So when i bought the 29-3, i checked it out and did the general lock up and bore checks, it passed them all. Apparently, i didnt look close enough and found a few large chips out of the outside of the Forcing cone. Now, the question of the month is...

I would think that this should be something to fix. I was told by a gunsmith i know that the whole barrel has to be replaced. Should i just send it back to S&W and hope i can get the legendary random fix even tho its a pre-89 and im the third owner, Or should i try a local shop, or do you think chips on the outside is a huge issue? I would assume 44 mag is metal missing (even tho its a bit) would equal a bad plan.

Also, can you send two pistols to S&W at the same time for a repair? or do they want one at a time?

Thanks all.

You can definately ship 2 at a time to them. I've done it personally.

As for the "chips" , pics would really help, since it is hard to know exactly what you are seeing without seeing it ourselves. I wouldn't worry about them unless there's substantial metal missing from around the outside of the forcing cone.

If you ship it back, they'll look it up by serial, assess the guns condition, and send you an invoice agreement for you to sign and send back before they will begin to work on it. I am 99.999% sure you'll get charged.

Ill take a pic tonight to show. Its more metal then i would think could come off, but it does not touch the inner lip of the forcing cone. So im kinda confused how it happened.

Oh im fine in the end paying, since i am still damn happy with the pistol in general. I just want it in tip top shape for the new home.

heres the pic. Shes been shot alot as you can see, but overall shes in good shape for a nickel gun. I cant quite figure out why the wear would be on the outside of the forcing cone, not on the inside, the timing seems to be on...

Attached Images

force.jpg (58.0 KB, 430 views)

It's hard to tell since your flash washed out the pic some, but I wouldn't worry in the least over what it looks like in that pic. It doesn't appear to be missing much metal at all.

If it where my gun, I wouldn't worry about what I saw in that picture. I don't have any safe queens, mine are all working guns. If you are looking for a collectible, by all means have it repaired but if you are planning on using it, take it out and enjoy it. Just my 1/50th of a dollar and really, worth less than that.

Enjoy.

That may not be pretty but it is nothing to worry about. I would shoot and enjoy the gun and forget about it.

IMHO, it looks like a little bit of the nickel flaked off there and may have taken an accompanying tiny divot of the base steel underneath, but nowhere near as much as I envisioned from your description. I agree with the previous poster who said if it's to be a shooter, I would feel fine shooting it like it is. If you want a showpiece on the other hand, a trip home to the factory [U]is[U] in order. That's my free advice and probably worth every bit of what you paid for it!

Over-agressive cleaning, maybe? I agree it may be nickel has flaked off. I would shoot it, & not worry about it.

Darrel

Here's the bad news: It will never be a collectors piece. It doesn't matter if you keep it as it is, or replace the entire barrel. Collectors want original condition guns and reject both minor divots or replaced barrels. You're in a pickle. If you just want a fine gun to shoot from time to time, keep it as it is and shoot it to your hearts content. It'll be fine for that. If it bothers you that much, sell it and buy a perfect one.

If it were me, I'd just ignore the issue completely. Its just nothing to worry about. But then I personally have a few chunks and divots missing from my wretched old body, so something as minor as whats in the photo is nothing.

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Dick Burg

If it were mine, I would shoot and enjoy it. I don't think that there is enough metal missing to be a safety concern, particularly if you use less than full house loads. I would not send it to Smith & Wesson because they likely will not have a replacement barrel. However, a good gunsmith should be able to set the existing barrel back on a lathe, you'll end up with about a 5 3/4" barrel 29-3 instead of a 6" but I'd shoot it and fix it only if it cracked or somehow worsened.

Best of luck,
Steve

Sometimes the frames of 29-3s crack when the barrel is removed. I believe S&W would likely saw the barrel off at the frame, so there will be no setting-back of that barrel. (If you let a local 'smith try to remove the barrel and he cracks the frame, you are probably going to be out of luck.)

I agree with everything Rburg said (except maybe the "wretched old body" comment ). I would use the gun as-is and not spend a penny trying to fix what I see in that photo. If the gun is mechanically OK (endshake and timing), I would use it and be glad to have it.

Well hell guys! this is why i ask! If its cosmetic, then its not an issue. I dont believe in safe queens. I didnt know if a bit on the exterior would weaken it, or if that was just wear on a old used gun.

Thanks everyone.

IMO, It looks like the cylinder may have knocked on the barrel a few times when closing. Check the end shake, including the yoke. YMMV

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