UPDATED Slight crack under forcing cone scandium frame

[dinooch]

I have a 340sc and have read about these guns having frame cracking under the forcing cone. I purchased mine in 2003 and have shot it very sparingly with 357 loads mainly .38's and have carried it a lot. I noticed a small ) shaped mark under the forcing cone which you can feel with a pick it appears that the titanium cylinder gas ring is making contact there from recoil. Have any of you heard of this? I find very limited information and Smith and Wesson is on holiday break till January 3rd I'm obviously concerned about shooting it and having it grenade in my hand

 

[sw702]

800-331-0852 S&W service when they get back...................

 

[Protocall_Design]

Pics would help.

 

[colt_saa]

Alloy framed Smith & Wesson revolvers have been cracking in that same spot for more than half a century. It has nothing to do with how many rounds you have shot or how powerful the ammunition is, it can happen at any time.

While it is something that will have to go back to the Factory, it is not a grenade in your hand

You could probably put many hundreds perhaps thousands of 357 Magnums through the gun and there would not be a catastrophic failure

Smith & Wesson will not return your revolver, they will replace the firearm

Fortunately 340s are still in the Factory lineup.

It does not matter if yours is one of the clear coated ones, your will be offered a black one as replacement.

 

[dinooch]

Thank you for that bit of reassurance I just need to find my purchase receipt I am the original owner. I'll just carry my 442 for now if I want to pocket a revolver for the day.

 

[John Patrick]

FWIW, I didn’t need my receipt for warranty work on a Model 317.

 

[s&wchad]

As mentioned, photos would really help. When frames crack, it's almost always below the barrel where the frame is the thinnest.

The mark you're describing under the forcing cone is likely caused by the gas ring and not an issue.

 

[rockquarry]

I've had a Colt Agent and an S&W Model 38 crack at the usual spot. Some of these alloy frame guns, the older ones for sure, weren't made for a lot of shooting, they were made for carrying.

 

[armorer951]

If it's a "semi-circular" type contact/peening mark on the back side of the frame under the barrel at the yoke cutout....... it has been made by contact of the yoke during recoil, S&W considers that artifact "normal".

This occurs when the yoke and cylinder slide forward during recoil, and the front of the yoke and gas ring on the yoke impact the frame. The new design of the spring loaded yoke screw cannot hold the cylinder/yoke assembly back during severe recoil. The entire assembly (yoke/gas ring) strikes the frame just below the barrel, causing some pretty bad peening damage.

The frame in my photo is my 442-1, and just shows finish wear. Very little battering on this one. I have seen some scandium and aluminum alloy frames that are very badly damaged. It depends on the space or "gauge" between the frame and yoke when the yoke is closed.....the more space, the worse the damage. Also depends on whether the fame is one of the ones made after the re-design resulting in the "new" spring loaded yoke screw, and new yoke button.

Carter

 

[dinooch]

Getting a lot of good advice here from you guys. I really appreciate it. I'll do my best to see if "Mr Low Technology" can figure out how to attach pictures.

 

[DWalt]

The main reason I have always avoided an alloy-frame revolver, no matter the alloy or who makes it.

 

[rockquarry]

The main reason I have always avoided an alloy-frame revolver, no matter the alloy or who makes it.

Smart idea.

I did buy a 638 about fifteen years ago and it's held up okay with a normal amount of shooting standard pressure handloads. These newer guns may be a bit stronger. I think I fired a minimal amount of +P in my gun long ago. Even though they are rated for such ammo, I can't really see a need for it.

 

[scout II]

My S&W model 357PD in 41 magnum cracked. I sent it back to the mothership and they sent me a replacement gun.
Because they no longer made the 357PD in 41 mag, they sent me a model 329PD in 44 mag. I promptly sold it as I don't have any other 44 mag guns.

 

[stansdds]

The main reason I have always avoided an alloy-frame revolver, no matter the alloy or who makes it.

Same for me.

 

[dinooch]

Attempting to send photo I'm not so good with this. It appears the gas ring has a mark on it that corresponds with the mark on the frame.

 

[556A2]

RE: Alloy Frames

Project: Break my J frame.

Over 6,000 rounds through a 642 before it was traded away.

 

[rockquarry]

RE: Alloy Frames

Project: Break my J frame.

Over 6,000 rounds through a 642 before it was traded away.

Yes, there are exceptions. How does one keep an accurate record of that 6,000 rounds?

 

[Baxter6551]

After reading about the issue on this Forum, I found my early 642 (non plus P rated) frame cracked under the barrel /forcing cone. . I sent it back and received a requested 442 in return. I didn’t have to provide any documentation of purchase or ownership. They provided a free shipping label and no charge for return shipping to my FFL. I just paid the transfer fee. No complaints.

 

[just plain joe]

I had a 340PD crack in the frame beneath the barrel forcing cone in the area similar to post #13.

I carried it and shot it extensively with Speer Gold Dot 135 grain jacketed hollow point .38 Special +P and some Federal .38 Special +P 125 grain jacketed hollow point ammunition. Ammo was provided by my agency. I only shot five .357 Magnum rounds through it and decided it was not conducive to accurate, not to mention comfortable, shooting.

I contacted S & W who provided a pre-paid return address label. Upon inspection they provided me with a new 340 PD. This was about four years ago.

Hope your experience is similar.

HTH.

JPJ

 

[556A2]

Yes, there are exceptions. How does one keep an accurate record of that 6,000 rounds?

I would call that the rule, not the exception. For every one Airweight that has developed the crack under 1K rounds, there are 9 more that will not until several thousand rounds later. Even if we set a realistic 10K round service life of an Airweight, you would spend nearly $5000 in ammo at the current prices to break it.... which S&W would probably replace anyways.

I just don't understand the alloy frame hate. According to the interwebz every Airweight shears it's hammer pin and cracks in the yoke channel after a single box of bunny-fart wadcutters.