Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980

S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-10-2011, 10:48 PM
sgt556 sgt556 is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Henderson NV.
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default pinned barrels

what is the advantage or disadvantage of a pinned barrel? was there a certain year that they began or ended? curious about this in regard especially to the model 36. thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-10-2011, 10:56 PM
Flint Ridge's Avatar
Flint Ridge Flint Ridge is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Flint Ridge, MO
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 660
Liked 374 Times in 153 Posts
Default

Others will chime in soon. Pinned are more sought after, that's all I'm interested in, but I'm not prepared to say that makes them better. Simply a time when more craftsmanship went into the assembly of a fine firearm.

Pinned barrels were phased out around 1982, but as always with Smith's that is + and -. If they had more around they went longer...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-10-2011, 11:06 PM
mkk41 mkk41 is offline
Banned
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South East , PA . USA
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 485
Liked 1,613 Times in 885 Posts
Default

Non-pinned barrels are held in place with either tight (interferance or 'crush') threads or over-torquing. Either way , something gets overstressed. Either the thin forcing cone area of the barrel or the frame. The threaded potion of the barrel has been known to constrict , effectively making that part of the bore slightly smaller , leading to poor accuracy , or cracked frames , especially in the yoke cut-out area of aluminum frames (bores 6 o'clock). With a pinned barrel , the threads can be made to mate properly and the pin prevents loosening.
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #4  
Old 07-11-2011, 12:57 AM
sgt556 sgt556 is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Henderson NV.
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

thanks for the info. its what i was looking for.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-11-2011, 01:13 AM
rhetlaw rhetlaw is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NE PA
Posts: 185
Likes: 29
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Default

I agree with Flint Ridge, all I'm interested in are Smith's with pinned barrels. But then again, I just prefer older items rather than the new models. When I picked up my Winchester '94, it had to be a pre 64. I happened to find one circa 1944 - it's in very nice shape and shoots great.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 07-11-2011, 07:58 AM
Titegroups Titegroups is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 65
Liked 247 Times in 166 Posts
Default

I believe the barrel of both are held in place via interference fit, tapered threads? They used to go to the trouble of putting a pin through the joint that took extra time and effort and no longer do. I don't think there is any real effect on accuracy. Has anybody had enough barrel off both to say weather they torque the non pinned barrels any more than the pinned barrels or is this just more ignorant internet BS?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-11-2011, 08:11 AM
Art Doc's Avatar
Art Doc Art Doc is offline
SWCA Member
Absent Comrade
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The kidney of Dixie.
Posts: 10,446
Likes: 49
Liked 13,424 Times in 3,296 Posts
Default

Colt never used a pin to retain the barrel and never seems to have had much trouble with them. S&W, on the other hand, seems to have experienced a lot of problems with barrels since 1982 when the pin was eliminated. many reports of damaged, misaligned barrels and even some flying off during firing.

Generally the pinned barrel is symbolic of the time when craftsmen built guns. Now the accountants and the lawyers design them.
Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
  #8  
Old 07-11-2011, 08:59 AM
fyimo's Avatar
fyimo fyimo is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 18,732
Likes: 6,048
Liked 5,763 Times in 1,992 Posts
Talking

All my S&W revolvers except 2 are pinned barrel models and like Saxonpig stated a lot of us just believe that the revolvers with that feature were made during a time when S&W and all other gun companies put more care into their manufacturing processes. They also had a workforce of long term employees who took great pride in their work and it showed in the product they made. Then the gun companies went through a long period of changes and cost cutting programs that resulted in some decline in overall quality.

Both of my non pinned barrelled S&W revolvers were made right after the switch and neither has had an issue with the barrel. They are a Model 686 no dash and a Model 18-4.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #9  
Old 07-11-2011, 05:37 PM
sgt556 sgt556 is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Henderson NV.
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

thanks for all the info. it will help with my buying choice alot.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-11-2011, 05:41 PM
mkk41 mkk41 is offline
Banned
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South East , PA . USA
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 485
Liked 1,613 Times in 885 Posts
Default

There was a recent thread with pics of some Airweight frames that were cracked in the yoke cut out , at the barrels 6 o'clock , the thinnest part.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-11-2011, 09:05 PM
WB5MHA WB5MHA is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Grand Prairie Texas
Posts: 77
Likes: 9
Liked 19 Times in 11 Posts
Default

The "pinned barrel" has a great deal to do with marketing a revolver even better than called for. No .22 Kit Gun, pinned or otherwise, has to my knowlege launched its barrel downrange. Just like the early (1961-1980) blue finish this feature shows that the revolver was designed 100%, best possible, then another 10% better just to show that it was a quality product. American cars were, at one time, engineered as well as possible than just a little better.

