Re-Cylindering a S&W 586 -advice-?

doubletap9

doubletap9

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Is this a Gunsmith-only proposition?

I have a S&W 586 with three bad chambers. Firing .38 specials I have no problem ejecting the empties, so it took me some time to discover there was a problem. Fire any .357 ( even low reloads ) I have to push the rod firmly against the bench to pop out the empties, and they are slightly bulged at the base. It has been suggested that a previous owner fired something over-pressure and ruined the rear of those three chambers.

I have gotten a couple of quotes for a Cylinder replacement, and they are almost what I paid for the gun in the first place. Can I just order a new cylinder from Brownell's along with some endshake shims and swap it out? Are there other concerns with this type of repair? I've done minor parts replacement and fixes on different guns, but never something this scale on a revolver, so I am in unknown territory. I've checked the Midway USA videos, but can't find one on a complete swap, just fixing the endshake.

If it's something I can safely do, I would like to give it a go. If it's not, and I have to pay the piper, so be it. The gun is in way too good a condition otherwise to let slide. Information I have gathered so far ( on the net ) has been inconclusive, so hopefully someone here can give me the straight deal on it.

Thanks..

DT
 
Do you know how to true the yoke? time the cylinder? You'll probably have issues with the bluing the cylinder won't match the gun.

A cylinder is over $100 (130 + shipping at brownells) you will need paperwork to get it out of the US and you should probably replace the extractor at the same time...

The problem I have is if the previous user was firing over pressure loads is there any damage to the top strap? How is the forcing cone?

I guess I'm confused as to what the problem really is... By your description the bullet end of the cylinder is bulged??? Could it be fouled... It might just need a little reaming... If the previous user fed it a steady diet of 38's then there could be significant build up in the cylinder...

Ask any PPC shooter who had a 357 cylinder to try and put a 357 in there gun they'll probably look at you funny as they probably never have... and if they do the round will not eject...
 
If the gun has had a steady diet of .38 specials with lead bullets, there could be a build up of lead at the chamber throat, and you might not be able to actually see it. This would make extracting a fired .357 length casing difficult, regardless of the load. Take the cylinder off the gun and give the cylinder a good cleaning and your problem might disappear.
 
I guess I'm confused as to what the problem really is... By your description the bullet end of the cylinder is bulged???
Click to expand...

No, the rear of just those three chambers appear to be oversized. The spent .357 casings bulge just above the rim of the case head, and have to be gently forced out. I cleaned the chambers within an inch of their life, and the problem still persists, only with .357 cases and loads. The is no apparent damage elsewhere, forcing cone looks fine, topstrap, everything. It even prints really nice.

I figured there was more to changing out a cylinder. Might just have to 'bite the bullet' and send it away to get done.

DT
 
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doubletap9 said:
No, the rear of just those three chambers appear to be oversized. The spent .357 casings bulge just above the rim of the case head, and have to be gently forced out. I cleaned the chambers within an inch of their life, and the problem still persists, only with .357 cases and loads. The is no apparent damage elsewhere, forcing cone looks fine, topstrap, everything. It even prints really nice.

I figured there was more to changing out a cylinder. Might just have to 'bite the bullet' and send it away to get done.

DT
Click to expand...

Now I understand what you are talking about... the cases get bulged when you shoot them.. The cylinder still turns OK? it's not bulged on the outside.

Well sounds at the minimum a smith should take a look at it...

There is or was a pistolsmith (he did S&W and 1911 work) at SC gunworks in Markham... Can't remember his name... but he did good work...
 
Thanks for the input lads!

A fellow CGN'er put me on to a gentleman actually in my own city that should be able to sort it out for me. ( He builds PPC and race revolvers ) Once I arrange for him to have a look-see, I'll post if he could tell me what exactly is wrong, and more important, if he can fix it and how much ... :D

DT
 
Was the 586 mine I'd bite the bullet and send it off to M.D. Charleton & Co. Murray is the best Smith man in Canada. He builds them fixes them and guarantees them.
 
I had that problem with a used model 27. Did you try to put the empty cases form the bad chambers into a good chamber. When I did this I found that the cases I thought were bulged fit easily into the chambers that did not have a problem with cases sticking. I took a piece of wooden dowel and some rose cloth and slowly reamed the bad chambers, it shined them up nice and I never had another hard extraction.
 
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