J frame cylinder/barrel gap

lucam · Post by **lucam** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 1:39 pm

Hi everyone.

I measured my cylinder end gap on my S&W, it's .008 or .009. Accuracy is modest, I wonder if having this set around .002 would help?

Hm... Does anyone know who to send it to for fixing?

bgreenea3 · Post by **bgreenea3** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 6:30 pm

I wouldn't worry about the gap. the j frame is a defensive gun, therefor a larger gap ensures that the cylinder won't bind if it got too dirty and ensures reliability.

mine shoots 158grbullets at modest velocities the best. what ammo are you using?

Medicine Hat · Post by **Medicine Hat** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:00 pm

.010 is usually considered Max, but still OK. Too tight, and crud builds up and may stop cylinder rotation. Not good for defense.
I have a 38/44 N frame S&W built in the 1950s it currently has a cyl gap of .007 and funcitons, and shoots as it should.
Yours is OK.
I would NOT use any +P stuff at all in a J-frame. Just normal loads.

Post by **Bullseye** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:22 pm

.006"-.008" cylinder gap is considered in the normal range tolerance-wise.

R,
Bullseye

bgreenea3 · Post by **bgreenea3** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:31 pm

What do you consider "modest" accuracy? minute of pop can at 10-15 yards slow fire is exellent from a snubbie IMHO.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:51 pm

At 5 t0 7 yards, 2 in the chest and 1 in the head, would be in m my opinion accurate enough top do the jib it was intended to, Nexttim e I get to the tool box, I will check the gap on mine. It ain't no target gu nad was not intended to be one.

lucam · Post by **lucam** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:32 pm

It's a 22 kit gun, so it's not a defensive stubbie. 3" barrel. Cleaning more often isn't a big deal for me.

I thought that it might have been the goofball fiber optic sights throwing me off, so I changed them for standard blades.

I can shoot a 10" group at BEST at 25 yards. All my other pistols will shoot 2 inches or less at the same distance.

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:40 am

I had a Ruger Single-Six gapping .011 from the factory. It was spitting lead at next door range shooters, and an extra mess to clean. I sent it back to Ruger. They re-barreled it and replaced the pawl, said the timing was off a hair, too. Got it back in ten days with a .004 gap. Shoots much better and doesn't get so dirty as fast.

bgreenea3 · Post by **bgreenea3** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:41 pm

call smith and wesson, their service is usually excellent. 10" at 25 is a little big.

greener · Post by **greener** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:31 am

bgreenea3 wrote:call smith and wesson, their service is usually excellent. 10" at 25 is a little big.

There are days when a 10" group at shorter ranges seems like the way I'm going and I know folks who just might be happy with that.

I can shoot a 10" group at BEST at 25 yards. All my other pistols will shoot 2 inches or less at the same distance.

10" sounds too big at 25 yards and I'd talk to S&W. However, their accuracy certification for modern revolvers with barrels 3" or less is 6.3" at 21 yards. They seem to be pretty good at taking one back and giving it a look-over.

The certification below is required only for handguns sold in the United States with a barrel length shorter than 3”.
Smith & Wesson Corp. hereby certifies average accuracy test results for
all new handguns with a barrel shorter than 3” as follows: ....
21 yards 6.3”