Canted Barrel on 629-6

DrGonzo83 · Jul 13, 2018

Hey Folks,
I have been to a S&W specialized gun smith yesterday and took a brand new 629-6 classic Champion with me ( a model that is only available in europe).
What I noticed is, that the Barrel seems to be slighly canted. I have the opportunity to give it back, but first I will take it to the range today. What do you think of that? What I know is that nowadays it seems to be "common" with new S&W Revolvers.
Take it or leave it if it shoots good?

saemetric · Jul 13, 2018

That cant is barely noticeable. I had to really look to see it. I’d shoot it and if good, keep it.

OLDSTER · Jul 13, 2018

I'm not one to give S&W quality control a pass; they need to sell a near perfect product, or fix it to make it so. But in your case, even I would let it go and accept it as is

Rpg · Jul 13, 2018

Guns with canted barrels can often be made to shoot quite well, so long as they have adjustable sights and the sights can be adjusted enough to compensate for the cant.

For those guns, it depends on how much ugly the gun’s owner can tolerate.

Given the opportunity to return the gun, I’d return it. The canted barrel would annoy me. It reduces resale value and is inherently undesirable.

Chipperxd · Jul 13, 2018

That isn't even noticeable but if it bugs you, send it back. My 627 is the same but it shoots dead on so it's not going anywhere

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

MJFlores · Jul 13, 2018

I hate canted barrels...dump it. Let S$W just go out of business.

privateinvestigator · Jul 13, 2018

Sorry to hear you got a crooked gun.

I just bought my first Smith two days ago. It was factory new online. After visiting this forum and reading about defective Smith revolvers, I got so nervous waiting for the gun to arrive... I was just certain it was going to be messed up. Especially since the price was suspiciously lower, by a long shot, than anything else on line.

But when it came in, everything was fine. My FFL said that sometimes gun dealers just need to raise cash fast, so they sell their inventory at a loss.

Not a gun expert here, but do you really want your future family heirloom to have a crooked barrel? That would always bug me.

ridgewalker · Jul 13, 2018

DrGonzo83 said:
Hey Folks,
I have been to a S&W specialized gun smith yesterday and took a brand new 629-6 classic Champion with me ( a model that is only available in europe).
What I noticed is, that the Barrel seems to be slighly canted. I have the opportunity to give it back, but first I will take it to the range today. What do you think of that? What I know is that nowadays it seems to be "common" with new S&W Revolvers.
Take it or leave it if it shoots good?

First let me say, what a lovely gun. I wish that configuration of the 629 was available in the USA.
Next, from the pictures you have posted, I can’t see a cant. That doesn’t mean your barrel isn’t canted, I just can’t see it in your pictures. From what I can see, I would say minimal to no cant. If you can get it to shoot well, I wouldn’t return it if it was mine. But by all means follow your own heart on your gun.

DrGonzo83 · Jul 13, 2018

Thank you guys! I have been to the range in the afternoon today and shot 60 rounds down the barrel. Yeah the cant is quite slightly, BUT I had to adjust the rear sight a lot of clicks (I think approx. 20) to the right to compensate the cant. Due to that the rear sight was way out of the middle Position to compensate the cant. Despite that it is an accurate revolver, but I can tell you such a gun is priced approx. 1800$ (1700€) here in Germany !!! I don`t want a gun with such an issue for such an amount of money. I went to the gunsmith directly from the range and brought it back... It`s a pity that S&W Quality seems to be that poor nowadays…

CH4 · Jul 13, 2018

Yeah, I cant barely notice it.

