questions regarding .357?

E.Williams

June 19, 2002 23:17

My father has a Rossi 971 that he bought from a friend who needed money for $100.00.Its not all that bad of a gun I really love the trigger on it in s/a if my finger brushes the trigger it will fire.But for my questions(1)There is a reoccurring problem where sometimes powder will spray back and hit you in the face.I like to shoot it at the range but dont like leaving with a bloody cheek.It only does it on mag rounds not .38spl.What can be done to combat this?(2)My father and I have never gone for groups we have always just shot for X rings or bottles...etc. whatever we were shooting at the time.I have recentley got into seeing what kind of groups I can get.I shot a six shot group with my fathers S&W 5906 at 50 feet and it was 1 3/4 inches.I shot a six shot group with the Rossi 971 at 50 feet and it was right under 3/4 of a inch.Is this a good group at that distance?Nobody else with us could do that with the Rossi.I have always shot revolvers better though.My second group with the Rossi was a little under 1 inch.I know people talk bad about Rossi but at least its not a Jennings Nine!Even if not far from it.At least it wont misfeed a bullet at the wrong time.Thank you for any help given I just want to get that Rossi good for the range.So He wont pay mre than $50.00 to correct the problem.but thanks in advance

Eric S. Williams

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  Tailgunner1954

  June 20, 2002 04:08

  Most likely your getting spray comming from the cylinder / barrel gap. Check the gap, as I remember it should be around .010, the cylinder can be shimmed to adjust this. The other thing would be cylinder timing which your gunsmith can check for you (special tool).
  

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  Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.

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  Xracer

  June 20, 2002 04:45

  Sounds like a very dangerous gun to me!
  
  I'd suggest you not fire it again until you've taken it to a competent gunsmith for a thorough going-over.

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  rballi

  June 20, 2002 05:23

  First step, take it to a gunsmith to give it a checkup. You said powder is hitting you in the face; can you see the actual powder grains? Powder shouldn't give you a bloody cheek. If indeed you did bleed, it's probably lead or copper shavings and your problems is either gap or timing as stated earlier. You can also get splattered sometimes if you have excess oil in/on the gun, or with some reloads.
  
  Again, a competant gunsmith should be able to tell you what is wrong with the gun. I would not shoot it until it's been looked at.

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  Nighthawk

  June 20, 2002 05:32

  First I agree with saxonpig as he is usually right and secondly it sounds more probable to me that it might be shaving lead. Then yes you were shooting good groups with the gun and that does not corroborate with the gun shaving lead.You got what sounds like a good deal on the gun,I believe you should let a good gun smith diagnose your problem.Also Rossi has improved a great deal on the quality of their firearms. Hope this helps.
  
  Rugster
  
  Edited by - rugster on 06/20/2002 09:33:11

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  E.Williams

  June 20, 2002 10:48

  It does not spit all the time maybe 1 out of every 15 fired.When I cock the hammer back the cyclinder will move a little bit does this tie in with the cylinder barrel gap being off?I will take it to a gunsmith.One time I fired a .357 and something hit me in the cheek and left a cut all the way down my neck.Not a bad one but still.The last time I went and shot it I picked grains of unburned powder off my fac though but not saying its not lead too.Thanks
  
  Eric S. Williams

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  nmyers

  June 20, 2002 11:13

  You got a lot of good advice above.
  
  Don't be concerned about wiggle when the hammer is cocked. With the gun empty, cock the hammer. Pull the trigger and use your thumb to ease the hammer all the way forward, while you continue to hold the trigger all the way back. At THIS time, check the cylinder for proper lock-up. Repeat test for all 6 chambers.
  
  Do not ignore rballi's warning about not firing it again until it is checked out by a 'smith; this problem could cause lethal failure.
  
  Neal

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  E.Williams

  June 20, 2002 13:38

  nmyers I did what you said about checking each cylinder.When I do this I still have about a 1/16th of an inch wiggle in my cylinder.Despite that it feels kind of tight.Can I get a new cylinder or something or not worth the money
  
  Eric S. Williams

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  Shootist3006

  June 20, 2002 14:25

  This sounds a whole lot like a timing problem (Saxon was right - AGAIN!). Take it to a competent smith and get it fixed before you hurt yourself. It should not be an expensive or difficult fix.
  Good luck and let us know what you do.
  
  Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis

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