Today US consumers are price conscious so "just good enough to work" is good enough.

The S&W/Walther P22 auto pistol is an excellent example. It is in no way up to either S&W or Walther standards. It is the cheap Bic pen of pistols. It works. When it stops you get a new one.
__________________
Jim
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #12  
Old 07-11-2011, 09:53 PM
phenson's Avatar
phenson phenson is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA (Lower Alabama)
Posts: 603
Likes: 132
Liked 566 Times in 105 Posts
Default

An old bird at the local range told me one time he wouldn't have one of them S&W's with a pinned barrel. "If they had to put a pin in the barrel to hold it on, it must not have been any good". I asked him if he knew about safety wiring screws and bolts in aircraft. He just looked at me.
I have one non-pinned S&W and it is a M-57. A little unique in the fact that it not a M-57-1, but has a non-pinned barrel
__________________
Pat Henson
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #13  
Old 07-12-2011, 01:06 AM
BruceM's Avatar
BruceM BruceM is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 1,749
Likes: 7
Liked 659 Times in 370 Posts
Default

It should be noted that even "pinned" barrels are "crush fit" to an extent. The last 45-60 degrees of rotation of the barrel to bring the front sight up to the correct position is done after the barrel is snugged up tight to the frame. That is why you need frame wrenches, etc. to install & remove barrels. If anybody thinks that the barrel is just screwed into the frame hand tight and then the pin is driven home is quite mistaken!



Bruce
Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
  #14  
Old 07-12-2011, 01:52 AM
bk43 bk43 is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Central FL
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 0
Liked 38 Times in 26 Posts
Default

The need for a pinned barrel was eliminated in 1957, around when the soft fit department was phased out. The pin was continued until 1982 but that was only a "nod" to traditionalists and unnecessary from a construction stand point.

The same fit S&W uses for barrels has been used by the big rifle manufacturers for barrel to receiver fit for generations. As those barrels do not seem to go flying down range with any regularity I suspect it does work.

It seems to me an individual should buy what pleases them and if that includes a pinned barrel then that's what it should be. No need to make anyone happy but yourself.

Bob
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #15  
Old 07-14-2011, 03:41 PM
Armyphotog Armyphotog is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tupelo, MS
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 3
Liked 68 Times in 43 Posts
Default

I would think that those guns that fail, for what ever reason, has something to do with how many rounds they have sent downrange, and how many have been shooting "overloads" for a lengthy period of time. Just a thought. I have never had a problem with either S&W or Colt in this regard.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 07-14-2011, 04:59 PM
357 shooter 357 shooter is offline
Member
pinned barrels  
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 469
Likes: 93
Liked 514 Times in 226 Posts
Default

I think I have a greater chance of winning a Lotto than having one of my non-pinned Smith barrels fyling off during firing. I have a few non-pinned Smiths that are accurate beyond my expectations. Evidently the quality is not lacking for mass produced revolvers to shoot so well.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #17  
Old 07-27-2011, 10:49 AM
sgt556 sgt556 is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Henderson NV.
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

thanks to all for the inputs.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 07-28-2011, 11:31 AM
John3200 John3200 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 139
Likes: 2
Liked 15 Times in 11 Posts
Default

In my opinion a pinned barrel is a feature that is simply a collectors selling point. It probably makes no practical difference in the function of the gun. It's like the internal locks now, some people will put a premium on the value of a no-lock gun. So, you have to decide for yourself, is the gun worth more/less with/without said feature. You have to remember, to some these guns are rare collectors items, to others they are simply a tool. There is also a lot of hype about the "good ol' days" that is simply just that, hype. But, on the other hand some of the stories are true. The guns made today are probably the best S&Ws ever made as far as materials and quality control and accuracy. But, do the have the soul of the old guns? Only time will tell.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 07-28-2011, 11:55 AM
Maximumbob54's Avatar
Maximumbob54 Maximumbob54 is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 7,200
Likes: 9,079
Liked 1,924 Times in 1,045 Posts
Default

