4563TSW Barrel peening frame

[18DAI]

I shot my 4563TSW again yesterday. It has 600 rounds through it, from me, and not many rounds prior to that.

When cleaning it last night, I noticed that the the barrel is peening (for lack of a better description) the frame. The dimples in the barrel, forward, on either side of the ramp, above the lugs, are leaving raised, triangle shaped obtrusions on the frame. The one on the right side being "rougher". The right side of the frame, where the barrel lug impacts the frame is peened as well.

I've not seen this before with an aluminum frame S&W. The recoil spring is new, and I've only been firing Winchester WB, and Ranger ammo.

Any ideas on whether this is normal? Does this simply stop at some point, like flame cutting?

Thanks in advance. Regards 18DAI.

 

[18DAI]

I shot my 4563TSW again yesterday. It has 600 rounds through it, from me, and not many rounds prior to that.

When cleaning it last night, I noticed that the the barrel is peening (for lack of a better description) the frame. The dimples in the barrel, forward, on either side of the ramp, above the lugs, are leaving raised, triangle shaped obtrusions on the frame. The one on the right side being "rougher". The right side of the frame, where the barrel lug impacts the frame is peened as well.

I've not seen this before with an aluminum frame S&W. The recoil spring is new, and I've only been firing Winchester WB, and Ranger ammo.

Any ideas on whether this is normal? Does this simply stop at some point, like flame cutting?

Thanks in advance. Regards 18DAI.

 

[Fastbolt]

If you're talking about on the 'top' slightly angled surfaces of the frame, just inward of each frame rail, that's where the bottom of the barrel on each side slams down onto the frame during cycling. The greater amount on the right side reflects the torquing effect the bullet has upon the barrel as it's traveling through the rifling. Normal on aluminum frames. It does seem to be 'self limiting'.

My issued 4513TSW and several of my personally-owned S&W aluminum framed pistols (CS45, original 4513TSW, CS9, 3913 & 4013TSW) all exhibit it to one degree or another. I seem to notice it more in the harder recoiling calibers such as the .45 ACP and .40 S&W.

 

[18DAI]

Yes Fastbolt, the angled surfaces inboard of the rails, is where it is occuring.

Thanks for the info. Regards 18DAI.

 

[CTPete]

18DAI - Nearly all of my allow frame 3rd gen guns have this trait. Including a couple with more than 100K rounds. Not to worry.

 

[presspics]

Normal, no worries

 

[18DAI]

Thanks fellas! Regards 18DAI.

 

[SW CQB 45]

here is some pics of my 4563 CQB frame sometime ago. it had about 13K of ball, and some stout duty through it at the time of the photo.

after an 800 round session with no cleaning or lubing. BIG mistake as it was a bear to clean.

 

[Jhp147]

I know I'm late to the party, but wanted to add this in as it seems like exactly the same trouble 18DAI is describing. I had that type of damage on my 4563TSW in 2004. I called Smith about it, and sent in very close photos of the "damage." They had me send it in, and they replaced both the frame and barrel. Seems like they said the barrel had been fit improperly in that case, and replaced the frame and barrel. I only put a few hundred rounds through it before retiring it for a 4566TSW. I checked the frame, and hadn't seen any similar damage, it is like the barrel impact is now more on the top of the curved frame surface that catches the barrel instead of the leading edge, in the same place as the wear on CQB's gun. I may have pix around if they are of any use to anyone.

 

[Fastbolt]

Better late than never.

Relevant comment.

I know a fellow who had an early single column 4013 which developed some battering at the top leading edge of the frame's camming bevels (the angled surfaces where the barrel's side lugs - at each side of the feedramp - ride when the barrel is unlocking and dropping, and then ride up again as the barrel/slide returns to battery). As an experienced LE armorer he was used to seeing the normal marking/peening we've been discussing in this thread, but he hadn't seen the top of the camming cuts a bit further forward on the frame become damaged like that and he called S&W.

This turned out to be causing a problem with the unlocking & locking timing. He was told that it's important that the top leading edges of these cuts remain sharp and square so timing remains within specification and normal functioning continues to occur (although the lower middle area of the cuts do normally exhibit some peening on the aluminum frames). If the top of the cuts became rounded or otherwise out-of-spec, then the barrel may not be consistently released from the frame cuts to go up and forward into battery within the necessary timing. They examined it and told him the gun had to be replaced. They no longer had any original single column 4013 frames left over so they offered him another model as a warranty replacement.

 

[18DAI]

My wear is very similar to that on CQB 45's pistol.

The camming bevels are not rounded at the top leading edge, but are peened pretty well lower down, to the point where there is shiny metal pushed/peened to the side.

I'll keep an eye on the area to see if it levels off, or gets progressively worse. This is a hard working gun, not one of my range or safe queens, so its going to get alot of wear and already has "character"

This 4563TSW is my on and off duty carry these days. The lack of a rail and bobbed hammer making it feel like my 3913.....on steroids

Thanks to all for the info and pics! Much appreciated. Regards 18DAI.