Well I got screwed today. I bought a used model 66-6 for $450 today from my local gun shop. With much joy and anticipation I got home and went to my gun room and began cleaning it and preparing it to shoot. Then I saw it!!! A crack on the 6 o'clock position of the barrel. What can I do? Am I screwed? Will smith and Wesson fix it? Please help!!!

I'd take it back

I will try to take it back but I have my doubts he will take it back

Photos of the crack

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HI Dewey
Id see if he would take it back. If not you might check with your state attorney generals office.
In Maine where I live we have an Implied Warrantee Law that sez all products sold have a 3 year replace/ return warrantee. It includes guns.
Your state may have the same. I can tell you from experience with a big box store, they take this law seriously.
Best,
Capt. F

Yes, the infamous forcing cone crack. The factory no longer has new barrels and 'may' not warranty it. If not and the dealer won't own up to selling you a broken gun, best bet would be to find a replacement barrel and have it installed. Sorry for your troubles.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

It is a small private gun shop, I have purchased a lot of firearms from him over the years. I plan on seeing if he will take it back. I was wondering if I had any other options or not. Thank you for the help

Geez...I was expecting a little crack, I can imagine your shock...that's yuge. I'll bet the shop takes it back or at least offers you another gun. Why would they ever take that thing in anyway?

If you paid with a credit card ask customer service for holding up the funds.

A check,stop payment on it.

Cash,probably harder to get back from unscrupulous dealer.

No way he didn't know it was cracked.

Revolver buying check list.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

That's a pretty serious defect, such that I'd consider this a parts gun rather than a functioning firearm on safety grounds. If this is a reputable dealer, I'd expect him to take it back. If you are stuck with it, you can look for another barrel. I've bought a couple on eBay but don't see any currently listed there. GunPartsCorp, formerly Numerich Arms, has a few listed for later 66 versions, but they're pricey, around $150. You could also think about getting one of the Clark Custom bull barrels, fitting that and adding an Aristocrat rib. Not for everybody, but I'm a little weird like that.

See if he can refund you the cost of a replacement barrel?

It is very possible that he did not notice the issue.

A model 66 is worth fixing. They are great revolvers.

So would Smith and Wesson warranty this?

Of course I paid in cash...

If you end up being stuck with it, a barrel can be found if you're patient.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

No way to tell until you ask. They may say "no" outright or offer you credit toward a new version, the 66-8. This seems to be dependent on the customer service rep with whom you speak, and it may pay to be polite and respectful (not that you aren't naturally ). Certainly worth a call.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I believe S&W will make this right for you. Give them a call.

Had a 66 2-1/2" barrel in my parts bin for a decade or more. Gave it to Dr.Lou last year. Don't know if he's done anything with it yet. You might ask.

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CA is a great state to be FROM

I'd ask for refund or trade toward something else. If that's not doable, then a substantial cost reduction followed by search for replacement barrel and/or see what factory might do.
ETA:
Sorry for your misfortune and not much help but if you're stuck and don't wanna mess with it, I bet it would sell on the forum if price was right.

I got a bad barrel in a model 15 last month. It took me a few weeks to find a perfect barrel on ebay. There are 100's of S&W barrels for sale on ebay on any given day. Just keep watching if you can't get your money back.

I got a perfect barrel for $39..

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Go West young man..

He'll take it back. Either that or face blistering internet feedback from you, and others will avoid him. Plus, you said you're a regular or semi regular customer.
He has more to lose by being an arse than he has to gain.

^^^^what he said. You say you've given the LGS a lot of business, that's what you emphasize when you return it. I also wonder how much use/abuse that gun has been put through for that crack to appear. I wish you well.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. You didn't buy it as a parts gun or a "fixer-upper." IMO you shouldn't be responsible for repairing it or looking for parts.

Technically, the warranty only covers the original owner.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Best,
Rick

Please keep us posted, as to whatever resolution you arrive at. Good luck!

I hope your 66-6 is not ported like mine. That would be a real shame to have to waste that barrel.

