.500 S&W locking up?

[solocam72]

 I posted this over on the S&W forum, thought I would post it here also. I have a 8 3/8" .500 magnum non removeable compensator, I am an avid reloader and my gun has never shot a factory round, I use both 350 and 500 grain hornady bullets, Starline brass, H110 powder, and Win. large rifle primers, My gun will lock up after about the 3rd shot, it has also done this after just one shot. When I say lock up I mean after the shot the cylinder wont turn, I can start to pull the hammer back but it wont go it's simply LOCKED UP, It takes several minutes of messing around with it to get the cylinder to open up. I am sure this is not a crimping issue as I have loaded one round in the gun only and had it lock up, I crimp deep into the cannelure, by looking at a loaded corbon round I have followed there crimp. This gun is almost new, 60 rounds is all it's had through it, The gun is kept very clean including under the ejector, this gun has done this from day 1. Any Ideas on what may be causing this? I think Tuesday morning I will contact S&W and see what they say? I really like the gun and sure hope S&W will do me right by it.

[parson48]

I've had primers back out before, this will bind the cylinder.
parson48

[solocam72]

I've had primers back out before, this will bind the cylinder.
parson48

 My brass is the new starline with the large rifle primer pockets, I have never had a primer back out any that I can tell, after firing they feel flush, I feel confident this isn't my problem.

[jro45]

Your cylinder may be turning back a little when fired and that would cause the lock up. The loads you are using may be to hot for your gun. Try bringing them down a little a grain or two and see if it does it then.

[solocam72]

Your cylinder may be turning back a little when fired and that would cause the lock up. The loads you are using may be to hot for your gun. Try bringing them down a little a grain or two and see if it does it then.

  I am using hodgdons manual and I am loading at the bottom of there listings for both bullet weights, I remember reading an article from jeff quin about his test gun counter rotating after firing the heavier bullets but I dont recall him saying anything about his gun "Locking up"

[Redhawk1]

You have made the assumption that it is the gun, just send it back. I have never had that problem with 5 of the S&W 500 Mags, so I can't be of any help to you.

[solocam72]

  Well guy's I'm not sure now? I just got done shooting 5 of the 500 grain loads and after the 3rd shot it locked up as it has always done, it took a few minutes of messing with the gun and the cylinder finally opened, I closed it back up and shot the other 2, I grabbed 10 of the 350 grain loads and shot 2 cylinders full with no problems? I thought it locked up before with the 350 grain loads also but I cant remember for sure? I am starting to think now that it's just the 500 grain load? Maybe I'm getting the 500 grain loads a little to warm? All I have left for bullets right now are the 350 grain so I will shoot them some more and see what happens?

[dubber123]

  My brothers 500 has been back to Smith 3 times for the cylinder coming unlocked.  Now it unlocks, and now is locking up exactly as you describe.  This is with 460 grain lead bullets at 1,400 fps or less.  It has done it at 1,200 fps. too.  Powders are H-110 and Lil' Gun.  If 1,200 fps is too hot, I'm not impressed.  This is the only one of these guns I have experience with, and right now I can say I won't be buying one.  It simply after 3 "fix it" attempts, cannot be trusted to function.

[palgeno]

I have an S&W PC 500---no problems at all. So far is an excellent piece. I also have shot no factory loads. have used Sierra 400 grainers and CPB 440 grainers. both with H110 and CCI large rifle primers in Starline brass with the "R" marked on the headstamp. I do have the HDY 500 grainers on hand ready to load. I will watch to see what happens.   Gene

[doncisler]

how do the brass extract after firing and locking the cylinder up?  if they don't practically fall out of the cylinder it is the load not the gun.

[RollTide]

The 500 has a highly polished barrel end at the forcing cone and the cylinder gap is very close to avoid gas erosion on the frame there.  Tolerances are VERY close there.  It may have come from the factory a tad too close.  Dan Wessons will lock up like that is the gap is set too close.  Unburned power is forced into the cylinder gap and binds the gun especially with powders like H110.  The next time it binds up, hold the gun up to a bright light and look through the cylinder gap and see it it is clear.  If not, that is your problem.  It seems that S&W could fix that muy pronto. 

Roll Tide

[solocam72]

how do the brass extract after firing and locking the cylinder up?  if they don't practically fall out of the cylinder it is the load not the gun.

  I bought some more 500 grain bullets to load and try to figure out what's going on, My hodgdon manual gives a starting load of 31.0 grains and a max of 33.0 grains, the only load I have tried in the gun was the starting load of 31.0 grains, I backed off to 29.0 grains and solved the problem, I shot 25 rounds through the gun with no problems, before with 31.0 grains my gun would lock up after about the third shot every time, I know now that my gun will not run on hodgdon's listings, this dont mean the next guy's wont. I am just glad to have it ironed out. Thanks everyone for your help.     

[solocam72]

how do the brass extract after firing and locking the cylinder up?  if they don't practically fall out of the cylinder it is the load not the gun.

  I forgot to ad that my gun extracted easily after it locked up? this is what had me confused? after it would lock up and I got the cylinder open I just barely pushed the ejector rod and the cases extracted easily, it was never sticky or tight feeling at all.

[wyocarp]

Well, I hate to say it but I have had similar problems with a couple of my 500's and I currently have that needs to go back to Smith.  One of the previous ones had a bad timing issue and the other had a pin that hadn't been set in all of the way.  The one I have now I need to take apart and look at and I will let you know what I find.  The problem is a recent one and I haven't had time to do anything about it.

[wyocarp]

By the way, I think it has nothing to do with the loads, the brass, or the primers.  I had problems with one one the way home and I hadn't even shot it yet.