Are you sure its "lead"??? WARNING!!!

[flat top]

BillCA; Smith will probably do one of two things with my old barrel.....check it to see exactly what the problem is and throw it in the trash can, or, throw it in the trash can, and say "yup, another one!" Evidently this is a reoccuring problem, and if they dont know whats wrong by now, they never will...or, dont care to know!...."Just keep chunkin' them guns out boys! We'll fix em if they break!" My next concern is...will the new barrel be any better? at least this time the new barrel will be put in by a real "pro"...not a machine!!!!

 

[JD 500]

looks like time to call customer service.

Thanks flat top.

 

[kritter]

this post prompted me to check out the barrel of my .500...
i think i have a "crack" in my barrel it's about 3-1/2 inches up the barrel , a thin dark line but, running the circumference of the barrel in almost a perfect circle , but only visable in the groves of the rifleing..
too deep to get a clear pic of it but it can be felt with a cleaning patch.. think i'm making a call tommrow too....

 

[flat top]

JD500/kritter; Good luck guys!!! If I can find out any more info on what causes this problem I will share it here.....I have my own opinion, but that is all it is. If you can get a good answer from Smith, please let me know! Thanks!

 

[kritter]

called customer service this morning.. they are sending out a shiping tag,,, they want to see whats going on with it.

 

[s&wchad]

There was a thread about this last year, but I can't find it. There were similar photos (6X magnification or more) of some barrels just like that on new guns. They're not cracks and I'm sure the guns are safe to shoot, as the depth of the irregularities is far less than the depth of the rifling. I doubt it will effect accuracy either, but it may make it more difficult to clean it to your satisfaction (especially if you scrutinizer it that closely). If you ever looked at rifle barrels thru a bore scope, you'd be amazed at the defects and erosion visible in barrels that looked great to the naked eye. I have a Remington 700 in .300 Savage with chatter marks running the length of the rifling and the gun shoots under 1-½" at 100 yds.

IIRC, those gouges are a result of the current rifling process. It could relate to running the machinery too fast, worn cutting tools or inadequate lubricant. You can also see rough machining marks further back in the forcing cone in JD 500's photos. My guess is that S&W considers those acceptable parts that meet their specifications, but they probably don't want to tell you that. If they have a better barrel available, they may accommodate you and replace it, but I'd ignore it if it shoots OK. I'm sure they could produce barrels without those flaws in the forcing cone area, it would just cost more time and money.

No one like to find a wart on their baby, but very few things are perfect if you look close enough. If it's accurate and reliable and if the external fit and finish are good, be happy.

 

[DonD]

Flattop, hate to be a curmudgeon but you posted that you drive 250gr lead slugs to 2250fps in a Marlin.

Either your chrono is off or you're way out of bounds pressure wise. Hodgdon's top velocity for a 240gr Nosler is 1817fps at 36,200 CUP and CUP is higher than PSI. Don

 

[flat top]

S&Wchad; My issue with my Smith barrel was that it didnt come like that...and believe me I keep an eye on my barrels!!!! I went to the range one day, and fired a cylinder full of my standard 1000 fps rounds, and when I was cleaning the barrel, thats when I noticed the "imperfections". Thats when I tried everything I could to remove what I thought was leading, to no avail. I then got on the phone to LSG and Frank told me that this was a "common problem" and that Smith would replace the barrel. I dont know if this is a safety issue or not, but, I am not going to fire a gun that has anything wrong with it. If there is a brave soul out there who has the same problem...they may want to continue firing the gun until something happens...or, does not happen. I am not going to take the chance, and evidently neither will Smith, because it is standard practice for them to replace barrels that exhibit this problem.

 

[JD 500]

Chad - Thanks for the reply.

After flat top made a specific point of suggesting the lewis lead remover, I did the following.

Assuming the Lewis lead remover is similar to the (Tipton) Magic metal cloth I have , I cut a small piece off and rubbed it on this "blemish" with a nylon dental type pick. Guess what. It turned black, which tells me I am removing something. I haven't shot but maybe 12 lead bullets through my 629, however they would have been followed (Same range trip) by jacketed bullets. I'm now wondering if what I have is lead(ing). It is not coming off quickly at all, and solvents and brushing aren't doing much at all, but yet that cloth is removing something. I think I am going to continue with the lead cloth and see where it takes me before calling smith. I can say that I have fired rounds since with no issues, and at least in my gun, accuracy seems fine (It is a 2.5" bbl fwiw).

