29-2 Barrel Length tolerances for 6"

klambo · Jul 8, 2025

Hi All,

A friend picked up a nickel 29-2 and when we measured the barrel length it's 5 13/16", which seems short when compared to my other S&W models. My other models are pretty much exact lengths, 4", 6" and 8.25"

3/6" is a big difference, but it's odd when compared to my other models. Is this within expected factory tolerances for a 6" barrel.

Thanks

M29since14 · Jul 8, 2025

I don’t recall any of my S&Ws that I have measured being exactly at the nominal length. I have one 4-inch Model 29-2 that is quite short - almost 1/4” short. You can easily see it when you look at it.

I don’t know how barrels end up like that, but it’s not exactly unheard of, in my experience. I’ve had the gun a long time and don’t recall whether I bought it new or used but after I noticed the unusual length I took a good look and saw no evidence of field modification. I didn’t think to look for factory repair/rework/refinish marks.

stansdds · Jul 9, 2025

S&W barrel lengths are nominal measurements, but they can and often do vary by +/- 1/8". Occasionally, the length can be off even more, but not more than 1/4". Why a barrel is more than 1/8" from the nominal measurement is debatable.

It could have been a barrel and frame combination that required almost no facing of the barrel's shoulder, so the barrel is a little longer than nominal.

A barrel that is less than nominal could have been due to a barrel that required more machining to its shoulder in order to get it to proper torque and have the sight at the 12 o'clock position with the frame to which it was being mated.

A revolver than ends up with too wide of a barrel-cylinder gap could also have more of the barrel's shoulder machined away in order to close the gap.

A barrel that has has had significant forcing cone erosion might be sent back to S&W or to a gunsmith to have the barrel's shoulder machined so the barrel can be turned further into the frame and the forcing cone re-cut.

Truckman · Jul 9, 2025

Those measurements are not out of line with what I have measured on some..."Nominal" just means "next"...

...Ben

klambo · Jul 9, 2025

Thanks for the education.

29-2 Barrel Length tolerances for 6"

klambo

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M29since14

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stansdds

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Truckman

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klambo

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