Well, it's not a short center pin! The way the extractor rod sits in the barrel lug, it is apparant that something is amiss. I can't tell from the pictures if the barrel is straight in the frame. You may have to send that one home to see if Smith can diagnose and fix.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Which picture did you determine that from? In the third, the cylinder is not closed. It's closed in the second.
About what would that trip back to Smith and Wesson cost?

Love my 5" 27. Used to carry it every day in the cop shop. Have a scope mounted on it now.

Richard,
It's on the way to Smith, now. I'll let you know what I find out.
Dick

I'm supposed to hear from S&W, tomorrow, about the charges!

I like it. You did well!

Thank you, Jim!

very cool looking, great save.

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God save the SOUTH

Thank you, 44!
Hoping to hear from the factory, soon!
Dick

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Loooooooooooooks Great. Enjoy the thang.

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My brother is my Hero

I would not want to use the gun without the front bolt, even though it seems to shoot fine as-is, and we know it is not absolutely necessary. The factory will fix this old girl up and, though they might frown a bit on the barrel work ( ), you should get back a good shooter. You did the right thing in sending it back to them - too nice of a gun to leave in a state of disrepair.

I am anxious to hear the rest of this story, so do get back to us when the gun is returned.

I think it's great.

__________________
Dyin ain't much of a livin

My 29,
I agree, on not shooting it without the front pin! I'm on pins and needles, right now, waiting for their estimate! I was told to expect one by the 14th. They logged the gun in on the 1st..

Thanks, BadGuy!

Reddog you put together a great project shooter at a great price, enjoy that guy

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Always Stay Strong!

Thanks, Bear!
I'm afraid the price is going to go up considerably when I hear from S&W!
Dick

Still no word from S&W? At least next week, now.

Nothing yet?

Be patient. When your gun rolled in, they probably had to find a guy who still knows about real revolvers. Who knows if there are still many of them at work up there?

I am. I received an email yesterday that my contact was off through this week. Maybe next week!
Dick

My philosophy is that with a shooter you put the grips on the gun that makes the gun shoot best for you. I have Pachmay Grippers on my 27-3. They are, to be honest, incredibly ugly. They are also the most comfortable grips I've ever used. With them I can shoot magnum rounds all day long without any discomfort. Given that, I can put up with the ugliness.

I received the invoice from S & W, today. $227! They said the barrel wasn't tight, the hammer would push off, it was out of time and the sight was bent. They're replacing the hammer, the cylinder stop, the hand, the center pin and fixing everything else. They said I should get it back in about a month. More than I had hoped. Stay tuned.
Dick

Reddog
More than you hoped to pay or more work than you thought was required?
price for the work sounds more than reasonable--it may be more than you hoped to pay.
Sounds like it coming together for you though.
Congradulations on that.
Blessings

__________________
TEXAS, by GOD

William,
This puts the total up around $750, now. Quite a bit for a shooter in my book.
Dick

I enjoy projects like this and am always on the lookout for another one. Sometimes they end up costing more than I expected. I don't worry about it though. I figure that I ended up with a nice gun and a lot of hours of enjoyment pulling it all together. That has to be worth something.

Thank you, Gary!
You're right!
Dick

Reddog:

This is a case where you took a chance - you saw the bulged barrel and had to determine whether or not the previous owner abused the gun - and it didn't quite work out for you. At least once back from the factory you'll know you have a good and safe shooting pistol. I'm surprised that none of the previous gunsmiths you took it to noticed the problems - especially a loose barrel and hammer push-off.

Best of luck,

Dave

Yessir, Dave!
Apparently, the local smith wasn't as good as I thought? He did the barrel work. You're right. I took a chance.
I can't complain about Smith & Wesson. They quoted 20 hours of labor at $6 an hour. My Chrysler dealer charges me 10 times that much to work on my car!
Dick

Good attitude sir. I respect and applaud you for it.

Dave

__________________
RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

"They quoted 20 hours of labor at $6 an hour."

I think you will find that Smith & Wesson quotes labor in increments of 1/10 hour so that would be twenty 1/10 hour labor units (2 hours) total and the hourly rate would be $60/hour. Two hours labor would still seem a bargain in my book anyway.



