I'd been looking locally for a 629 Classic, 5"bbl. & unfluted cylinder, when I came across a 657-5 Classic Hunter, NIB. Since it's style/look is similar to what I was wanting, I decided it would be a good addition, as I already have S&W magnums on either side of the 41 Mag, & a few other "big(ger) dogs". So after making sure I could find reloading dies, bullets & cases, I bought it. Got excited about having a "different" wheelgun, did some research, found some good articles, then got everything together & made a bunch of different power loads with 170 & 210gr JHPs, & some Berry's 210gr., using (6) different powders & headed off to the indoor range to try it out. Accuracy was great & recoil not much more than a 357, in this heavy gun.
But, no matter what load I shot, light/moderate/full, the cases (all chambers) bulged visibly! They extract from the chambers okay, when you lift them out with the extractor, but they can't be pulled thru the extractor. I don't think there's anything wrong with the extractor, it's likely the right size. It's just that the chambers (measure ~.449" with digital caliper) are obviously too loose. The case neck & base are what I'd expect (.438" & .430") after firing, but just above the web it bulges quickly to .445" & then slowly tampers down toward the neck. I'm so disappointed, I like this gun more than I thought!
Since all chambers do exactly the same thing I got the idea to open the factory's test round envelope & see if the tester had the same trouble originally & overlooked it. Yep! There's a nasty bulged case (nice job tester John H.) in there. How in the heck could they ignore this & send it out the door to be sold!! (I showed a fired case to my son, before I told him about the problem, & he even though he's only been shooting a year now as soon as he saw it he said, "Why does it look like that?"). Guess I'll be calling S&W CS, when they get back from summer break, for a RMA# & shipping label.
What gripes me even more is that my previous gun purchase, a 325NG, had (2) defective chambers that extracted so hard they deeply scratched the fired cases. The factory had embossed some numbers around the face of the cylinder, under the extractor, & got too close on (3) chambers & dimpled the edges. Unfired rounds went in just fine, but had to be pushed out with a wooden dowel after firing. Somehow this defect went unnoticed by QC too & I had to return it for repairs. (My overall experience with that return was not favorable. I also had the front sight changed to a red ramp & they did a disgraceful job on it. This model 657 only comes with black front ramp & black rear blade. I've already bought a red ramp front sight & white outline rear blade to add to the 657 & have decided not to "try my luck" with the factory again on this.)
Hopefully things will go better this time though.
.
657-5 Classic Hunter, 7-1/2 bbl.
(-02a)
.
657-5 Bulged Cases - cylinder defect
(-01a)
.
But, no matter what load I shot, light/moderate/full, the cases (all chambers) bulged visibly! They extract from the chambers okay, when you lift them out with the extractor, but they can't be pulled thru the extractor. I don't think there's anything wrong with the extractor, it's likely the right size. It's just that the chambers (measure ~.449" with digital caliper) are obviously too loose. The case neck & base are what I'd expect (.438" & .430") after firing, but just above the web it bulges quickly to .445" & then slowly tampers down toward the neck. I'm so disappointed, I like this gun more than I thought!
Since all chambers do exactly the same thing I got the idea to open the factory's test round envelope & see if the tester had the same trouble originally & overlooked it. Yep! There's a nasty bulged case (nice job tester John H.) in there. How in the heck could they ignore this & send it out the door to be sold!! (I showed a fired case to my son, before I told him about the problem, & he even though he's only been shooting a year now as soon as he saw it he said, "Why does it look like that?"). Guess I'll be calling S&W CS, when they get back from summer break, for a RMA# & shipping label.
What gripes me even more is that my previous gun purchase, a 325NG, had (2) defective chambers that extracted so hard they deeply scratched the fired cases. The factory had embossed some numbers around the face of the cylinder, under the extractor, & got too close on (3) chambers & dimpled the edges. Unfired rounds went in just fine, but had to be pushed out with a wooden dowel after firing. Somehow this defect went unnoticed by QC too & I had to return it for repairs. (My overall experience with that return was not favorable. I also had the front sight changed to a red ramp & they did a disgraceful job on it. This model 657 only comes with black front ramp & black rear blade. I've already bought a red ramp front sight & white outline rear blade to add to the 657 & have decided not to "try my luck" with the factory again on this.)
Hopefully things will go better this time though.
.
657-5 Classic Hunter, 7-1/2 bbl.
(-02a)
.
657-5 Bulged Cases - cylinder defect
(-01a)
.
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Colt had to replace the SAA with a new serial numbered gun. It happens to all manufacturers.
