686+ 4" NO RIFLING!! Please help

[Doug M.]

These "ATF gonna getcha" threads always make me laugh.
...
The same thing happened on the next three or four. I called on a few of them, and got vague answers about priorities, but "keep 'em coming".

*
I have had a few matters come to my attention as a prosecutor (county prosecutors represent the State in criminal prosecutions here, cities have their own prosecutors for misdemeanors unless they contract w/the county; only our offices can do juvenile offender and adult felony matters) that justified aggressive ATF action.

With few exceptions, the effort to get them to take the cases was a waste of my time. I would prep everything they needed - certified copies of predicate convictions and other relevant documents, etc., hand deliver them, etc. I would have better off playing games on my computer.

It's insane. We have adequate laws, but they are not enforced to any real extent ... so we need more laws. Be still my heaving stomach.

 

[zzclancy]

Seriously

No, this is not "what you should expect" from S&W, but it has happened before. And, not just with S&W.

Within the last 6 months, I personally saw a SIG P320 with absolutely NO rifling in the barrel. Of course, SIG stepped up with a shipping label, and they fitted a new barrel (per the repair technician, his words, not mine), test fired, and returned directly to the owner, all at no charge. Oddly, that P320 had already gone back once for the "voluntary upgrade" and apparently, no one caught it until it came back, and was fired for the first time by the owner, who thought the groups seemed to big. Upon looking, he realized what was going on. Sent me pics after I did not believe him. Sure enough, no rifling.

Posted on the SIG Talk forum, and a swarm of people called he and I everything in the book (liar was the nicest thing said of us, accused of photo shopping the pics, etc.), all because those folks just refused to believe their favorite brand had such a glaring screw up.

In any event, S&W will make it right.

SIG P320 pics attached. The one WITH rifling is for comparison. SIG's work order is also shown.

Seriously,how does that even happen? So is the firearms industry turning into the auto industry?

 

[RGVshooter]

3 days and 83 posts later and no OP. C'mons guys, let's go home.

 

[rwsmith]

This is a 686....

I'm sure that if S&W had gone with polygonal rifling on the 686 we would have heard something right away. After all, this site caters to S&W and all the experts are here.

How do you say that anyway?:

poly-GON-all?

po-LIG-an-all?

I know how to say EDM.

 

[DonD]

S&W doesn't do any barrels using EDM. EDM stands for Electrical Discharge Machine, which in essence uses electricity to burn away pieces of metal. There are two types of machines, one that uses wire to impart the electrical discharge, and one that uses a piece of carbon cut to the contour needed. It's a neat process, but not one that I believe (it's been over 24 years since I ran either type of EDM) can be used for cutting the grooves in barrels.

S&W uses ECM. ECM stands for Electrochemical Machining. From what I understand (I've no experience using one) electrolyte are forced under pressure through a cathode and cuts/burns the metal away.

Both processes, depending on speed of the machine, can leave a finish far smoother than the old button broaching method.

Yeah, you're right and I knew what you're talking about, fat finger error. My bad. Don

 

[torizus]

On the upside, it helps making the selection of ammo a lot easier.

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

He must have taken the long way home...

 

[ken158]

The fact that no one has even seen a photo from the OP of his "illegal smooth bore revolver shotgun" ( ) yet debating over the theoretical legalities is extremely disheartening.

Totally agree. Being an unintended illegal gun without malice or intent would only lead to a confiscation at best. The factory would surely make it right if they had the opportunity. Lots of noise here about very little...

 

[rwsmith]

Is a smoothbore revolver......

....really illegal??? Are black powder weapons exempt???

 

[buck460XVR]

He must have taken the long way home...

....or looked closely at the business end of the gun and saw rifling.

 

[rwsmith]

I figure....

Totally agree. Being an unintended illegal gun without malice or intent would only lead to a confiscation at best. The factory would surely make it right if they had the opportunity. Lots of noise here about very little...

I figure that the only time something like this would come to light was if the gun was involved in a crime.

 

[Abbynormal]

I think were are being flamed. Original poster has 0 posts when he sez
I ain't got no rifling! Now 3 days later with no photos (too many FAQ's and posters to help didn't help) and no contact from poster for 3 days raises
my X$ factor sensors!

 

[RGVshooter]

I think we're all being flamed.

 

[k22fan]

..[Is a smooth bore revolver]..really illegal??? Are black powder weapons exempt???

Under federal law, yes and Yes for muzzle loaders and cartridge guns made before 1898 or 1899 (I forget which). However, if the original poster's revolver really has no rifling, which I doubt, and he does not keep as is for a long time, the suggestion that he might be prosecuted is, IMO, absurd.

 

[JAREDSHS]

I hope that the OP has had a lot of enjoyment out of this little masquerade !! I'm outa here fellas.

 

[Nicholas]

Educational, heck yeah, I learned about ECM cutting.

Hilarious, heck yeah, I rolled on the floor and laughed my rear off with some of the ATF and self appointed prosecutors comments.

I think y'all been had or you pissed the OP off so bad he will never return.

 

[rwsmith]

Thanks all you guys....

For calling BS on all the legal stuff. Sometimes we get carried away bringing up every possible aspect of a problem. Up to a point it doesn't hurt to have viewpoints from outside the box because comments can just be discounted if they don't have anything to do with solving the problem. I that we are all hypersensitized on legalities of guns to the point of jumping to the moon at the mere thought of having something illegal about our guns. Given the atmosphere of the last years, who can really blame us?

What I'd like to see is the obviously defective revolver sent back to S&W and how they handle it.

 

[500SNW]

I think that we are all hypersensitized on legalities of guns to the point of jumping to the moon at the mere thought of having something illegal about our guns.

Possessing something illegal wouldn't be worrying for me. Been there done that way too many times as a teenager and college student. One just has the additional hassle of being extra careful not to get caught with it.

 

[pittpa]

Hope the OP can post a pic or at least let us know outcome?

Maybe he is in custody?

 

[Invictus357]

ok let's have a look here.

"It has absolutely zero rifling! Im not new to guns just wheelies."




I am willing to bet that he discovered that it does not have any rifling whatsoever...


in the charge holes.