686 SSR Came in today :(

[9399NOLES]

Came to me with the barrel not properly aligned, luckily the shop I purchased it from also runs a revolver performance shop in the back and he turned the barrel to align it better. He got it as good as possible but its still not perfect (honestly I had to look really really hard to see that it was still off). Anyone else have this issue with the barrel not properly turned and set? Im satisfied with where it is at as it does not effect the trajectory thus far but wondering if its even something to concern myself over. Gun shoots straight according to the bore laser sight, Id think that is about all that matters. BTW Gun also came to me with dang near NO lubrication.... Is that normal for a from the factory gun?

Guess I should also add in that the gun will be undergoing some work over the next couple weeks, its in the shop getting a chamber job, stainless steel trigger, trigger job, action job, gold bead front sight and extended firing pin installed. Cant wait to pick it up and put some rounds through it. Im the original owner, so if any problems come from the barrel down the road I can always send it in to get fixed. So far though the gun is beautiful, feels great and I had a hard time leaving it with the shop.

I would also like to give props to the shop, named Revolver Armorer. Its in Suffolk, Va and the owner and gun smith is a great guy and seems top notch. If anyone is in the area I would recommend swinging by and checking the place out.

 

[9399NOLES]

No other issues out there like these?

 

[pctech]

A large percentage of revolvers leaving the S&W factory right now have canted barrels. Every new 617 I've seen in the past year has had it, as well as many 686's, and even a Performance Center 625. It's a common issue. I 'suspect' S&W is torquing the barrels to a set spec, rather than to be perfectly aligned. I'm not happy about it.

As far as minimal lube, that seems to be fairly common as well. My 617 purchased last December was bone dry.

 

[9399NOLES]

Well I'm less than pleased that's for damn sure. You would think if your paying for top notch brand prices like s&w's they would go the extra step to insure their product was top notch quality when it left their shop.

 

[Titan]

Personally, I would have held off spending money on enhancements to a gun that might have to go back, but I've also heard and observed that it's a widespread problem.

 

[9399NOLES]

It doesnt have to go back, the Gun smith told me today it was fine. Hes going to be breaking it down and fine tuning it this week for me....

 

[What the]

Have you shot it yet? I would, before I spent a dime on it. I would send it back and make them fix that barrel. We as consumers can't keep allowing companies to churn out substandard products and charging top dollar to boot?

I probably wouldn't have accepted that gun in the first place. It's your money not mine so do as you like, it just doesn't sit well with me.

 

[9399NOLES]

Have you shot it yet? I would, before I spent a dime on it. I would send it back and make them fix that barrel. We as consumers can't keep allowing companies to churn out substandard products and charging top dollar to boot?

I probably wouldn't have accepted that gun in the first place. It's your money not mine so do as you like, it just doesn't sit well with me.

No I have yet to shoot it, I had to order the gun in. Then I have to wait a two week period to actually file the paperwork to own it. (31 day wait in Va between handguns) The gun will be gone through very thoroughly over the next couple weeks. If the Gun smith finds any issues he will let me know and I wills send it back to S&W. I checked it well again today to make sure I did not miss anything else on the gun. The end of the barrel is smooth and I did not see ANY burring like some people have found. All parts are tight, gun locks up great, trigger pull is a little stiff but thats being fixed any way. The ONLY issue was that the barrel was not perfectly lined up when I got it. I would say right now its at 98%, if it is unable to sight in and make good reasonable groups at 10, 15, and 25 yards or cant reach out and hit a 8" plate at 50 yards then I will be more concerned. I am super OCD when it comes to things being in a uniform order, and im also a little anal about it to be honest. I am a very attention to detail oriented person and as the barrel sits right now I am satisfied. BUT like I said, if it does not do what it was made to do it will go back. And although I hated to send a new gun back to the factory instead of getting to enjoy it, I wont pay a dime to have any kinks worked out of it.

 

[C/O]

I had the same issue with a "gulp" Ruger SP101 I bought in 2008. I wish gun companies would get their acts together. Seems all of them are having QC issues lately.

