S&W 460 hammer rubbing frame

[jerzy]

What could be causing this?

 

[T-DOGG]

I think a few zoomed out pictures, showing the entire area along with a view from the rear, would be very helpful.

 

[DocIndy]

Looks like the hammer isn’t centered. Might try reaching out to S&W customer service and send them those pics.

 

[jerzy]

 

[Bosshoss]

I have seen this several times.
First thing is to take it apart and if you look at the top down picture with the hammer cocked see the BLUE spring on the left side?
That is the spring for the lock and it needs to be seated all the way in the groove in the frame. Can't really tell in the picture but some times they have a bow in them and just spinning them around will seat them. When you take it apart if the spring is sticking out and the hammer is hitting it on the way down pushing the hammer to the right, there will usually be blue paint flakes from the spring around the lock.
Just make sure the hammer clears the spring.
Some times the hammer just hits the frame and I clear the frame and put a shim on the outside of the hammer.
Hitting the frame will slow the hammer down and cause misfires.
I have had 2 guns in the shop that went back to S&W for misfires and they said nothing was found and they returned the gun to the owners. They brought them to me and this was the problem.
The other's were guns that hadn't been fired yet or very little and were in for trigger jobs or action work and the problem was found when doing a initial inspection.
S&W should take care of this but if they don't or you don't want to wait on them get the gun to me and I can check it out and get it fixed or you can tackle it yourself if you feel comfortable doing it.
Good Luck


Edit: Also check that the lock flag is seated all the way the picture above it looks like it has a gap between the frame and the flag.

 

[T-DOGG]

The man has spoken!

 

[printcraft]

Edit: Also check that the lock flag is seated all the way the picture above it looks like it has a gap between the frame and the flag.

It is gapped, I wonder if the lock retaining clip has worked out somehow?
The lock looks like it's recessed in the frame quite a bit, it should fit flush.

This "looks" like the end of the spring that's on the retaining clip, I don't think this should be visible.

 

[jerzy]

I have seen this several times.
First thing is to take it apart and if you look at the top down picture with the hammer cocked see the BLUE spring on the left side?
That is the spring for the lock and it needs to be seated all the way in the groove in the frame. Can't really tell in the picture but some times they have a bow in them and just spinning them around will seat them. When you take it apart if the spring is sticking out and the hammer is hitting it on the way down pushing the hammer to the right, there will usually be blue paint flakes from the spring around the lock.
Just make sure the hammer clears the spring.
Some times the hammer just hits the frame and I clear the frame and put a shim on the outside of the hammer.
Hitting the frame will slow the hammer down and cause misfires.
I have had 2 guns in the shop that went back to S&W for misfires and they said nothing was found and they returned the gun to the owners. They brought them to me and this was the problem.
The other's were guns that hadn't been fired yet or very little and were in for trigger jobs or action work and the problem was found when doing a initial inspection.
S&W should take care of this but if they don't or you don't want to wait on them get the gun to me and I can check it out and get it fixed or you can tackle it yourself if you feel comfortable doing it.
Good Luck


Edit: Also check that the lock flag is seated all the way the picture above it looks like it has a gap between the frame and the flag.

I was considering deleting the lock anyway. Maybe I'll just order the delete parts

 

[Bosshoss]

Smith & Wesson Revolver Internal Lock Plug Replacement Kit

Buy a replacement Smith & Wesson Revolver Internal Lock Plug kit at TK Custom. This kit includes a new retainer and an easily installed internal lock plug.

tkcustom.com

Lock Delete - ORIGINAL PRECISION - Home of J.D.'s Original Works

LOCK DELETE for S&W Revolvers & J FRAME MOON CLIPS and CNC MOON CLIP CONVERSION for sale. Engineered / Manufactured in Arizona U.S.A. by ORIGINAL PRECISION. We Invent our own products. 480-305-3236

www.originalprecision.com

I have installed a lot of these in customers guns but never in any of my guns as mine are all shooters and I don't care what they look like.
You can also disable the lock by grinding the nub off of the flag but that won't help with the problem you are having.

