460 XVR Bone Collector- Big Problem

[phenson]

I bought a new 460 Bone Collector approximately two weeks ago. Today as I was shooting it, the first hint was what I believe to be a chunk of copper jacket hit me hard enough on the cheek to bring a little blood. Upon further inspection, I discovered the muzzle brake would turn in my hand, and that the barrel/cylinder gap was way too wide. I've owned this gun less that three weeks, I've shot it less that 200 times, mostly .454 Casull. It was within spec when I first go it, so this has happened as a result of being fired. Nothing I have shot is above published load data.
I already know I'm going to have to send it back, I guess it just upsets me that when I pay $1500.00+ for a new performance center gun I would think it would be defect free. I'm not going down the MIM, IL path, but I do have a Triple Lock shipped in 1912 that I'm pretty sure the barrel hasn't ever fallen off.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Are the breaks designed to come off? I'm not sure, but I thought they weren't.

What did the gap measure?

 

[phenson]

The brake is not designed to come off on the performance center gun. The gap was ridiculously wide, I didn't even bother to measure. Just going to call S&W and get a shipping label in the morning. Like I said, I'm not going to complain about S&W's modern firearms, but this has certainly biased my opinion on several issues.

 

[TGaryT]

Well, have had the same experience with my 5" 460V. It came with two muzzle brakes, one for specifically for lead. Both have drawn blood. 454 rounds seem to be culprit. Have picked pieces of the copper crimp out of my cheek. For now am restricting that hand cannon to 460 S&W rounds and heavier duties bullets such as the XTP Mag or all copper rounds. These do not seem to be problem. Eye protection is absolute must!

 

[phenson]

In my case, it wasn't the muzzle brake, it was the barrel/cylinder gap. The muzzle brake on this gun acts as the retaining nut for the three piece barrel. It simply came loose, allowing the barrel to also loosen.

Well, have had the same experience with my 5" 460V. It came with two muzzle brakes, one for specifically for lead. Both have drawn blood. 454 rounds seem to be culprit. Have picked pieces of the copper crimp out of my cheek. For now am restricting that hand cannon to 460 S&W rounds and heavier duties bullets such as the XTP Mag or all copper rounds. These do not seem to be problem. Eye protection is absolute must!

 

[phenson]

Four weeks later, and absolutely no feedback from S&W, the Bone Collector is back. It seems to be fixed. I will keep a close eye on it while shooting to make sure it doesn't come loose again. After reading some other's posts on the subject, this doesn't seem to be an isolated problem. If it comes loose again, I will forgo the warranty and the 4 week wait and repair it myself. This borders on unacceptable IMO.

 

[jkmcnamee]

460 bone collector loose barrel

Pat, has the barrel ever come loose again. Mine is experiencing the same problem you had. I have tried to google how to get the right gap while tightening the compensator with no luck. My understanding is that a "special tool" is needed.

I hat to send it back as I am in Canada where it is harder to ship these things around.

John

 

[ruggyh]

... Mine is experiencing the same problem you had. I have tried to google how to get the right gap while tightening the compensator with no luck. My understanding is that a "special tool" is needed.

I hat to send it back as I am in Canada where it is harder to ship these things around.

John

This a fairly common issue with X-frames comped in this manner. typically brought on by running them hot - though not always and seems to happen more when shoot a lot in extreme cold.

You are correct that special tools are needed to tighten the compensator correctly while maintaining adjusted BC gap.
If you research I have described the process required in several threads here in the past.

While inconvenient to say the least S&W has fixed them without on all the cases I am aware of including other post in this forum and others.

be safe
Ruggy