Big Issue with brand new SW Victory (Damaged Rifling)

tatal · #1 05-20-2017, 02:55 PM

Hi guys,
I have just pick up my brand new S&W Victory 22, and I've decided to give it a good cleaning before I take it to the local gun range.
I disassembly it according to manual instructions, and after I used bore snake and run several patches to clean the barrel, I was very unpleasantly surprised.
I found out that my Victory barrel had damaged rifling (grooves).
I am attaching several pics to illustrate my problem and nevertheless to say a huge disappointment in S&W Quality Control. In addition, there is a minor damage to the receiver too.
Any suggestions related to damaged barrel. Would it be safe to shoot for a range session or two?
Thank you all

BigDog48 · #2 05-20-2017, 03:11 PM

Should call them on it!

AlHunt · #3 05-20-2017, 03:25 PM

I wouldn't shoot it so there's no question it came that way. But, I see no reason it would be unsafe to shoot. It might be interesting to see how it groups.

ETA: Looking at it again, it's really some kind of flaw in the groove area. The lands seem to be clean. Maybe the bullet would never touch the damaged area.

Fishinfool · #4 05-20-2017, 03:46 PM

That gun needs to go back for a new barrel. I would think it is safe to shoot, and might even group well at first, but I would think that rifling defect would eventually cause a leading issue. Guess the QC folks seen there was spiral grooves scratched inside the barrel, and figured it was good enough...

Larry

regalsc · #5 05-20-2017, 05:19 PM

I had a 340pd that had less noticeable barrel imperfections than yours and they replaced the barrel.

ba49 · #6 05-20-2017, 06:43 PM

About 10 years ago I bought my wife a brand new stainless Colt Python that I believe at the time were only coming out of their Custom Shop. I ordered it through my LGS. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I have owned several through the years made in the 1960s through the 1980s and they had beautiful bores. I mean like a mirror. When I looked into the bore of the new one it looked like they ran a reamer or something through there AFTER it was rifled. There were spiral machining marks all down the bore. How it escaped inspectors in the Custom Shop is beyond me. Ended up one of the store employees bought it from me and sent it back for repair because they were so hard to get.