I own smith revolvers from just about all vintages. Recently I purchased a new Smith 57 41 mag. I know the current method of rifling is ecm but the lands look as sharp as broached to me in the gun? I have an older 329pd 44 mag and a 625 mountain gun in 45 colt that have a much rounder appearance to the rifling. I also looked at a new 629 current production and it appeared to have sharp rifling? What gives? Has the rifling evolved?

Dogdoc

Maybe. I don't know what kind of edge can be reliably produced with ECM. On the other hand, for a company that used to pride itself on the excellence of its barrels, it amazes me they would ship something like I see attached to my 329PD.

So after my post, I called Smith and went to their technical line. The tech informed me they are using a different process similar the the old broaching method. He said they are no longer using the ecr electrochemical rifling method! He said it had been in place about a year. He was unsure of what they call the new system as he had not seen it in person. I personally cannot tell the new method on my gun from broaching just be looking at it but I have not used a bore scope and my 50 year old eyes are not what they were. I do like it better

All I know is:
my 41 and 44 models have deep rifling as intended for lead bullets
the model 25-2 I have is a 45 ACP and that has shallow rifling meant for FMJ ball ammo
all from the 1970s
Not sure about the 45 LC model but could be possible that the rifling is similar to the 45 ACP models

My 25-15 which is at least three years old has well defined rifling. Not like the various 629-6s nor even less the late 1990s 657, which has very melted looking features.

Well I'm not sure I'd believe (the tech) that they gave up on the ECM/EDM process. They're given us bad info before.

I agree though that some guns with ECM/EDM rifling look softer than others. While my new 66-8 & 69 snubbies (mfd. Apr-2017) both have good looking rifling they are not quit as sharp looking as the broached rifling of my PC 625 & PC 627.

I think I'll hold out for more confirmation.

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66 Combat Magnum - muzzle recrowned

(-02b)

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69 Combat Magnum - (muzzle, crown)

(-012a)

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625-8 PC, barrel crown, after

(-01a)

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627-5 PC, barrel crown, after

(-01a)

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__________________
Waiting for the break of day

That's right as he did not call it broaching but rather a different process . My 57 looks just like a pre ecm gun as far as the rifling goes however?


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I like those crowns! I picked up brownells tool and cleaned up one of mine like yours. The rifling in those guns does look sharper than my old 329pd and 325. As long as the barrels are accurate and do not lead excessively, I am good. Some feel the ecm barrels tend to lead more but most of mine are pre ecm so I cannot say for sure.

Dogdoc


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Those are nice crowns! Especially like how the 66-8s came out. An 11° then a 45? Nice!
I will not get into another rifling argument again! Lol!

Well just say they are efficient. Ha!

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