 

[flat top]

DonD; I said I drive a 300 grain bullet (that is the lightest bullet I shoot in my Marlin) at 2150, and that I am not at maximum charge (if memory serves me). I modified my Marlin XLR for a longer COL (2.660....standard COL is 2.580 or there abouts), and it has a lapped barrel which will produce higher velocities. I also shoot lead bullets which produce higher velocities at lower pressures than jacketed bullets. The increase in COL in my rifle does two things. It allows me to seat the long, nose heavy bullets that I use out of the case and allows the bullet to contact the rifling a bit for improved accuracy. Also, when the bullet is moved out of the case, it increases powder capacity for a bit more "oomph", but, does not increase pressure proportionately, so, the loading data for my gun would be different than for others. I am now working with a 325 grain LCMNGC bullet which shows promise of producing velocities in the 2100+ fps range....and, that is out of the 16.5" barrel on my modified levergun. Marlin actions and the 444 Marlin cartridge in that action are rated at 44,000 cup, or, 42,000 psi. I have checked my chrono against known loads and velocities that were tested on other chrono's and it is in the ballpark with that data (I have yet to see any two chrono's produce the same numbers, but most are "close")....Also, if you check "all" manufacturers loading data, and a number of reloading manuals, you will see that there is a great variance in published data and pressures, etc. Don, believe me...I play it safe! I have been building custom rifles and handguns and developing wildcat cartridges for over 40 years, and because there is no velocity worth blowing up a good rifle, or, blowing up FT...I will continue to play it safe!!! I do appreciate your concern, and, you are not a curmudgeon!

 

[flat top]

JD500; Please keep us posted!!! Also, Frank told me that some Smith barrels have a very rough finish that will cause extreme copper or lead fouling, and the Smith has replaced those as well. One good thing, Smith "is" standing behind its product, so, we cant complain about that!

 

[model10]

Thanks for the heads up on this , One question was your 629 a dash or not ?? or just a plain 629 , Reason i ask is i have a - 3 that so far i havent seen any thing in it like yours , Hopely that S&W figgers out what is causeing this .I do wonder if some of the bullets had some zink in them just a off hand thought is all , zink is hard to clean up or off !

 

[JD 500]

my 629 is a 629-6.

 

[Schofieldkid81]

Hey, I have 2 newer Smiths that both have this type of defect(like in the picture), a 24-6 lew horton and a 610-3. The 24-6's "defects" showed up about a year ago, and I have shot 1000 rounds through it since then. They haven't gotten any worse, and the gun is extremly accurate. The 610-3 i got last month, showed this defect after my last trip to the range. I agree with s&wchad on this.

 

[flat top]

Just an update on this issue! The saga continues! This gun is going to see more of the country than I have! LSG finally recieved the new barrel that Smith said I needed to replace the barrel that had the flaws........only one problem.....the new barrel is in worse shape than the original, and, this is a newly manufactured barrel!!! So, what LSG and Smith have decided to do is to have my gun, and both barrels go to the Smith Engineering Department for inspection and disposition of the problem. In the meantime, I sit here "snubbieless"...and its just killing me!!! I will keep you all posted on what transpires!

 

[flat top]

Another update!!! Now, I have recieved an email from S&W Customer Service. They said they are going to make me an entirely new gun to replace mine!!!! Something is going on here. Some on here say this issue is not an issue, and Smith wants to replace the gun. The way I look at it, the only thing that needs to be replaced is the barrel...unless, Smith knows something and just aint tellin'!!!! Anyway, I asked the Customer Service rep if the replacement was going to be "identical" to the one I had, and, how long "this" was going to take (to make me a new gun)...I am awaiting a reply form Smith. It has been about 6 weeks now, since I sent the gun off for warranty repair...at this rate, I think I am going to demand a "loaner"!!!!

More to come...I am sure!!!!

 

[devildog66]

Would a magnaflux provide more answers?

 

[flat top]

I am sure it would. I am not concerned about the cause, as much as I am in getting my gun back. The gun went to Smith Engineering, and "if" they are interested, I am sure they will test the parts, but, I have a sneaking suspicion that they already know what the problem is. This seems to be a frequent issue with late model big bore Smiths.

 

[Dregg]

Wow, informative thread. Will keep my eyes on it.

 

[Nightowl]

I wonder if the new one will have the lock?