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Accuracy supercedes Speed

That's right just rub it in. Seriously, I hope the dealer takes it back.

It is doubtful S&W can fix it. I understand they ran out of 19 and 66 barrels years ago. The new 66s have two-piece barrels that cannot be installed on that frame.

You could always keep it. If you look long enough, you will find a 66 barrel for replacement.

Hi Dewey126:

About 25 years ago, my wife and I bought a gasoline powered garden tiller from a local pawnshop. It looked good in the store, and they even took it outside into the parking lot and let me crank it up. Once we paid for it and got it home, I could not get that tiller to run properly. The worse thing was that once you cranked it up, it would leak gasoline everywhere. I took the tiller to a small engine repair mechanic, and he showed me where the engine block had a large crack in it that had been camouflaged by the use of some grease and dirt.

I tried to return the tiller to the pawnshop, and they basically just laughed at me. No refund, no willingness to work with me, they basically told me that I was stupid, and that I should have paid more attention to the tiller before I bought it.

Fortunately, I knew about the concept of "an implied warranty of merchantability":

legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Implied+Warranty

This concept essentially says that something you buy should function/operate as it was intended to. Without this legal concept, most people wouldn't be willing to buy any used merchandise.

After I explained this concept to the pawnshop manager, they couldn't work fast enough to rectify this situation. They immediately gave me a full refund for the tiller, as well as additional money for incidental expenses associated with this sale (such as the price of a can of oil, the price of a gallon of gas, etc.).

Hopefully, either the gun store owner or the S&W factory will be able to help you in this matter. If not, perhaps you should consider the implied warrant of merchantability.

Best of luck, please let us know how this turns out.

Regards,

Dave

How would you expect S&W to cover it under a warrantee?
It's not a manufacturer's defect & they have no replacement barrels.

Don't mean to sound cold-hearted, but they didn't create the problem, can't fix it, and they're not going to give you a new gun for it.
Denis

Model 66-6s are not very old. The dash 6s were the last Model 66s sold with one piece barrels. Since about 1989 S&Ws have been sold with a lifetime warranty. Despite not having Model 66 barrels to sell separately S&W might have a stash of them squirreled away to cover that warranty. While as written that warranty is only for the original owner I'd sure make the phone call to ask.

If S&W will not warranty it then I would get what ever I could out of the store owner. Despite multiple large signs that wrote "All used guns are sold as is" a local store where I was a regular customer gave me a store credit for a used Star pistol that was unreliable. I put the credit into a Model 67 which I did very well in matches with. The members who wrote you should get a 100% refund are probably technically correct but there are so few local gun stores that it is not worth burning the bridge.

The lesson here for everyone else is never buy the only gun in the store that has a dirty barrel. I'd bet a nickel that was the case and the store fouled the barrel to hide the crack. Was it the only dirty barrel Dewey126?

Good Morning:
Go to Ebay and type in "S&W Model 19 barrel".
There are several for sale.

There is a model 66 barrel on there currently for $99 with no bids.

Sorry to hear about your problem. Good luck getting a refund or repair.

As murphydog appreciates, forcing cone cracking is discussed extensively in other threads here, and seems often to relate to shooting .357 Mag loads with light (115gr or 125gr) bullets in M66s and M19s - so-called self-defense loads. Many people recommend shooting only 140gr or heavier bullets with .357 Mag loads in K-frames to avoid this problem.

As seen in Dewey126's photo, the problem seems to relate to the flat surface and thus thinner barrel of the K-frame forcing cone. The L-frame (M586, M686) does not have this flat surface and will handle any standard .357 Mag load. The K-frames are supposed to be safe to shoot with any standard .38 Spl +P load and .357 Mags with heavy bullets.

I have chosen to follow this advice with my M66-2 and stay away from .357 Mag self-defense loads, opting instead for .38 Spl +P SD loads.

Sorry for your problem but I gotta ask-How could you have bought that without noticing he crack,it's yuge!!!!!!!!!!

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Forum consigliere

So let me pose another stupid question.