After reading all this I’m surprised it wasn’t said that it will also stop a barrel from unscrewing from the frame for any reason. I’m either wrong in that or it’s just an omission so far. I prefer to buy used guns that have the pin since they are from a period of better bluing, polishing, real S&W made stocks, and I have yet to see one with a barrel that is not centered unlike many if not most new S&W revolvers. It’s a very minor issue with handgun shooting distances but I don’t like the fact that my 640 barrel is just out of center, my 629 barrel is just out of center, and my 65 barrel is just out of center. That is three out of four of my newer revolvers that aren’t finished right. But they work still and look good doing what they do. I guess I should add that that forth gun is/was my 637. The original went in for a cracked frame from what I now have an educated guess of a barrel being set too tight into the frame which caused it to start to stress fracture. So now the new replacement looks perfect and it was fixed at no cost to me. Can’t complain about that, but the reality is it would be nicer to not have that worry in the back of my head that the same thing could happen all over again. I had some guys in an NDT lab tell me to go find some kind of dye that would show stress cracks that the human eye wouldn’t normally see. The finish would have to be removed in that area though. But then again, that is how I found them starting in the first one… Round and round I go… To be honest, I like the two part barrels better but I wish they could be bought with the old style cut lands and grooves for lead bullet friendly use. I even like the concept the new BG.38 uses where the barrel liner is just screwed into the barrel that is made as part of the frame. Make that in a bigger gun like an N frame and allow us a tool ala Dan Wesson to set our own barrel to cylinder gap and lock the barrel in place and I might not ever buy an old Smith again… OK, I’m lying like a dog on that one…
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 11-28-2016, 05:34 PM
truedge truedge is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 6
Likes: 8
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
Default To Pin or not

The newer Smiths seem to shoot good most of the time. But, the old ones SING to me.
__________________
Southern by the Grace of God
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #21  
Old 11-30-2016, 06:03 AM
chief38's Avatar
chief38 chief38 is offline
Member
pinned barrels  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 8,592
Liked 28,079 Times in 9,270 Posts
Default

The barrel pin is a nice feature to have (bragging rights and nostalgia mostly) although in reality and practical usage I have never had any issues on guns without pins. While most of my smiths do have the Pin, some do not and I do not really look at a gun without a pin as a deal breaker assuming all else is perfect.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #22  
Old 11-30-2016, 09:36 AM
R*E R*E is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 207
Likes: 216
Liked 139 Times in 76 Posts
Default

Are there any pinned guns with the front sight canted off center?
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #23  
Old 11-30-2016, 06:04 PM
michaelt michaelt is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 16
Liked 35 Times in 17 Posts
Default

All my S&W have a pin barrel . I won't buy the new pistols . I prefer the craftsmanship of the older pistols and the use of quality parts .
No lock and no MIM parts for me.

Besides my pistols are going up in value .
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #24  
Old 11-30-2016, 07:49 PM
MajorD MajorD is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 40
Liked 1,066 Times in 546 Posts
Default

Oddly enough one of my best shooting 38's was a non pinned 2 " 15 I wish I still had. Replaced with a pre 15 that does not shoot as well
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 11-30-2016, 07:57 PM
El Biblioitecario's Avatar
El Biblioitecario El Biblioitecario is offline
Member
pinned barrels  
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 471
Likes: 222
Liked 551 Times in 210 Posts
Default

The advantage is that they command a relatively higher price when one sells. The disadvantage is that they command a relatively higher price when one buys. Other then that, in my highly biased opinion there is no practical difference.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #26  
Old 11-30-2016, 08:37 PM
SilentKnight SilentKnight is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 383
Likes: 956
Liked 365 Times in 185 Posts
Default

I had a model 66 with a pinned barrel. It was a round butt 2.5 inch barrel that I could remove and replace with a four inch barrel because they were pinned. At the time, that was the only round butt four inch 66 around. I really prefer the round butt on my longer barreled S&W revolvers. Beautiful in appearance and feel.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 11-30-2016, 09:06 PM
Jack Flash's Avatar
Jack Flash Jack Flash is offline
SWCA Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,405
Likes: 35,037
Liked 11,170 Times in 4,025 Posts
Default

I recall someone posting that Colt never pinned their barrels. FWIW
__________________
You're shy a few manners.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 12-01-2016, 12:28 AM
shouldazagged shouldazagged is offline
Absent Comrade
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Louisville, KY, USA
Posts: 19,336
Likes: 53,737
Liked 38,392 Times in 11,803 Posts
Default

I'm a high-mileage 1937 model. I hold to the doubtless irrational view that the older guns were built better and with more care, by real craftsmen, and therefore are superior.

I said it's irrational, okay? From all I read here, except for some canted barrels the new S&W revolvers are just fine. I still prefer the older ones, and that is almost certainly my advanced age and nostalgia talking.