Without seeing the gun it is hard to say that the lock is the problem but deleting it won't hurt anything except your wallet
Like I said I have seen lots(most actually) of guns with the hammer hitting the frame and the lock WASN'T the problem.

 

[jerzy]

Smith & Wesson Revolver Internal Lock Plug Replacement Kit

Buy a replacement Smith & Wesson Revolver Internal Lock Plug kit at TK Custom. This kit includes a new retainer and an easily installed internal lock plug.

tkcustom.com

Lock Delete - ORIGINAL PRECISION - Home of J.D.'s Original Works

LOCK DELETE for S&W Revolvers & J FRAME MOON CLIPS and CNC MOON CLIP CONVERSION for sale. Engineered / Manufactured in Arizona U.S.A. by ORIGINAL PRECISION. We Invent our own products. 480-305-3236

www.originalprecision.com

I have installed a lot of these in customers guns but never in any of my guns as mine are all shooters and I don't care what they look like.
You can also disable the lock by grinding the nub off of the flag but that won't help with the problem you are having.

Without seeing the gun it is hard to say that the lock is the problem but deleting it won't hurt anything except your wallet
Like I said I have seen lots(most actually) of guns with the hammer hitting the frame and the lock WASN'T the problem.

If it isn't the lock, what would it be?

 

[Bosshoss]

Could be several Things but would have to see the gun to verify.
Most likely if not the lock it is just tolerance stacking and needs frame cleared.

 

[jerzy]

Could be several Things but would have to see the gun to verify.
Most likely if not the lock it is just tolerance stacking and needs frame

 

[jerzy]

So the frame could be bad? Sorry fairly new to revolvers

 

[jerzy]

Could be several Things but would have to see the gun to verify.
Most likely if not the lock it is just tolerance stacking and needs frame cleared.

Seems to me the gap between the plate on the left might not supposed to be there and the fact that it moves and the gap changes between hammer back and hammer down

 

[Bosshoss]

Sorry typing on phone.
Frame and sideplate probably just needs cleared some but like I said need to check lock out and some other things first.
Sorry probably nothing wrong with the frame but it is the easiest to get the needed clearance.
The hammer might be a little oversize, the hammer stud boss could be a little high, the bolt(the part that the cylinder release attaches to) could have a burr or something under it. Lots of things to check.
Start with the lock and if nothing shows up there then start looking at other things.

 

[Bosshoss]

There is a spring under the flag of the lock.
The flag is the part that goes up and down when you turn the lock.
The spring has a slot that it fits into the frame.
It might be displaced if someone has had the gun apart and didn't realize it wasn't in the slot.

 

[jerzy]

There is a spring under the flag of the lock.
The flag is the part that goes up and down when you turn the lock.
The spring has a slot that it fits into the frame.
It might be displaced if someone has had the gun apart and didn't realize it wasn't in the slot.

I'll tear it down tonight

 

[DoggyDaddy]

the hammer stud boss

Which, not coincidentally is one of Bosshoss's other nicknames.

 

[jerzy]

There is a spring under the flag of the lock.
The flag is the part that goes up and down when you turn the lock.
The spring has a slot that it fits into the frame.
It might be displaced if someone has had the gun apart and didn't realize it wasn't in the slot.

I tore it down, spring appeared to be correct, didn't see anything odd. I ordered the lock delete and a set of hammer shims. Once i put it back together i double checked the hammer. It has side play only to the right. Seems like a couple shims should take that play out of the hammer. Ordered everything from tk customs

 

[led4thehed2]

I tore it down, spring appeared to be correct, didn't see anything odd. I ordered the lock delete and a set of hammer shims. Once i put it back together i double checked the hammer. It has side play only to the right. Seems like a couple shims should take that play out of the hammer. Ordered everything from tk customs

I had hammer/frame rub on my Ruger Redhawk - hammer shims fixed that nicely. Hope they help you too.