686 barrel question

[Juniour]

Hi,
I've asked about this over on the 80 and up section but thought you here might be more familiar with this.
I have a new Stainless 686-6 pro series I have not shot yet. I like the gun but have some questions. First is it looks to have been shot more then I woud of expected for a New gun. Powder residue and what looks like lead in the barrel to Me. There is fairly long trianglular smears of some type of buildup or distortion in the bottom of the rifleing grooves from the forceing cne down a short way. There was a lot of flaky stuff when I first started. I've cleaned and cleaned this bore and got it looking good except for this stuff. It appears to be close to the same color as the barrel. I'm useing hoppes 9 and brush and patch. The patch keeps comeing out dirty black after soaking in hoppes. Can anybody tell Me if this is actually lead or what? Or is it machineing distortion or what? I've never seen it in any other revolvers I've had. This same stuff/mark is in the bottom of all rifleings except one.
Larry

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

It's test fired from the factory and it's hard to tell from the photo but it's probably not lead. You will see silver specks from lead coming out.

leading looks like this

There are variations to the looks, mine had more streaking down the grooves. FMJ ammo sometimes leaves lead deposits in my forcing cone sometimes.

 

[chief38]

The marks you are referring to are nothing more than good ol' fashioned leading.

IMHO it looks to be as if the barrel was slightly turned to the left to help align the POA to the POI which is not all that uncommon. The gun was more than likely shot again to test the adjustments to make sure it was hitting in the correct spot.

All guns are tested prior to shipment but I would think that the PC guns are tested a bit more and are sent back if they are not in the acceptable range for a PC gun.

If you intend on shooting lead bullets from revolvers I would strongly suggest buying a Lewis Lead Remover from Brownell's. I would also suggest buying hard cast lead instead of swagged bullets as they will tend to lead less. The more you shoot your revolver the less lead it will pick up. When a barrel is new it is very sharp and picks up bullet lead very easily. A few pulls through with the LLR will quickly solve even a bad leading situation.

Chief38

 

[jepp2]

I'm useing hoppes 9 and brush and patch.

I realize I risk being flamed for this. My experience with Hoppe's #9 is that it is a fine solvent for removing powder reside but it does nothing for plastic, copper or lead fouling. With a new barrel, if you use a good copper removing solvent, you will be amazed with how much copper it will remove (as evidenced by the blue residue on the patch).

Several hundred rounds of jacketed bullets will reduce the build up. I also use either JB Bore cleaning compound or Flitz. It will serve to further clean and smooth the rifling.

 

[Juniour]

Update

Well, It's not Lead in the grooves. I've been told by an experienced smith These marks in the rifleing are remenents of S&W New ECR machineing of bores. They are permently in there. They are quite think also. If I was to guess maybe .005 or so thick. They will strongly catch a toothpick. And a couple f them are somewhat sharp. My Dealer has told Me H will send it in for repair or get Me a New one. Other issues with this gun were a burr on the end of barrel that slightly catches the cylinder while closeing, Bugger sight elevation screw, crooked barrel whch I here is common, and there's a smiley face peen mark just under the fireing pin down in the hammer recess of frame.
I'm real curious what you guys know of this rifleing flaw which after searching seems to not be all that uncommon either?????
How common? Effects? ETC?
Thanks,
Larry

 

[tomcatt51]

I think you're obsessing. Shoot a several boxes of 357 mags thru the gun and see how the barrel looks. See how the gun sights in. The barrel really isn't "crooked" if the gun sights in without having to move the rear sight blade way over to one side.