Smith Revolver DA Timing

[Fizz]

Picked up a new to me 686 no dash from a board member, runs like a clock. However, I'm curious if my timing behavior is normal. In cocking the hammer in SA, the cylinder stop is locked into the cylinder notches well before the sear engages on all 6 tubes.

DA pull with the trigger, the cylinder stop narrowly engages the cylinder notches before the hammer is released. We're talking cylinder 'click' and 10 (eyeballing it here) thousandths further of trigger movement after the click before the hammer releases.

The hand looks sharp and the ratchet faces while not new aren't boogered or perceptibly below the original machining depths.

[alland]

That is normal. In SA mode the hammer travels well past the DA sear release point.

[JTROKS]

Sounds like a properly working action.

[ojisan]

Good to go.

[Fizz]

To be sure, I'm talking about the DA release point being so close in time to the cylinder lockup. I know the SA action is normal. Par for the course?

[usmcspud]

To be sure, I'm talking about the DA release point being so close in time to the cylinder lockup. I know the SA action is normal. Par for the course?

Yes

[ojisan]

When it starts to get out of time, the first sign is a really slow DA pull will not push the cylinder far enough around for the stop to engage.

A faster DA pull will give the cylinder some spin momentum and it will often go to lock up.
Some quality guns even when new need a little faster pull when not broken in.
Cheap guns may always need it.

As long as it locks before the hammer drops, even if just a little before, it's good.

If it doesn't lock before the hammer drops, usually it is the hand that needs replacing and fitting.