I like the pinned barrel, quite apart from its actual usefulness. To me it's symbolic of greater care and precision, and pride in the production of a first-class gun.
__________________
Oh well, what the hell.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #29  
Old 12-01-2016, 02:17 AM
k22fan k22fan is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,834
Likes: 5,161
Liked 5,245 Times in 2,484 Posts
Default

Even though the carcass has rotted away some new members might benefit from watching this horse's petrified bones being whipped again. Since this 5 year old thread was about barrel pins we can leave barrels that fit inside a shroud for another day.

All one piece S&W revolver barrels are and always were installed the same way. No S&W revolver barrels have interference threads. Barrels are screwed in by hand until the barrel shoulder contacts the frame. The barrel shoulder is cut back in a lathe as needed to make the shoulder contact the frame an eighth to a tenth of a revolution before the barrel rib and sight are straight up. To avoid warping the frame gunsmith tools are used to turn the barrel in the last fraction of a revolution.

While a pin was used the barrels were made with a trough cut across the top of the barrel's threads for the pin. Those troughs were generous enough for random barrels to be fitted onto random frames and still allow the pins to freely pass through. Ordinarily the pins only contacted the frame, not the barrel. The pins could only stop gross rotation of a loose barrel. Some S&W revolver barrels can be rotated so far off that the front barrel latch will not engage yet their barrel pin will still pass through the trough.

The barrel pin was non-functional. However, barrel pins were, and apparently remain, a great marketing gimmick. Other wise, there are only two things to know about them. They help to date the age of revolvers and, if you do gunsmithing, you need to remember to drive them out before removing barrels and put them back in afterward.

Five years ago a member asked in this thread if any pinned barrels were canted. While they were pinned they installed slightly canted just as often as they are now. I bought my first S&W with a canted barrel during the mid 1970s. It had an adjustable sight. I moved the windage to compensate then it shot great for all the years I owned it. A revolver's carry up, lack of rotational play and end shake at lock up, cylinder throat diameters and trigger pull are all more important than a slight barrel cant.
Reply With Quote
The Following 7 Users Like Post:
  #30  
Old 12-01-2016, 02:36 AM
jaymoore's Avatar
jaymoore jaymoore is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: US of A
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 7,242
Liked 2,568 Times in 1,180 Posts
Default

Pre-cut slot for pin on a Model 27 barrel.

Note that the pin was about too far back and had uneven contact. Not unusual to see slots with no contact at all! I've had plenty of pinned barreled revolvers with barrels under and over turned.

What I do like about pinned barrels is something nobody ever comments on, because it's unseen on an assembled revolvers: the lack of a thread relief at the shoulder. S&W got a bit nuts when they added that feature when pins went away as the relief cut is much larger than needed. Makes it easier to assemble, but also can more easily distort the bore, sometimes to the point it puts a slight joggle in the rifling. Depends on what ham fisted lout is assembling barrels to frames!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_1514mod[1].jpg (62.3 KB, 165 views)
Reply With Quote
  #31  
Old 12-01-2016, 09:56 AM
Ole Joe Clark's Avatar
Ole Joe Clark Ole Joe Clark is offline
Absent Comrade
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 4,091
Likes: 9,379
Liked 12,843 Times in 2,906 Posts
Default

I like the pinned barrels, unpinned barrels, hand ejectors, but my all time favorites are those with S&W on them. :-)
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #32  
Old 12-01-2016, 05:42 PM
BruceM's Avatar
BruceM BruceM is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 1,749
Likes: 7
Liked 659 Times in 370 Posts
Default

Quote:
It was a round butt 2.5 inch barrel that I could remove and replace with a four inch barrel because they were pinned.
This may be so but the barrel's were not re-installed properly. As I noted previously, when installing the barrel, the thread is timed so that the barrel when threaded into the frame hand tight is 45 to 60 degrees before top dead center. Hand tight means that the barrel cannot be further tightened without the use of proper tools. The frame is then turned the rest of the way to TDC using correct frame wrenches & barrel vice or correct factory tooling. This, for all intents and purposes, produces a "crush fit". The fact is that S&W revolver barrels have always been crush fit whether pinned or not. After removal, correct re-installation requires the barrel's shoulder to be set back, the barrel threaded in one additional turn in the manner previously outlined, the B/C gap reset and the forcing cone re-cut. Just threading a removed barrel back into the frame and tapping the pin back in may allow the gun to be fired but that does not constitute proper installation. Smith & Wesson revolvers are not switch barrel firearms such as Dan Wesson's are. Never have been-never will be.

If you are engaging in this substandard practice, watch yourself!

