Hammer won't cock

So I have a Braztech International (Rossi) .357 revolver. Today i was out at the shooting range having a damn good time, then all of a sudden my hammer stopped locking when I pulled it back to cock it. I can probably pull the hammer about half way back now before it won't go any further.

Any tips on what the problem possibly could be? One person told me I needed to clean it, but I don't think that is the problem because I freshly cleaned and oiled my gun a week ago and haven't shot it since then.

Any thoughts?

Something in the sear/lifter/hammer/pawl area is broken. It may only be a spring, part of which is jamming something.
The pistol's sideplate has to come off. This is a job for a gunsmith, not for you. Just getting the sideplate off is a specialized job, since it mustn't be pried off.

Thanks Steve... I definately agree this wouldn't be a job for me. Is that something common to happen in revolvers? This same gun I had to send back to the manufacturer a week after I bought it due to the cylinder popping completely off from the frame.

Sounds like you need to get it fixed and get it gone. I've yet to have a revolver break like that and I have a few older ones.

Taking the side plate is really pretty simple. On most if not all DA Revolvers I have worked on. Take the grip panels off and in the frame should be a hole 3/8" or so behind the side plate that you can use a wood dowel or punch to remove the plate from the back, no prying necessary.
Then you can look and see if there is any broken parts or a spring on the hand has come off, etc
just my $.02

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Coyotemoon

Taking the side plate is really pretty simple...in the frame should be a hole 3/8" or so behind the side plate...you can use a wood dowel or punch to remove the plate from the back, no prying necessary...

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I have been told, and shown, that the proper method of removing a side-plate, after all of its screws have been removed, is to hold the gun on its side, with the side-plate facing upwards, and then to tap upwards against the underside of the gun (that is, its other side). That should pop it loose without any damage.

I still wouldn't do it. I don't know enough about fixing DA-revolver innards.
And I also know that if it is taken apart clumsily, you'll have one heck of a time finding all of the parts that dropped out.

But that's just me.

LOL Has happened a few times, things can fly