I am wondering if its normal to have ruff machine marks in the front entrance of the barrel? I noticed this on my brand new J-frame. I hope this is normal.

I added some pictures. I am very concerned.

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	IMAG0126.jpg (49.4 KB, 477 views)

Depends on what you really mean. If you are talking about the breech, cylinder, end of the barrel, then some roughness in the forcing cone is normal. Rough is subjective, what I would see as normal you might think is "ruff".

If you mean the muzzle end of the barrel, the "exit" if you will, any roughness in the bore would be extremely odd as all new standard production barrels are rifled by EDM, electrical discharge machining, and should be extremely smooth. This does not include .22 caliber and Performance Center barrels.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I have marked the area red in a picture. Its like the rifling of the barrel starts 3/16th our so right after the spot with the machining marks marked in red. I would like to know if this is normal.

I really appreciate your time and help to answer my questions.

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Send those pics to Smith and Wesson customer service and see what they say. I just had my 627 pro fixed because of a rough crown.

I hope this is normal. If something is unusual again I would very much like a refund. This is my second replacement already the first one had a warped frame. All new guns never fired.

From what I can see in your pictures, those marks are pretty
typical of forcing cone machine marks. All 5 of my Smiths have
them and so does my Dan Wesson. Here is the cone of a 4"
624 made in the mid 1980's.

The only way to get a smooth forcing cone is to get it polished
or re-cut by a good gunsmith. I am having this done to my
Mountain Revolver. I'll try to remember to post pix when it gets
back.

This "roughness" seems in no way to affect accuracy or performance
nor does lead build up with target loads.
Over 900 fps I go to a copper bullet.
This gun has not been shot much.



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Nemo

I think 'Nemo' pretty much has it covered. In this day of profit driven production, the limits of what is 'acceptable' are somewhat relaxed when compared to the era of craftsmanship in gun making.

Most likely, the forcing cone was cut on a CNC lathe as part of the same operation as the other machining on the breech end of the barrel, i.e.; turning the shank and threading it - and was just as likely performed by a relatively unskilled operator (as opposed to an old school production machinist).

In today's world, they're gambling that the average buyer either won't notice the machining in the forcing cone, or won't be concerned by what they (we) see in an area that isn't seen except when we're really looking for that sort of thing.

That said, I personally don't see anything in your pics that I'd be overly alarmed about. It won't effect the safety or reliability of the gun, and it 'shouldn't' have any negative effect on performance. If we expect a 100% pristine product, we'll be disappointed more often than we're satisfied.

At least this is my opinion based on over 20 years in firearms manufacturing.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

The question is: what are you going to use this pistol for? If it was to be used in PPC, those machine marks might, depending on the rest of the pistol be enough to affect accuracy a slight bit. For a J frame which is intended for 10 yards or less, it is doubtful if they will have any effect on accuracy whatsoever. Everyone of my smith revolvers has some amount of machine marks on the forcing cone area, to include a couple that were produced back in the golden age of hand craftsmanship

While those marks are not a thing of beauty, if the gun shoots well they don't matter.

Your forcing cone looks allot more symmetrical and professional then mine. Mine does not looks as symmetrical and neat.

I appreciate everyone's time to respond to my post. I called S&W and the guy told me it's normal to be ruff in that area like you other experienced members said. I also asked the s&w tech to look at my pic and he said more then likely its fine and there is no need to look at it. He said it was ruff so that it wouldn't spit out debris from the bullet cutting into the barrel groove.

I am hoping its alright I am falling for this gun already and really hoping for the best now. It does see a little abnormally ruff then others but maybe if i shoot allot of FMJ threw her it might smooth it out?

Weld,

Your last posted photo shows a perfectly normal forcing cone, as a matter of fact a lot smoother than many I have seen. It makes no difference how many jacketed bullets you shoot through it, you will not "smooth out" the forcing cone. A bullet does not even touch most of that surface if the timing is correct.

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

If you really want peace of mind and to make this issue disappear
forever, have a good pistolsmith touch up the forcing cone.
They will be able to make sure the cone is concentric with the bore
and the machine marks will be gone.

I have never before heard the "point" that the roughness in the
forcing cone reduces the spitback from the bullet being engraved.
I am not a physicist but logic suggests that smoother
is better when reshaping something.

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Nemo