Ok, this is going to sound strange. At least it does to me. I recently purchased a S&W 340 no lock revolver. It is the version with the Scandium frame and the blacked out Stainless cylinder. 357.
As I was trying it out I noticed a "flash" at one point when I was dry firing in a dark room. I thought I was seeing things. So I moved to a mirror and dry fired looking directly down the barrel in the mirror. I have since dry fired a bunch and live fired the gun and it is still happening.
Basically every time you pull the trigger the firing pin and the firing pin "collar" are creating a spark. It is weird. The collar appears to be a different metal to strengthen the area around the firing pin channel.
Initially I thought it might be a burr and would work itself out or whatever. Nope, keeps "sparking".
Mind you, you can only see it in a darkened environment, kind of like static cling on sheets. It could be a static discharge but it is weird and it doesn't happen with any other revolver that I have ever noticed.
I literally just dry fired a 640 Pro, 649, 43C, and nothing. Pick up this 340 and it is making a "spark", static discharge, whatever it is constantly upon firing.
I figure it has to be a dissimilar metal thing but for the life of me I am stumped.
Please someone tell me I am missing something obvious. lol
Shot the gun yesterday for first time. Just what you would expect. Great sight picture for a J frame (U notch with tritium XS small dot outlined). Also hurt to shoot even with 38 spl's . Nice gun, you won't shoot it all day though. Grouped well, happy with purchase. Sparking is weird.
January 20, 2023, 08:24 AM
longjohn
I have had that happen on many j frames. Never affected the gun firing not that i could determine anyway. I just chalked it up to friction and blew it off as a concern. Probably not much help to you but just my experience with the same phenomenon.
January 20, 2023, 08:33 AM
pedropcola
Thanks. I googled it and it seems fairly common with some guns. How have I never heard of this? Still seems odd.
January 20, 2023, 08:58 AM
cslinger
I pride myself on having at least a modicum of wide knowledge on firearms and I’ve never heard of this not have I ever specifically seen or noticed it. (Guess what I am doing later today. )
Learn something new all the time I guess.
Take Care, Shoot Safe, Chris
January 20, 2023, 08:59 AM
pedropcola
Oh make no doubt I pulled a bunch of revolvers out to make sure I wasn’t being crazy. Lol
January 20, 2023, 09:19 AM
92fstech
Interesting...my wife is gonna think I've gone crazy when I try this in the bathroom mirror tonight with all my J-Frames, lol.
January 20, 2023, 09:27 AM
HRK
quote:
Originally posted by 92fstech: Interesting...my wife is gonna think I've gone crazy when I try this in the bathroom mirror tonight with all my J-Frames, lol.
In the dark as well, maybe get a little Barry White playing, a nice scented candle.....
January 20, 2023, 09:28 AM
cslinger
What’s funny is this is probably one of those things that has existed forever but as soon as it gains traction in the modern world on the internet it will blow up into some GINORMOUS deal somewhere.
quote:
Interesting...my wife is gonna think I've gone crazy when I try this in the bathroom mirror tonight with all my J-Frames, lol.
Like I’m the ONLY guy who’s ever dryfire’d into a mirror.
Take Care, Shoot Safe, Chris
January 20, 2023, 09:40 AM
92fstech
quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
In the dark as well, maybe get a little Barry White playing, a nice scented candle.....
Is there any other way ? There is already a scented candle in there, but it's not really for the purpose of romantic ambiance !
January 20, 2023, 09:46 AM
cslinger
Well sonofabitch…….. I just grabbed a no lock 442 and I’ll be damned it totally sparked once or twice. It wouldn’t do it every time, and I only got it to show like twice but it absolutely did exhibit. It looks almost like a tiny arc of electricity jumping wires.
Like I said, learn something new every day.
Take Care, Shoot Safe, Chris
January 20, 2023, 09:47 AM
Rick_Perry
quote:
Originally posted by 92fstech:
quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
In the dark as well, maybe get a little Barry White playing, a nice scented candle.....
Is there any other way ? There is already a scented candle in there, but it's not really for the purpose of romantic ambiance !
Impress her by lighting the candle with the "Flash" from the gun...
_________________________
Einstein defines insanity as "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results"
January 20, 2023, 09:49 AM
cslinger
quote:
Originally posted by Rick_Perry:
Impress her by lighting the candle with the "Flash" from the gun...
And definitely let us know how that works out for ya.
Take Care, Shoot Safe, Chris
January 20, 2023, 10:07 AM
RichardC
quote:
Originally posted by cslinger:
Like I’m the ONLY guy who’s ever dryfire’d into a mirror.
Well, no.
Which is why I put the right hand sticker on the mirror at eye level.
<--- not my 340 but you get the picture.
BTW, mine farted glitter until I Froglubed it. This message has been edited. Last edited by: RichardC,
____________________
January 20, 2023, 11:29 AM
Oaklane
My 360pd does the same. I initially thought it was just glare from the firing pin going thru the hole when dry firing. I never thought about it much. This is interesting.
January 20, 2023, 09:32 PM
92fstech
Well, I tried this tonight. I thought I saw it once with my 640, but I wasn't sure and couldn't get it to do it again. My Model 60 wouldn't do it, and my 31 wouldn't either. I didn't try the 63, as it's a rimfire and dry-fire seemed like a bad idea. I thought for sure the 360 would do it since it's a scandium frame and has that same metal collar around the firing pin channel that your 340 does, but I couldn't get it to spark either. Weird.
January 20, 2023, 11:22 PM
Ogie
Well no wonder the government wants to get rid of gas stoves and guns! It will eliminate all the explosions from guys dry firing their J-Frames.
January 20, 2023, 11:58 PM
ScotP7
And all over America that night…
No spark from my scandium / titanium 342.
January 21, 2023, 01:13 PM
alptraum
Noticed this many years ago with my 442.
January 21, 2023, 08:36 PM
Redleg06
I just checked my very early (50,xxx) Model 60 stainless and it doesn't spark.