Hi, I was cleaning my "Dirty Harry" model 29 and I noticed weird circular scratch wear on the barrel throat. Not sure if this is normal wear or something isn't quite right. I probably don't have more than 500 rounds through it so far. Please let me know what you think.

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Looks perfectly normal to me for a factory forcing cone.

Enjoy your Model 29, they're great guns.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

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Those circular marks inside the forcing cone are the result of a worn cutter being used to cut the forcing cone. This is usually not a problem with plated, coated, or jacketed bullets, but the rough surface may cause leading with bare lead bullets.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Normal tool marks from manufacturing.

Would a gunsmith be able to polish or machine those out? (I saw similar marks at a show last fall, on a 357 and decided to pass on what would otherwise have been an ok deal)

That is not a normal forcing cone and the revolver should have been rejected. The forcing cone can be cleaned up with the proper tools, but it should have never left the factory that way. Terrible workmanship.

All that plus you have some excessive copper fouling too.

I'm not smart enough to comment on the forcing cone toll marks BUT that barrel hasn't been cleaned in a while!
There appears to be quite a bit of copper in there.

It only take 5 or 10 minutes to recut the forcing cone. I do the barrel crown at the same time on any gun I get. I would check for barrel restriction where it's threaded into the frame as well. These are the 3 main things that determine how well a barrel shoots.

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protocalldesign.com

What dash number 29 and what ammo?

Doesn't look normal to me. Others may add more insight.

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John

Current S&W quality. BUT, I bought one earlier this year and the forcing cone was polished, prettiest forcing cone I've ever seen. But the trigger hangs up ant the beginning of the D/A pull. Don't know whether to return it or not. Single action is great and it kicks too hard to shoot D/A anyway. It just ain't right. I have a 625JM that has a super ugly forcing cone, worse than your pictures of yours, among other problems.

I've cleaned the gun after every trip. I use Hoppe's 9 barrel cleaner. But I noticed that too this last time and I've ordered a copper fouling remover.

29-10, Remington HTP 240gr soft point, PMC 240gr TCSP, PMC 180gr HP. I don't think I've shot more than 500 rounds and the fouling seems a little excessive. I've shot much more through other guns and none of them have copper fouling.

Thanks!
I've never noticed those marks before while cleaning. That's why I wasn't sure about them. Maybe I just missed them or they've become more noticeable.

I agree. I use Hoppe's 9 barrel cleaner, but I've ordered bore tech copper remover. Will see if that takes care of it. Kind of unusual for less than 500 rounds to me. But then again I don't have any other 44 mags.

Would you suggest me to contact S&W about this? Or it is what it is?

I'm guessing the M29-10 is the latest revision out?

There's no reason for a forcing cone to be so roughly cut. Sadly it's not uncommon.

How does it shoot?

Those "rings" aren't good on any bullet but the softer the bullet the more affect.

The PMC bullets may (?) be the one causing of the copper fouling. Once you get it clean keep an eye on it to see which load is the problem & don't use them anymore once they're gone.

It's worth sending the pictures to S&W C/S & see what they say. Turn-around time varies so keep that in mind, if it matters.

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I've had to fix a few myself.

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