Clark Custom 41 barrel problems?

Programmer · Mar 5, 2014

OIF2 · Mar 5, 2014

Stupid question, but...how does it shoot? Have you machine-rested it with, say, Eley Tenex or RWS R-50? They have a valid point. The inside of the barrel of my Hammerli 208S looked about the same, but shot .5" groups at 50 yds with Eley.
Bob

TOM BECKWITH · Mar 5, 2014

AGREE WITH OIF2 - If it fits, feeds, and shoots accurately with good ammo - don't fight it. Clark has definitely had some past problems, but appear to be past them from recent reports. Keep us posted.

824tsv · Mar 5, 2014

I agree with Bob,
If it shoots well, the look of the inside of the barrel is a moot point. Shoot it and report back to let us know how it is.
BTW, Welcome to the Forum....

Programmer · Mar 6, 2014

I have not tested for accuracy yet since the pistol has had severe reliability issues since getting it back from Clark. Adding a drop of oil to the top round of each mag (per their instructions) helped at first, then the pistol stopped going bang. I took it apart and determined that the overtravel had to be increased to allow the hammer to pass over the safety notch and contact the firing pin. It has not been back to the range since then.
A barrel this rough may well shoot but it will always foul very quickly. I guess that I expected that a $475 ($325 plus $150 theading/protector) match grade barrel to not come with issues and to look more like the inside of a Les Baer Custom barrel.
A Ruger 22/45 Lite has already been purchased as a suppressor host to replace this barrel.

03Fatboy · Mar 6, 2014

With the amount of money you spent, the response given to you by Clark, I would be very very disappointed. Seems like a great business plan, way to go Clark.

You might call back and try to talk to someone else.

Leonard · Mar 6, 2014

I too would be concerned over fouling a custom barrel should not be rough. I also do not get this oil in the chamber cure for feeding issues? This has to increase the pressure and is similar to using high velocity ammo which is not recommended on a regular basis in a 41 frame.

I have an older Clark barrel for my 41 it is very accurate and functions with CCI standard velocity ammo I am not impressed with their attitude toward Programmer.

Programmer · Mar 7, 2014

Here is the "Troubleshooting" page that I received when I first reported problems. It is on Clark Custom letterhead.

Smith & Wesson Model 41
S/N __________________

AMMUNITION
This gun functions best with CCI Standard (0032) or Fiocchi (22FLRN). Our recommendations for best accuracy results are: 1) Eley Match Black box 2) Federal Gold Medal 3) SK Jagd Standard Plus. DO NOT SHOOT HYPER-VELOCITY AMMUNITION as it will batter the hammer/sear engagement surfaces and necessitate need for new parts and trigger job. We strongly recommend a buffer with high velocity ammo.

TROUBLESHOOTING
1. If you’re pistol is trapping case or leaving empties in the chamber, try a bit of oil (FP-10, Breakfree, Rem-Oil etc) on the top round of each magazine.
2. Certain types of ammo may require a different weight recoil spring to function properly. We recommend Wolff Gunsprings. We have them available at all times.
3. Certain aftermarket grips can interfere with reliability. Please put your factory grips back on and test before calling us.
4. If you are having misfires / light strikes, check to make sure that you are not partially engaging your thumb safety.
5. If you need assistance, please call to consult with our experts M-F 8 am – 4 pm CST.

CARE AND CLEANING
For Disassembly: Refer to Smith & Wesson Instruction Manual.
Cleaning: Follow factory recommended cleaning procedure. Take special care of the crown, chamber and rifling. Do not use a stainless steel (or other hard) brush.

Wolff Recoil Springs – 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5 & 8 lb available
Buffer

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING CLARK CUSTOM GUNS &
GOOD SHOOTING!

___________________________________________________
My first email to Clark -

Thanks for getting my pistols done so quickly. I have not fired the .38 special 1911 yet, but did take the S&W 41 out this past weekend. The trigger is superb and the fit and finish on the new barrel is also top notch. I am having several reliability problems with the 41 though. I ran a test to try to narrow it down to either ammo or magazines. The results of the test are listed below using 4 different ammo types and my three different magazines (10 rounds from each mag). This is the ammo I currently have in stock. With 22 ammo in such a short supply, I would like the 41 to shoot whatever “standard” ammo is available.

CCI Blazer (50 round box)
Mag 1 – no problems
Mag 2 – one failure to fire (no strike mark)
Mag 3 – one failure to fire w/ firing pin mark

Winchester Super X
Mag 1 – no problems
Mag 2 – one failure to extract (FTE) fired casing
Mag 3 – one FTE fired casing
one failure to feed
one stovepipe

PMC Target (about 16 year old stock)
Mag 1 – one failure to feed
Mag 2 – no problems
Mag 3 – one failure to feed

Remington Thunderbolt
Mag 1 – two failure to fire (no strike mark)
Mag 2 – four failure to fire (no strike mark)
Mag 3 – no problems

Test was done pretty much in the above order without any cleaning or lube during test.

On the failures to fire w/o strike marks, if I dropped the mag and cycled the action (it would not extract) then pulled the trigger, it would fire.

On the other failures to fire, most of the time the extractor would not extract the case. I would have to use an object to manually extract the case.

Let me know what we can do to get the 41 into shape.

Thanks,

varmint243 · Mar 7, 2014

Nice quality bore pics
What setup are you using to get those ?

fred5876r · Mar 7, 2014

When my Clark Custom barrel was new, my 41 would often not extract an unfired round. I sent the gun and barrel to Clark and according to their Invoice they "tuned" the extractor and polished the chamber. When I got it back, I could tell no difference - same problem. I let a local gunsmith ream the chamber and now it works fine. The barrel is extremely accurate. I have no idea how mine compares to the OP's with respect to how it would appear to the borescope.

Programmer · Mar 15, 2014

varmint243 said:
Nice quality bore pics
What setup are you using to get those ?

I hired it done. It was a video that I extracted the stills from. My borescope does not take pictures.

TOM BECKWITH · Mar 15, 2014

Programmer suggest you clean well and try CCI and Federal Std Velocity to see results. See that you can extract a fed but unfired round several times. Sounds like a potential problem, but if only with this bbl., could be it is not fitting correctly, or bbl chamber problem? keep us posted.

Clark Custom 41 barrel problems?

Programmer

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TOM BECKWITH

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824tsv

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03Fatboy

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Leonard

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