I know spec is .004 to .010.

I have a

686+pc with a .004 (great, but the front sight was a disaster)
a 386+ NG with a .008
a 586 L comp - not tested yet (almost scared to)
and ... a brand new 327 TRR8 with a .012

Should I be concerned with the TRR8? It's the most expensive gun I've purchased to date. Add to it I just got a red dot and 80 VZ grips and well.... I think you get the point.

Real Disappointed in the PC.... real disappointed.

The cylinder gap should be between 0.005 and 0.008. Anything above 0.010" would make you an unwelcome guest at an open firing line.

The TRR8 cylinder gap is an easy fix, but you need to have S&W do it. It's a two-part barrel (as you must know), which is screwed into the receiver to establish the gap, then tensioned with a bushing at the muzzle. The barrel is kept from turning with a tool that engages the rifling while the bushing is torqued.

A one-piece barrel is installed with a crush fit, where the barrel is held by the shoulder machined ahead of the threads before facing the cone for clearance. In order to adjust the gap (with the cylinder properly shimmed) or repair a canted barrel, a new shoulder must be cut and the forcing cone refinished and faced. Any competent gunsmith can do this.

S&W will not sell the tools nor specify the torque required for the installation of two-piece barrels. It should be re-torqued periodically, based on the round count (??).

All I know based on MANY posts is that SW will not fix a gun with an .012" b/c gap so don't bother trying to get them too. It won't affect performance that much, lose a bit of muzzle velocity. I wouldn't worry about it at all. Yes, PC guns are a chronic disappointment but my gripes are more about twisted (clocked) barrels, off center hammers dragging the frame, awful triggers, side plates not fitted and other serious problems.

Thanks... my nightguard just came back with a specific note that the cylinder to barrel gap was in spec at .004 to 010. No idea why they noted that because it wasn't sent in for that reason but whatever.

So..... looks like I should send this TRR8 back.

The 627 v comp I was holding when I bought my TRR8 had an absolutely atrocious trigger.

If I send it back I'll simply use the specs they wrote down to pin them into fixing it. They put it in black and white. This one will rotate the cylinder when the trigger is pulled with a .012 gauge between the cylinder and barrel. That's BS from a brand new PC, 1k + gun.

That is a pretty loose .012 when you can operate the gun with the gauge in place. I to would be dissapointed too.