What if Dewy just ignores the crack and starts shooting some mild or even hot loads through this cracked forcing cone and barrel?

What could go wrong?

The barrel can shatter, throwing pieces of metal into your hands, face, etc. I'd rather not risk that, myself.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I saw a fellow do this. He didn't see the need for a new barrel since, "the gun still shoots fine!"

The crack will keep getting bigger. The barrel shank may eventually split completely and the barrel will get loose. He also risked frame damage.

I don't know what ended up happening to the gun in question. He continued shooting .38 wadcutters through it and said he would think about changing it at the end of the season. I wouldn't be surprised if it got a new PPC-type barrel. The owner was a pretty fair PPC shooter and actually won quite a few matches for his department. I think he was about the only one there that knew one end of a revolver from the other. Probably the best double-action shooter I have ever seen.

Do you have his contact info? I may need to find one...

I called and the customer rep I spoke to pretty much told me that I was SOL. I may try calling again and see if I get a different more helpful rep... cant hurt to try a this point right...

The store owner had purchased a collection and I purchased it from him several days after he took it in. He claimed to have test fired it and that it was fine.

I got nothing, this sucks!

I had a similar problem earlier this year with a 66 I had purchased new several years ago. Mine had rarely if ever been fired with 125 gr. or lighter bullets. I returned the piece to S&W, and after a month or so they notified me that according to their metallurgical folks it was due to a manufacturing defect and that it could not be repaired. They replaced damaged revolver with one of the current Model 66's.

Emphasis added:
How old was the Model 66 that S&W replaced?

They may have taken in as part of an estate sale, or police auction. I was looking at a High Standard/Dan Wesson at my dealer, I asked him where he found it. It was one of the police auction items. I do not know how well they get to inspect them.

If that is the case they will not lose much by taking it back. They usually get these guns for about 50 bucks, or so. Yes they make a huge profit, but some of the guns go to recycle, so I guess it balances out.

I am still debating the High Standard, they have a tag for 300, but it is not unusual for them to drop as much as a 100 dollars.

I wouldn't be so sure they will not give him a new gun. Remember Smith is competing with service on other firearms companies. Ruger will replace old guns, they are well known for it. Now a Ruger is not a Smith, but they both are firearms. And much of the firearm industry is not just a competition in products, but in the service they offer. Even Glock has gotten much better about replacing, or repairing older guns. Sometimes there is a fee, sometimes there is not. Usually with Glock it is around 100 dollars.

That is an unscrupulous decision on his part. He deserves some bad press. I've never done this, but maybe start out with filing a BBB Complaint that will be recorded and made public? Maybe put an ad up at the local ranges offering to sell the gun, and being very clear about how (and WHERE) you got it?

Make special trip. Give the owner a chance make it right, before any more time goes by. Document your efforts if not satisfied.

A federal law give a three day cooling off period. Also, an itme

There's a law that said that a product has to basically function regardless of how badly it functions. IOW Washers have to wash, cars have to go and guns have to fire. With a cracked barrel the gun would be UNSAFE to fire, therefore it can't fulfill it's function.

There are also state laws that I'm not very sure of and store's return policies do have some weight, but again, I don't know how much.

He my not have known the barrel wsa cracked himself. I've bought guns that needed cleaning BAD. They didn't take time to look at it good, just put a price tag on it.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Have you considered doing a review on YELP? Businesses get nervous when a less than enchanting review appears on YELP.

That is no excuse and he sold you a defective and unsafe gun for the price of a working gun. If he won't refund your money, file a complaint with the BBB and also consider taking him to small claims court for selling you an unsafe gun. And don't worry about burning your bridges with him if he won't refund your money or give you full credit for another purchase because that kind of person is someone I would shy away from dealing with personally.

Well, I hate to say it, but, this sure puts a huge doubt on the store owners veracity. That guy is a "pro" and he's saying he actually loaded and shot that thing and didn't see that crack? By the way, I would call that more of a crevasse than a crack. It is HUGE.

Bob

I think you should give the dealer a chance to make it right. If he doesn't you can weigh your options.

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV