I purchased a Performance Center 627 V-Comp a week or so ago and took it to the range for the first time and put about 120 or so rounds through it. All in all I love it. The performance, the look, the feel, everything...

However, I'm noticing some strange markings where you would normally find flame cutting. Some of it looks like normal flame cutting, but some doesn't.

I'll let the picture tell the story...



You can see two lines going across the top strap, one looks like normal flame cutting except it flares out on the left side of the gun. The other one looks like someone took a file to it. Strangely, it also flares out on that same side and also the screw bottom received no such markings. So either this additional line occurred before it was fully assembled or the screw was somehow immune to whatever created the line. Is this a normal tooling mark?

Also, what would cause flame cuts to flare to one side? Are things out of alignment? Maybe the "flares" are part of the tooling marks that caused the other line and the flame cutting is simply occuring over it?

I did not look in this area before taking it to the range and I tried various types of ammo that day.

This might be all cosmetic, but still I'd rather not have any of these markings. Regular flame cutting; fine. I can deal with some thin symmetric line on my top strap. Asymmetric flame cutting and strange tooling marks; less than fine.

IMO what you are looking at is nothing more than lead deposits. If you shoot a bullet with an exposed lead base, some of that lead will get hot enough to enter the gaseaous phase. When that happens the first cool surface that is in the vapor path will condense that vapor back into a solid. It can also produce a deposit that looks like it's been applied with an air brush, just like what you're seeing on your gun.

At this point you'll have a bit of work to do and you may lose some finish in that area. In the future you can choose 2 different options. One is to just ignore it, it really isn't doing any harm to your gun. Second option is to only shoot bullets with a competely enclosed base, such as TMJ or SJSP. Personally for range practice, I prefer TMJ ammunition, it makes cleaning up the gun after a range outing so much easier.

Looks like maybe somebody used a stone to debur the sight mount hole on the underside. Flame cutting doesn't look like that and it does not occur at the hole sight.

I enhanced the picture and it sure looks like file or stone marks to me.

Attached Images

redo.jpg (212.9 KB, 278 views)

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Yeah, I may have gotten excited when I saw these kinds of markings when I inspected for signs of flame cutting. After obsessing for a few hours, they do seem more like file marks with a little flame cutting starting to begin.

Ok, so is this something I should expect from the Performance Center or what? I mean if that kind of filing is required to deburr, shouldn’t they just reject that frame, especially being Performance Center? Maybe I'm just obsessing, but unless most 627 V-Comps have these markings as well, I'm tempted to contact the Performance Center about remedying the situation. I dropped too much coin on this to not even try. Part of the reason I got this revolver was because of the cosmetics and top notch quality, which it has overall, but this bothers me a little. Why should I be the one with file marks?

I know it's a superficial flaw and no one will probably ever notice, but I will know it's there. I like the engine compartment and undercarriage of a car (or truck in my case) to look as good as the outside. Same with this revolver. Maybe it's the engineer in me...

I'm like you: I think any new gun should be a new gun and free of defects. That's why I only buy guns I can inspect first and will typically reject a lot of new SWs even some of the PC guns. It's just a mental disconnect: I think the gun should have ZERO defects and (apparrently) SW thinks only gross defects count.

I have the exact same revolver - 627 V-Comp. I've fired thousands of rounds through it and I don't have marking like that. That area on my revolver looks just a new as the rest of the revolver - FWIW.

Ok, so does anyone have any experience with S&W on correcting an issue as "minor" as this? From bountyhunter's post it sounds like I might have an issue...

@tyhlme - Thanks, I was hoping someone with this same model would find this thread...

Also, my front dovetail sight is loose... ***

The factory does the final b/c gap adjusting with a file. Lots of topstraps have these marks to varying degrees. This is also the reason so many b/c gaps are crooked.

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Mark

I've encountered this very problem 2 times. One on a 627 Pro-Series, a couple of years ago, and the other on a 58-1 I just bought a couple of months ago. They are file marks from the factory staff who are doing something with files that leave these marks. These are not the results of shooting. I sent both back to S&W and they were fixed under warranty for free, including shipping. I posted before and after pics of the 58, on this forum recently. They fixed both guns to my complete satisfaction.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

I would call SW and ask if they will refinish the frame (after they fix the front sight).

Makes sense. I'll bet that's how it got there. maybe we should all chip in and buy them a roll of masking tape.

If we did, then every new owner would have to clean the residual glue off the top strap. Sadly, it appears that the quality at S&W is not what it once was.

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Always Stay Strong!

Thanks guys for all your input. Much appreciated! I'll call up S&W first thing on Monday...

Just glad that no one told me to just "get over it."

Thanks for this - I'm about to buy myself a V-COMP and I'll go over it for any similar file marks before I do any deal. They really shouldn't ship them like that.

Anyway, easier than rectifying later.

What you are looking at is the grinding marks where the sight screw was ground flush with the frame.

Since S&W went to Drilled and Taped frames for scope mounts this is not an uncommon occurrence. When that front sight screw sticks out below the top strap it must be shortened. It is done in the frame because the screw can not be shorter than the top strap. If it is short the little divot causes a strange reflection of propellant gas and placed little circles on the cylinder.

I know this because I had one of the short ones and learned of all this when these circles appeared on my 327 cylinder.

Hey, I just thought I would follow up on this. I sent it back to S&W and they refinished the frame without any hassle. It looks really good in that area and I'm overall pretty satisfied with the results. The serial number is a little harder to read, but other than that I can't complain. I just tell myself a "ghosty" SN# will add to the mysterious character of this unique looking firearm.

Also, I will mention that I sent it without the compensator or the replacement cap and to my surprise I received it back with an extra compensator! That was a real nice bonus. Now I can alternate between compensators for cleaning, because they are not the easiest things to get clean. Soak one while the other is mounted. Sweet!

I got say I am really pleased with S&W and I think I am going to be a S&W addict for life. Already looking at a 360PD or a M&P360 for carry. I would go insane if a 332PD came out...