75Vette · Jul 13, 2018

So many want to trash S&W quality control on the later revolvers that there are potential buyers paranoid to buy for fear of a defective gun. More often than not all you hear about on the internet are the horror stories. If the internet had been around 30, 40, 50 years ago I'm sure you would've heard the same horror stories. Truth is, the older guns had their problems too. Prime example is a '74 28-2 I purchased recently. It's a gorgeous gun but....OMG!, it has a canted barrel!! I adjusted the rear sights a few clicks (not 20) and the gun shoots dead nuts accurate. DrGonzo, I think you may have passed on a VERY nice gun due to social media.

dogdoc · Jul 13, 2018

Barrel wrench and vice simple fix

dogdoc · Jul 13, 2018

75Vette said:
So many want to trash S&W quality control on the later revolvers that there are potential buyers paranoid to buy for fear of a defective gun. More often than not all you hear about on the internet are the horror stories. If the internet had been around 30, 40, 50 years ago I'm sure you would've heard the same horror stories. Truth is, the older guns had their problems too. Prime example is a '74 28-2 I purchased recently. It's a gorgeous gun but....OMG!, it has a canted barrel!! I adjusted the rear sights a few clicks (not 20) and the gun shoots dead nuts accurate. DrGonzo, I think you may have passed on a VERY nice gun due to social media.

Agree 100 percent. I own many older ones and can find minor problems on just about all of them. The non enthusiast would never give the problems a second look. These are massed produced.

sw282 · Jul 14, 2018

DrGonzo83 said:
Hey Folks,
I have been to a S&W specialized gun smith yesterday and took a brand new 629-6 classic Champion with me ( a model that is only available in europe).
What I noticed is, that the Barrel seems to be slighly canted. I have the opportunity to give it back, but first I will take it to the range today. What do you think of that? What I know is that nowadays it seems to be "common" with new S&W Revolvers.
Take it or leave it if it shoots good?

That's silly.. Nothing wrong with that Smith... Take that aftermarket

LPA rear sight off it.. Replace with a factory Smith&Wesson sight.

lt will be just F I N E

DrGonzo83 · Jul 14, 2018

sw282 said:
That's silly.. Nothing wrong with that Smith... Take that aftermarket

LPA rear sight off it.. Replace with a factory Smith&Wesson sight.

lt will be just F I N E

Well, in here this Model 629 Classic Champion is only available with LPA rear sights, otherwise i would also prefer the OEM sights. 20 clicks were to much for me, you could see the front sight being misaligned when you aimed through the rear sight.

Went to another gun shop today and purchased a really sweet Model 69 - 44. Mag and L Frame - very cool symbiosis. No canted barrel and way cheaper.

M29since14 · Jul 14, 2018

DrGonzo83 said:
Thank you guys! I have been to the range in the afternoon today and shot 60 rounds down the barrel. Yeah the cant is quite slightly, BUT I had to adjust the rear sight a lot of clicks (I think approx. 20) to the right to compensate the cant. Due to that the rear sight was way out of the middle Position to compensate the cant. Despite that it is an accurate revolver, but I can tell you such a gun is priced approx. 1800$ (1700€) here in Germany !!! I don`t want a gun with such an issue for such an amount of money. I went to the gunsmith directly from the range and brought it back... It`s a pity that S&W Quality seems to be that poor nowadays…

If I ever decide it’s time to quit reading this forum I will be able to blame stories like this one, which are way too common. Everyone with a computer is a revolver-building expert these days.

I wonder if the OP considered HE (or his ammunition, or his grips, or any combination of the three) was causing the gun to shoot where it does? Well, anyway, the gun is gone and he won’t have to worry over it.

SLT223 · Jul 14, 2018

Thats about as good as it gets. Should be no issue there.

muddocktor · Jul 14, 2018

I think I would have kept that fine looking gun and just had my revolver smith I brought it to re-torque the barrel to true vertical, since to me it looks like the barrel was underclocked about 1/2 degree from the factory. Probably all he would have had to do would be to back it out about half a turn and them re-torque it correctly. That is assuming your revolver smith had the appropriate frame wrench to do this with.

OttoLoader · Jul 14, 2018

I would have returned it just as the OP did.
I do not buy S&W revolvers with clocked barrels.

Tony2much · Jul 14, 2018

I've heard of fixed sight revolvers that are shooting right or left, having their barrels tweaked (purposely canted) to correct point of aim.

When it comes to my working handguns, I rarely scrutinize for perfectly precise barrel alignment (unless grossly misaligned) until I have carefully bench tested it with various ammo.

If it's hitting where I'm aiming, my gun is doing what I bought it for.

Canted Barrel on 629-6

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