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Author Topic: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?  (Read 7779 times)

billt

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Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« on: October 31, 2010, 02:10:01 PM »


This is a Smith & Wesson Stainless Model 63 I bought new back in the late 80's. I've shot it very little. The last time I shot it I was having some trouble with it binding up. It had never done this before in several hundred rounds. The cylinder was hard to turn, but when it fired it did so OK. I started to think it might be dirt, or worst case scenario, it was out of time, which is a bit rare with S&W rimfires.

After I got it home I gave it a good wet cleaning, and used Lead Away on the front of the cylinder to remove any lead buildup on the front of the cylinder face. I then oiled the hell out of it and put it away. It's been sitting for a long time, (a good year). Today I pulled it out and re cleaned and oiled it, and it seems to work just fine. I didn't snap it, but rather let the hammer fall on my thumb, then slowly lower it, re cock the hammer, and repeat.

I did this over and over several dozen times while opening and closing the cylinder several times and the gun seems to function just fine. I'm starting to wonder if it wasn't just ammo or dirt that caused all of this? I don't remember what kind of ammo it was. I had a big plastic box of everything all tossed in, and shot the gun with that. It was a mix of everything from Remington "Golden Bullets", to Federal bulk, to Winchester Western, and a ton of everything else tossed in, so I have no way of knowing.

Do you think it's ammo that caused this? I ask because it seems to function just fine empty. Rim thickness perhaps? The cylinder did turn a bit hard, sometimes so much so I had to assist it with my fingers when I was shooting it. The cylinders are counterbored. Again, It runs like a top empty and spotlessly clean. What kind of ammo should I try that has a thin rim thickness? Is there even any? Does anyone shoot a Model 63 that has any input? I know these guns can be finicky, but I just want to know where to begin. As of now I'm not convinced there is anything wrong with the gun, or else it would bind up when it was empty. It doesn't.   Bill T.
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Majer

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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2010, 02:20:38 PM »
Bill, a couple things to check. First, make sure there isn't any unburned powder under the extractor, even a few flakes can bind the gun up. second, make sure the ejector rod is tight, they are known to unscrew a little at a time which can also bind the gun up. Usually when the ejector rod is loose it will also be hard to open the cylinder. Hops this helps.
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rat31465

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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2010, 03:58:54 PM »
Tight cylinder gaps will help reduce noise levels on revolvers but do produce a situation where lead buildup on the cylinder face can retard the cylinder as you have described.  You have a couple of choices here...One take the gun to a Gunsmith and he can face of the Forcing Cone a few thousandths to give the accumulation of lead and powder room...or you can search for a cleaner round and avoid cast bullets.   
I would look into finding a quality Gunsmith to check the firearm over.
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billt

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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2010, 04:12:28 PM »
Quote from: Majer on October 31, 2010, 02:20:38 PM
Bill, a couple things to check. First, make sure there isn't any unburned powder under the extractor, even a few flakes can bind the gun up. second, make sure the ejector rod is tight, they are known to unscrew a little at a time which can also bind the gun up. Usually when the ejector rod is loose it will also be hard to open the cylinder. Hops this helps.

Ejector rod is tight. I did give the whole gun a wet Kerosene wash after I had the problem, and there was some crap behind the ejector rod. Mostly some unburned powder flakes. As I mentioned, after the cleaning and oiling I can't recreate the problem with the gun empty. That tells me either dirt or ammo is the culprit. I don't want to screw with live ammo in the house, so I think I'll take it to the range tomorrow and see what shakes out. I'll report back on whatever happens then.  Bill T.
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twyacht

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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2010, 04:52:35 PM »
Geez, billt, bought 20 years ago, "shot very little",....it's still getting broken in,..... :P

Try some good fresh ammo, sounds like it's as clean and lubed as its going to get. "New" S&W's can be pretty tight. Especially 22's.



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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #5 on: Today at 08:34:57 AM »
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billt

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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2010, 04:58:21 PM »
When I cleaned it there was some crap on the front of the cylinder. Now after using the Lead Away wipes and some Flitz it's clean to the bare metal, like new. Same with the area in and around the forcing cone. It's spotless under and around the ejector rod as well. Hopefully tomorrow she'll run OK.  Bill T.
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Rob10ring

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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2010, 03:14:37 AM »
It sounds like you should give it to me. ;)

My dad has one and it's his favorite as well as a favorite of my brothers and I. They're pretty hard to come by around here.
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billt

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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2010, 04:35:59 PM »
Well I returned home from the range a while ago after putting the better part of a full brick downrange with the Model 63 Smith. Everything went without a hitch. I would have kept going but my hands were getting sore from loading and unloading the thing! I think all that was causing any issues before was dirt, plain and simple. The gun ran like a Rolex. Afterward it was plenty dirty, so when I came home I gave it another good wet cleaning, being sure to get any and all buildup off the cylinder face, and the face of the forcing cone. Lead Away Wipes work great for this. They come in patch form and you just take them and wipe away and all of the buildup and discoloration until it comes off down to the bare Stainless Steel. I also use a Bronze bristle brush when cleaning this weapon. It's really important to get all lead deposits and dirt out of the chambers. The guns action has really smoothed up from all of this shooting.

After that I gave the whole gun a good wash in clean Kerosene followed by a compressed air blow job. After that I liberally oiled everything and she's slicker than snot! I also ran 200 rounds of FMJ through my Glock 17. All it did was run. I'm finding this Federal Champion 9 MM FMJ Wal-Mart sells burns really clean. No bulging of the cases either. CCI Blazer Brass in .45 ACP bulges like hell in my Baby Desert Eagle. That gun also throws the brass at least 30 feet to the right. The Glock 17 just drops it right at my feet. I didn't lose a case.

Had a bit of fun on the second to last magazine I ran through it. There was a squawking bird that wouldn't shut up all the while I was there. I had the range all to myself, and was enjoying the peace and quiet until this damn thing showed up. Finally after about a half hour, I loaded up my last 2 magazines for the day, and this little POS landed right on the top of my target frame and started squawking at the top of his lungs. I sat down and rested the gun on the bench and drew a nice bead right on his breast and squeezed the Glocks trigger and he exploded into a huge puff of feathers! It was better than when Randy Johnson hit that bird with his 95 MPH fastball! It ended a perfect day at the range!   Bill T.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXXSe1YQkRE&feature=related

 
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PegLeg45

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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2010, 04:51:13 PM »
Glad it ran for you, Bill.

Years ago I had a Taurus Model 66 that I used in area PPC matches and after extended periods of practice shooting with wadcutter reloads and some Federal Match wadcutters it would dirty up and the cylinder would drag like you described in your OP.
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billt

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Re: Smith & Wesson Model 63, Need Input ?
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2010, 05:22:35 PM »
Peg,

It doesn't take much to close up that cylinder gap. Especially when you're shooting lead bullets. No other choice in .22 LR. I'm getting into the habit of taking some Lead Away Wipes to the range with me in my range bag. Every 10 cylinders full or so I take one and wipe down the front of the cylinder and the forcing cone. It's cheap insurance to keep everything clean and running good. The Lead Away Wipes keep the fouling soft, so what doesn't get cleaned off completely gets blown away with the next 6 rounds.   Bill T.
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