44 special/magnum

Question
Greetings

One of my pistols is a S&W 44 magnum model 29-2 (long barrel). This one is 10-15 years old but has probably fired fewer than 200 rounds.  Because the magnum load is uncomfortable to shoot for fun, I let a friend fire some 44 special rounds through it after he was satisfied he'd shot enough of the magnum loads. I bought a box of Winchester Super X 44 S&W SPL. 246 gr. round-nose lead just to have something to shoot.

About the third time I went to load the 44 specials the cylinder was very difficult to open and also to close. I really had to push to get it opened and closed. The pistol was warm but not warmer than I would expect after firing 20-30 rounds. Anyway, I chose  to put it away for the night and haven't fired it since. Now that the weapon is completely cool it opens and closes normally.

So here are my question(s): Do you think there is a structural problem with the pistol? Is 44 special (or Winchester round-nose) a bad selection for this pistol? And finally, what would you do if this were your pistol?

Thanks for your time,

Bill


Answer
Bill,

That's very odd, and is hard to diagnose without actually seeing the gun. No .44 Spec load should damage a .44 Mag, so I doubt that's it.

My initial guess was going to be that the crane was bent, but not if it worked normally the next day.

So to answer your questions:

1) I really can't imagine there is a problem with the pistol, but couldn't know without actually seeing it.  If there is a problem it is certainly not from the .44 Spec. loads.

2) Shooting .44 Spec out of a .44 Mag is common practice, and should cause no problem.  You should be sure to clean the chambers thoroughly with something that will eliminate carbon, as the 1/10 inch gap at the front will fill with carbon and make it difficult to seat .44 Mags if you shoot enough .44 Spec through it.  I also wouldn't use lead projectiles in any gun.  They're just too messy, and although I don't know for sure, it may have just been the fowling from lead and lube that gave you trouble until the gun cooled and gunk fell out.

3) If it were my pistol, I'd not use lead in it and see how it went with jacketed projectiles.  If it persisted in the problem, I would take it to a reputable gunsmith who specializes in SW's or I'd send it back to Smith and ask them to take a look at it.