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View Full Version : SW 629 Range Session/Learning Point/AAR



greenlineaz
24 January 2015, 00:55
Mods- if this is in the wrong section, please delete/move as needed.

Gun- S&W 629-6 with a 4 inch barrel bought used at LGS. This is my first purchased revolver for camping, hiking, and hunting (if the draw goes well). Pistol was/is stock. No perceived mechanical issues, timing was checked, no obvious signs of a home gunsmith trigger job, HOWEVER in dry fire it seemed to be a really nice trigger job from the factory/previous owner (this is called a clue).

I purchased a Safariland paddle holster with adjustable tension to use with this gun. Today, I loaded up the wheelgun, threw on the holster, and headed to the range. After getting my target put up and situated at my shooting station, I began shooting. For the first 6 rounds, I kept shooting in D/A mode, with only 5 of the six going off. I unloaded the cylinder, and observed a light primer strike on the 6th unfired round. I continued on through 50 rounds of Rem. 180 gr. and 6 rounds of Hornady 240 gr. Most of these rounds were fired in S/A mode, with no failures in S/A, but continued intermittent light primer strikes in D/A.

Upon arrival back at home, I got online and looked up light primer strikes in D/A. Among other culprits, one suggestion was to remove the grips, and see if the strain screw was backed out. This results in a smoother, lighter pull, but can make the gun unreliable in D/A. I tore off the grips, and sure enough, the strain screw was backed out. I tightened it down completely, which noticeably made the trigger pull heavier, but after a few dry fires, it wasn't so bad.

Learning Points- For me, there are several things to be learned here. The first is do not trust a gun, especially if you are carrying it for defensive purposes, if you haven't actually shot it. I broke my own rule, and it was stupid to do so. Inspect before you expect, etc. etc. I went into a Circle K on the way to the range, and afterwards I kept thinking "If I needed to shoot someone, that click would have probably sounded pretty loud." The second learning point to me was after I tightened down the strain screw, the trigger was heavier, but it was good IMO. It certainly wasn't so awesome beforehand that it was a good trade off for effectively causing malfunctions in D/A. I guess I'm trying to say, instead of trying to BUY better performance, buy ammo and EARN it.

I'll try to throw up some pictures at some point.

Deadwing
24 January 2015, 03:14
I purchased a used 629-5 6.5" barreled gun about 10 years ago. First trip to the range, i brought ammo i'd purchased at the shop where i bought the gun, and a box of a different brand from the range shop. My ammo all worked fine, went bang every time. The stuff i bought from the range was getting light primer strikes every third round or so. So, i took it to the counter and was like "what the hell?". The guy at the counter pulled the grip off, and bingo, strain screw was backed out a considerable amount. Tightened it back down and it's been reliable as can be with anything i've shot since.

greenlineaz
1 February 2015, 02:23
Ill definitely ask to take off the grips and inspect that screw if I ever buy anther used wheelgun.