I would send it back to S&W to be fixed. Money is to hard to come by to accept an inferior product. If we don't make them fix theses issues then they have no incentive to correct the issues before shipping them out.

 

[9399NOLES]

I agree with what you said C/O I think I will have it sent out to make the barrel perfect. The shop owner told me he has seen more of this lately because he feels, that with companies like Taurus pumping guns out as quickly as they can for the lower prices that Smith just tries to keep up, and that has cost them in quality.

 

[Wheel Fan]

Sorry to hear that. Really. It's too common and it shouldn't be. I have a newer 3" 686 plus. My barrel is slightly off-center to the frame (1/64th?) but it's perfectly horizontal and vertical and the front sight is dead-on 12 o'clock. If it were to be twisted into place so it's centered to the frame, it would no longer be vertical or horizontal if that makes sense. I've fired it and it's accurate enough. I showed it to a gunsmith and he said it didn't look that bad but agreed it was off-centered if you looked carefully. I'm mad that I have to consider sending it back. What a pain. I waited for years for my first S&W revolver because I heard about their quality and my Dad owns several. I was too new to these guns to inspect the gun's barrel alignment before purchasing. Why would I it was a Smith? I'm learning I suppose. It's my only gun so when it's getting fixed at S&W that will be when the robber comes to our house Well, even so I still like the gun otherwise. Good luck Noles, keep us posted.

 

[9399NOLES]

Sorry to hear that. Really. It's too common and it shouldn't be. I have a newer 3" 686 plus. My barrel is slightly off-center to the frame (1/64th?) but it's perfectly horizontal and vertical and the front sight is dead-on 12 o'clock. If it were to be twisted into place so it's centered to the frame, it would no longer be vertical or horizontal if that makes sense. I've fired it and it's accurate enough. I showed it to a gunsmith and he said it didn't look that bad but agreed it was off-centered if you looked carefully. I'm mad that I have to consider sending it back. What a pain. I waited for years for my first S&W revolver because I heard about their quality and my Dad owns several. I was too new to these guns to inspect the gun's barrel alignment before purchasing. Why would I it was a Smith? I'm learning I suppose. It's my only gun so when it's getting fixed at S&W that will be when the robber comes to our house Well, even so I still like the gun otherwise. Good luck Noles, keep us posted.

Appreciate it man, and I will. After I get the gun and put some rounds down range I will decide what happens to it. Honestly, like i said earlier I have to LOOK HARD to notice the difference. If it shoots straight, Im happy. I also have a 642 for conceal carry and bedside, so I wont feel uncomfortable if I have to send it out to S&W

 

[9399NOLES]

I have done a TON of research since my OP.

So I feel that I should also add the amount that it is off is seriously about the size of the width of a standard staple. Its a very very fine difference and the sights line up perfectly, I CANT see the front sight off at a angle like I have read about for some people. And I CANT notice the issue by looking at the top of the barrel, where I notice the problem is by looking down the sides of the barrel from the front where the barrel meets the frame. Thats where I notice it, its a little more room on the left side of the gun than on the right side, Its not higher in the upper left corner and lower in the bottom right it just has a tad bit of room on one side. Like i said, about the width of a standard staple. Im starting to feel that it is a non issue but I wont know for sure until I shoot the gun. With a bore laser the sights line up PERFECTLY anywhere from 10 yards out to about 20 (as far back as the shop went) Guess I will know for sure when I get to send some rounds down range. I wish I did more research on this issue as it seems wide spread, everything I have read is making me feel like my gun is a non issue. Which is making me happier. But also makes me think they should make these guns with pinned barrels to eliminate this problem.

 

[Wheel Fan]

It sounds like we have the same issue as far as the physical makeup of the barrel alignment. A little more room on one side than the other. In my case, one minute I think "it's OK", the next minute "Smith owes me". I have shot mine and it really shoots sweet. I may wait and put a few more rounds through it while it's still good weather. It can still be dealt with later like this winter. That or trade it on a pre-lock with a properly centered barrel at the next gun show Aside from that, I was looking the thing over this evening after all this barrel talk and the rest of it is built so well. Sweet trigger, razor tight cylinder gap, nice weight and feel etc.