Question on 629's ECM barrels. Are they inferior? Not great when shooting r

[hassiman]

I have been reading more snd more on what changes have beenmade in my 629-6 vs my old M29-2.
I like that the new 44s have a stronger lockup. But I have found that the newer S&Ws starting in 1988 (I am not sure which ones) have barrels manufactured using the ECM process which I have heard make them inferior when shooting cast lead projectiles as it is said that these barrels tend to have severe leading problems.

I was wondering if this is true... should I only use copper jacketed ammo?

Anyone know anything sbout ECM and is Smith the only manufacturer usung this process to manufacture barrels?

[Fishinfool]

All I know for sure is that when shooting cast lead, my 4 inch 629-6 is the most accurate 4 inch 29 / 629 I have owned out of about a half dozen. Nice, consistent throats, tight lockup, and no unusual leading issues. Took the buck in the pic last year with that gun shooting a cast SWC at 1100fps at about 40 yards. Gun shoots cast into an inch at 25 yards with loads it likes, if I do my part.

Larry

[cadmike]

I have a dash 5 629 and I shoot mostly 240 grain lead out of it. I don't know anything about ecm but my 629 is balls-on accurate.

[Alk8944]

They are not inferior, simply made by a different process!

It is a similar situation to the BS about Marlin rifles with Micro-Groove rifling not being accurate with cast bullets. An experienced handloader who know how to load for the Marlins can get just as good accuracy from a Micro-Groove barrel as from a cut-rifled barrel. The same things apply to any barrel type and cast bullets, bullet hardness, fit and lubrication. If these are right any type barrel will shoot well with cast bullets, even though individual barrels may not shoot well with any bullet type!

I had a Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum with the 38" twist rate and Micro-Groove rifling. That gun would shoot into 1 1/2 inches at 100 yds consistently with cast bullets, just as well as jacketed! I still don't know why I sold it. This gun totally disproved the stories that lever actions don't shoot as well as bolt guns too.

[Pisgah]

Posts like this one just reinforce a lesson I learned decades ago: Never believe a word you hear in a gun shop. :-)