( 2nd renewal ) so I've been carrying daily for 10 years now...

BTW... just for fun, last Time I used the gun in my avatar, before I got it refinished... single action top break... was a 1st for that instructor...

[ChiefTJS]

Personally, I'd call Smith and see what they say. May be a known issue (not that they'd tell you) and they cover the shipping and repair costs. I've had nothing but great customer service from them.

[seak89]

Gunked up from to much oil my guess

[groo]

Groo here
Remove grips and put in k-1 for 24 hrs.
Allow to drip dry or blow out with air.
Relube with a quick spray [ like CLP] re shoot.

[magnumwheelman]

Trying to diagnose my gun's problem... went to my retired buddies place, and pulled off the side cover..mine was clean and dry inside... tried lubricating... still have the same problem... the trigger return spring is blue... the hammer spring is red... my buddy is wondering if the previous owner might have replaced those 2 Springs, using a heavier hammer spring, and a lighter trigger return spring...

my buddy feels the springs are not balanced & the trigger return spring is to light for the hammer spring... ( the trigger will reset if you push on either the trigger or the hammer... insides were much cleaner than I expected, but pretty dry as far as lubrication )

I just got off of an on line chat with one of their tech people this morning... he was sure the main spring was correct, but couldn't be sure about the trigger return spring... so they are going to send me a factory replacement "rebound" spring & see if that fixes the problem... don't know why he couldn't tell on the rebound spring, as I was as descriptive as possible ( the spring is aqua blue )

anyway... I'll try a new factory replacement rebound spring, & see if that fixes things... one thing I find strange, is that the gun functioned perfectly for 150 rounds or so with this ammo... unsure why it would all of a sudden quit working?

[stevelutah]

Look at the bright side. It did not happen when you need it most CCW. I bet the new spring solves it. But you mentioned this has been re finished. Is there any gunk in the frame channel area for the hammer. Does the action feel the same as it always has when you cock it? Any differences on cylinders when you cock and release it going through each cylinder through a few rotations? Over the years I have had two revolvers give me fits(both purchased used btw) with cylinder ratchet prawl issues where one ratchet would not quite move the action enough every time. One of them showed visable wear the other one looked fine.

[magnumwheelman]

this has not been refinished... it was bought used, as new, with "less than 50 rounds through it"