5” Performance Center... does this look normal?

[Tsb3]

Took my brand new 5" Performance Center 9 out today to run its first rounds thru it. Ran 170 flawless rounds thru it. Smooth and easy to shoot, very nice trigger.
After shooting I stripped it down to clean again and check it out. I found a lot of marks on the top of the barrel, more than I would expect to see after 170 rounds. It actually has a groove that catches your finger nail if you run it down the top of the barrel.
It's hard to see in the pictures.

Does this look normal??

 

[Gunhacker]

Nope... that does not.

Bluing loss is normal, but not scoring. And being at the muzzle end where barrel and slide lockup affects accuracy, I'd contact S&W customer service send it back to S&W on their dime.

I've had 2 M&P's with over a thousand rounds through each, and nothing more that very minor bluing loss (rub marks) has occurred.

 

[Rodan]

I would say that's not at all normal. I dug out my 5" M&P Pro stock barrel, which has ~3000 rnds through it, for comparison.

Pardon the fingerprint... couldn't see it 'till I got the pic up on the computer screen.

 

[Tsb3]

Thanks for the quick replies. It doesn't seem normal to me, so I thought that I would tap the experience here at S&W forum.
I will contact S&W.

 

[sandog]

Does it have a sharp edge/burr inside the slide ?

 

[Tsb3]

There is a lip inside the slide. It appears to have been machined that way.

 

[swsig]

I'll add to the others and say no, that's not normal, especially with a groove that you can feel. I assume you cleaned and lubed your M&P before you shot it. The factory preservative oil that comes with the gun is not a good lubricant. If you did clean and lube it first, and followed S&W's somewhat minimalist lubrication recommendations, you may have under-lubricated a tight new pistol. I like to slightly over-lubricate new pistols for at least the first couple of shooting sessions. Nevertheless, if you lubricated the barrel at all, it should not have ended up looking like that.

Below is a photo of the barrel from my 1.0 M&P 40 compact. It has 13,000 rounds on it, and shows no such wear. I'd say S&W owes you a new barrel and possibly a new slide, too.

 

[Saudade]

My 5" ported core barrel still looks smooth after a few hundred rounds. As others suggested, you may have some kind of burr inside the muzzle end of the slide. Even my 4.25" barrel with 1500 (or so) rounds is still smooth like the ones above.

Keep us informed please.

 

[Tsb3]

My 5" ported core barrel still looks smooth after a few hundred rounds. As others suggested, you may have some kind of burr inside the muzzle end of the slide. Even my 4.25" barrel with 1500 (or so) rounds is still smooth like the ones above.

Keep us informed please.

Is the muzzle of your slide smooth inside or does it have a lip around it?

 

[Tsb3]

swsig, yes cleaned and lubed prior to first shots.

My shield 9 has 1500 or so thru it with virtually no visible wear.

 

[Tsb3]

Update: Emailed S&W about my barrel. Sent them some clear pictures of it. I will post them here also, they are better then the originals that are in my original post.
So S&W replies: We reviewed the photos, it appears to be simple cosmetic marks. Thank you for contacting S&W, glad we were able to assist you.
Regards, XXXXX

I must say that I was almost speechless after reading the reply.
So I replied: Simple cosmetic marks?? Really?? I have 2 other S&W pistols with over 1000 rounds thru each and neither have more than the slightest rub mark.
This new $700 firearm came out of the "Performance Center", and after 170 rounds the barrel has chattered scrapes that catch your fingernail when rubbed along the barrel and you say "simple cosmetic marks". I feel that S&W should inspect it and figure out what caused the marks. What's the barrel gonna look like after a 1000 rounds.
Regards,

Now I wait for a reply.







Not sure why my pictures are so small, and blurry. They are clear on my phone.

 

[1911haulic]

Did you clean and lubricate it before firing the rounds? How about during the firing session?

 

[Tsb3]

Yes. Cleaned and lubed prior to firing the first round.
No. Not during the 170 round session.

 

[4barrel]

The pictures are clear to me. The end of the barrel don't look good in the photos. I would think another barrel would do the same thing. It looks like the slide would could be the problem? Hard lockup?

 

[bigwheelzip]

Just a guess.
Looks like you've got a ported barrel. I seem to remember reading about certain types of ammo that shouldn't be used in guns with ported barrels, and sometimes bullet plating would go through the port. Maybe one of the problems was bits of bullet plating blowing through the ports and being abrasive.
Good luck..

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Gunhacker]

Update: Emailed S&W about my barrel. Sent them some clear pictures of it. I will post them here also, they are better then the originals that are in my original post.
So S&W replies: We reviewed the photos, it appears to be simple cosmetic marks. Thank you for contacting S&W, glad we were able to assist you.
Regards, XXXXX

I must say that I was almost speechless after reading the reply.
So I replied: Simple cosmetic marks?? Really?? I have 2 other S&W pistols with over 1000 rounds thru each and neither have more than the slightest rub mark.
This new $700 firearm came out of the "Performance Center", and after 170 rounds the barrel has chattered scrapes that catch your fingernail when rubbed along the barrel and you say "simple cosmetic marks". I feel that S&W should inspect it and figure out what caused the marks. What's the barrel gonna look like after a 1000 rounds.
Regards,

Now I wait for a reply.

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Not sure why my pictures are so small, and blurry. They are clear on my phone.

Don't email... if the reply comes back no joy, call them and talk to a live person and be adamant about the there being an actual groove in the barrel surface. It's clearly evident by the pics you posted.

It kind of looks like flame erosion... could there be a problem with the gas leakage from the ports?

The location of the grove looks like where the rear of the barrel bushing is at when the slide is forward and locked in battery... what does the rear surfaces of the bushing looks like?

That email reply is pure Bravo Sierra.

 

[Longone]

Did you register the gun with S&W so they have you as the original owner? I have a PC Shield in 45 and if my barrel looked like that I'd be pretty disappointed and asking to speak with a CS supervisor. With the steels today there is no reason for that, they should be sending you a shipping label and taking good care of you.

 

[Tsb3]

Yes I did register it.
S&W replied again, this time with a return form to fill out for a shipping label. Also said 8-10 week turn around time. That is disheartening, to be without my new pistol for possibly 2 1/2 months.
Believe me, I am extremely disappointed with the situation.
I will call on Monday and request to speak with a QC supervisor.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[Longone]

I would be surprised if once they have the pieces in hand and see what you have they don't expedite your handgun repair.
Write a nice detailed letter explaining your dissatisfaction with your purchase and let them know the outdoor range season is coming to a close rapidly. Put the letter in with the handgun. Give them some time to make it right, if they fail time wise to get the pistol back to you then call and talk to a supervisor. I understand your frustration but stuff happens, give S&W an opportunity to make it right, I'll bet they do.

 

[Maddog 521]

Just a guess.
Looks like you've got a ported barrel. I seem to remember reading about certain types of ammo that shouldn't be used in guns with ported barrels, and sometimes bullet plating would go through the port. Maybe one of the problems was bits of bullet plating blowing through the ports and being abrasive.
Good luck..


Good catch right here. Do you have anymore info on the ammo that you speak of?