Bruce

Last edited by BruceM; 12-01-2016 at 05:53 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #33  
Old 12-01-2016, 06:41 PM
stu1ritter's Avatar
stu1ritter stu1ritter is offline
US Veteran
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 870
Liked 4,515 Times in 1,105 Posts
Default

Barrels flying down the range, eh? Let's see now, they would have to make about 15 turns (approx) before they came loose enough for flight.

Stu
Reply With Quote
  #34  
Old 12-01-2016, 09:54 PM
BruceM's Avatar
BruceM BruceM is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 1,749
Likes: 7
Liked 659 Times in 370 Posts
Default

Quote:
Barrels flying down the range, eh? Let's see now, they would have to make about 15 turns (approx) before they came loose enough for flight.
You see, Smith & Wesson and Colt actually installs barrels that way (crush fit) because they needed to make the manufacturing process as expensive and their prices as non-competitive as possible. Besides, that 1/16" diameter could NEVER shear, right!! And how much force is that bullet carrying when slamming into the forcing cone multiple times. How likely is the shooter to notice the issue before the barrel does fly down range. Hell, many shooters don't even notice when a squib round is fired.

I personally feel that folks who engage in these "Bubba" type practices are fully vested candidates for the Darwin Award. What is it that Forrest Gump used to say about stupid?? That practice is stupid in at least five different ways stu1ritter! I really didn't want to characterize the practice in those terms but when challenged............

Then again, everybody needs to do what they feel is best for them.

Bruce

P.S. I feel strongly that all of those folks who feel just threading a barrel into the frame and driving home the pin is A-OK should engage in a write-in campaign informing S&W and Colt of how foolish, uneducated and misinformed they really are.

Last edited by BruceM; 12-01-2016 at 10:13 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #35  
Old 12-02-2016, 08:06 AM
steelslaver's Avatar
steelslaver steelslaver is offline
US Veteran
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Central Montana
Posts: 14,462
Likes: 14,030
Liked 42,283 Times in 10,690 Posts
Default

Thing is if the barrel isn't torqued up you would get poor accuracy pin or no pin. Barrels vibrate as the bullet and pressure move down the barrel. A barrel that wasn't torqued would move a lot more under the stresses than one that was torqued, pin or no pin.

I have removed some of each and the pinned barrels sure seem to be as tight as the unpinned ones. I have had a barrel that was loose and even with a good straight pin it would move an easy 5 degrees in either direction. The canted barrel thing has nothing to do with the pin and everything to do about craftsmanship and quality control. The pin maybe a mark of an era of craftsmanship, but then why are pinned model 25s infamous for large throats. Where was quality control and craftsmanship there?

I just bought a beautiful 25-5 with pinned barrel and .458 cylinder throats. Would have rather had .452 throats and no pin. I'll be reaming another model 29 cylinder to make it right. I got it at a great price so I don't mind.

The pin is like the top side plate screw, the rebound spring screw and recessed cylinders and for that mater the third lock. All are very interesting, but unnecessary to make a truly fine, dependable accurate revolver. I have some with all these features and some with none. If I had a choice between a 5 screw model 29 and a 3 screw with no pin or recessed one. both the same condition with the same price I would of course take the 5 screw, but, only because it has more value, not because I think it would shoot any better.

If a new gun has issues it isn't because it is missing these features or has MIM parts. It is because S&W has failed to keep or train and replace the key craftsmen in some critical assembly areas and the failure of the quality control department to inspect and reject poor examples and communicate those problems to the responsible parties. They still make some great guns, but this failure is tarnishing a great old companies reputation.

Last edited by steelslaver; 12-02-2016 at 08:38 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #36  
Old 08-27-2017, 08:04 PM
tires2burn tires2burn is offline
Member
pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels pinned barrels  
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Default S&W Model 60 barrel defect

I got my M- 60 a couple of months ago and noticed a ridge or ring on the inside of the barrel right about where the forcing cone meets the barrel. It rings the whole inside of the barrel. Whats the deal? My 686 shows no ring like that. I want to call S&W but not sure if this is normal.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
629, 637, 640, 686, airweight, colt, dan wesson, kit gun, lock, model 686, walther, winchester

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pinned barrels? doowtag S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 25 11-22-2015 07:50 PM
586/686 with pinned barrels ? kemper S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 17 08-18-2014 04:29 PM
Pinned Barrels Model 19 6" The Lounge 4 02-19-2013 05:31 PM
Were pinned barrels really better? aterry33 S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 33 06-07-2010 04:01 PM
Barrels: pinned vs non-pinned? tiptoe2lups S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 8 01-16-2010 01:31 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:28 PM.


© 2000-2024 smith-wessonforum.com All rights reserved worldwide.
Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)