Bruce

Didn't know that, Bruce.
Thank you!
Dick

I have shortened two S&W's, both M/29's. The first was a 29-2 with an 8 3/8" barrel, I shortened the barrel to 5" and had Jim Stroh/Alpha Precision machine a S&W style crown. The second was a 5 screw .44 Magnum which I purchased with an extra period correct 6 1/2" barrel. The gun lettered with the 4" barrel it came with, so I saw no reason not to shorten the un-numbered 6 1/2" barrel. So I now have a 5 Screw .44 Magnum with 5" barrel, one of my "grail guns".

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What it proves---not withstanding the value if it is a collectable---is that you can buy a beater and get it fixed to be a good shooter.
I think you did good---the attitude is excellent.
I doubt that you could get one in the shape you will have this one in for much less.
I want to see pics when you get it back.
Blessings

__________________
TEXAS, by GOD

Thank you, William!
I will be posting lots of pics!
Dick

Sooner than I expected. Just got home from picking it up at the FFL. Looks good! Let me check it out more and take some pics and I'll be back!
Dick

Go shoot it too!!!

Glad you got it back

Hey, Curt!
I did, and so far, I'm not real pleased! You can see from the target I shot, this evening, that it apparently doesn't like my old standby load. 153 gr. cast semi-wad and 3.7 gr. 700X in 38 Special. I shot three targets with this load, so it's not just a fluke.
The trigger went from 2.25lb., before to 4.0, after. That could account for part of it. Also, they replaced a lot of parts, center pin, trigger, hammer, cylinder stop, hand and rebound slide. They reseated the barrel and straightened the rear sight base. It looks good and every thing is tight, now. Also they fixed the cylinder so it opens easy, which was the original complaint. I suppose after those parts are worn in it will shoot better? Also, I'll try some different loads, too. I did change back to the Shooting Star stocks, that might have made a difference, but I doubt it. I should be able to improve it with various different powder charges and bullets, too. I won't get a chance to shoot it again until Friday, have to go to Doc, tomorrow. I'll work with it for a while. I've never had a Smith yet that I couldn't make shoot!
Dick

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You've changed a LOT of things on that gun. It doesn't surprise me it is not quite shooting for you like it was before it went to Springfield. I would expect the difference in the trigger pull and the stocks to have made the biggest differences in your shooting.

If your loads shot fine before, I wouldn't tamper with them. Do a little dry-firing, check your sights as you do for any sign of movement at hammer-fall, and make whatever adjustments in your technique that are indicated. I'd bet that gun will shoot just as good as it ever did, or maybe even better.

My 29,
I agree. I'll give it a while before I get too worried! I'm just not used to a Smith not shooting well?
Dick

Despite all the negativity, looks like a good shooter to me. Doesn't need the wood on a shooter!

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M66, M&P 360, 642, M85 UL/Ti

Austerity,
Do you not like the Herrett's?

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I just went out to try some different loads in the 27! It's 102° in the shade! Think I'll wait a couple hours and try again!
Dick

I did get out at almost 8 PM, last evening! These three targets show where I'm at now. It's definately going to shoot well, but now, I don't have any sight adjustment left? It's adjusted all the way down and all the way left? What do I do now? Shouldn't the factory have checked this before returning the gun?
Dick

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Any recommendations on getting the gun to print more to the left? The heighth doesn't bother me much.
Dick

The factory is sending a return lable for the 27. They are going to fix it!
Dick

Sounds like they didn't get the barrel fitted quite right. Before you ship it off, set the rear sight to dead center.

My 29,
I agree on the barrel not being square. Do you mean move the sight to where it looks like it's in the middle of the gun or on tne target?
Dick

Dick, set the rear sight in the middle of it's adjustment travel up and down & left to right. The theory being when Smith shoots it they will see just how bad it is. Glad they are going to mkae it right.

Yes, Curtis is correct. It is something the technician could "overlook" (if left at the extreme setting), and then not make sufficient correction when he re-clocks the barrel to correct POI-POA for the sight when centered up. Always best to try and avoid any possible problems. Set it back to center before shipping, no matter how the gun shoots at that setting.

Thank you both for your help! Now I understand. I'll do it.
Dick

When I went to adjust the rear sight to the center, I found that the adjustment screw would only move 1/4 turn, clockwise, and none at all counterclockwise. I knew it was all the way to the left but was surprised to find it would only move 1/4 turn to the right? Something is jammed?
Dick