Confused: Are S&W revolver barrels supposed to be canted?

[Gryff]

I recently bought a nice S&W 66-2 4", but when I took it out to shoot it, I couldn't get POI to match POA. The group was tight, but I couldn't adjust the sight enough to push the group into the bullseye. When I looked closely at the gun, I found that the top of the barrel was slightly out of alignment with the top of the frame. It's a slight enough mis-alignment that I missed it when I bought the gun, but it's definitely visible now that I was looking for it (it's like someone over- or under-screwed the barrel when mounting to the frame because even the ejector shroud is slightly off-center from the frame)

I sent the gun off to S&W to have the issue addressed, and I just got a call from there service department saying that the barrel is supposed to be this way (based on the tech's 40 years of experience), and the gun shoots dead center for them. I'm slightly astounded because in all my time shooting revolvers, I've never seen an S&W that didn't have front sight post perfectly vertical from the factory. The tech says that if the sight post is vertical and not canted to the left, you wouldn't be to get the gun to hit dead center for windage.

This screams "wrong" to me, but I don't know what I don't know. Are S&W revolver barrels supposed to be canted to the left?

The good news is that the gun is coming back to me, and they are not charging for the evaluation.

Can't post pictures at the moment since they have the gun, but can anyone verify that the "sight is supposed to be canted to the left" with the S&W wheel gun design?

 

[NZshooter]

Should have asked him if they had/have models with barrels canted to the right for left handed shooters.

Did you have a shovel and rubber boots when you spoke to him, 'cause it sure sounds like he was shoveling something ??

 

[Mike McLellan]

I'm astonished by the number of times that I've been wrong in my life, and this could very well be another example, but, I think the front sight should be at twelve o'clock exactly. Windage? Really?

 

[Voyager28]

Any chance that you misunderstood what he said. What I am reading that he said is just dead wrong and I just find it hard to accept that a S&W factory smith would even suggest such a thing. The barrel and sights should be aligned straight and true.

If, in fact, I am wrong and the front sight is supposed to be canted to the left, I have 9 other revolvers that are incorrect and have to be sent back to the factory and repaired.

Bob

 

[diyj98]

The only reason for a canted front sight is shooting "gangsta" style. Just keeping it real for you.

 

[armorer951]

A prank call from someone in the Performance Center perhaps? The barrel is NOT supposed to canted.

 

[BAM-BAM]

The -2........ AKA the "Ghetto-Blaster".......

was developed and marketed by S&W to compete with DYIJ98's hi-cap "gangsta gun" in the late 60s...

it was overshadowed by the Model 29 in "Dirty Harry" in 1973.......

it was not the last P&R 19...... but was replaced in the "Top 40" by R&B.

 

[colt_saa]

When I looked closely at the gun, I found that the top of the barrel was slightly out of alignment with the top of the frame. It's a slight enough mis-alignment that I missed it when I bought the gun, but it's definitely visible now that I was looking for it

I am making no comment if this gun is right or wrong here. I have not seen it

Is it possible that instead of saying "It is supposed to be that way" he said something like "It is withing tolerance"

A cant that is so slight it can not be noticed until you are specifically looking closely for it would not significantly alter the point of impact.

 

[Ashlander]

I have a 66 (no dash) from 1975 and it could not be a more straight 12:00. Likewise a 66-7 from 2004 (or so). Something must have happened in the middle.

 

[wheelgunguy]

I would have repeated that nonsense back to him just to clarify that was what he was saying. I would let him know I was writing it down so there was no chance of miscommunication. If he repeated back what is in your post.Then I would have let him know our conversation was over and I needed to speak to a supervisor.

 

[jrd1976]

When I call any company, I learned a long time ago to get the name of the customer service representative; and to keep a written log of time, date and notes of the conversation. I hope you did.

 

[Gryff]

His exact words were "the barrel is supposed to be canted to the left. If it weren't, you wouldn't be able to sight it in." And to paraphrase, he said that mine looks about 2-3° of vertical, which is ok.

I just called the company back and asked for clarification. The rep tells me that what the other rep meant was that the cant was "within acceptable tolerances." Interesting that something with a visual imperfection is acceptable.

I'll post pics when I get the gun back. Thanks for everybody's input.

 

[JAREDSHS]

GRYFF--when you get the gun back repeat your test firing and if you still have the same
problem call S&W and have them bring the gun back and "fix" it again.

 

[rwsmith]

Smith and Wesson specs....

S&W specs say that +/- 5 degrees is good. There have been a LOT of complaints about this. I don't understand why the hell a quality gun manufacturer can't screw a barrel on straight. It could be eyeballed better that what goes out the factor door. They could put some very fine index marks under the barrel and fix most of it. But if it's sent off and not outside 5 degrees off, it's in spec. I'd like to see a barrel with the sight off by that much and see how noticeable it is. It seems like if you can't adjust the sight to make up for the error, it's way off.

 

[Gryff]

GRYFF--when you get the gun back repeat your test firing and if you still have the same
problem call S&W and have them bring the gun back and "fix" it again.

That is most definitely the plan.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I have so many S&W revolvers and have never seen this. I'll stay tuned!

 

[wheelgunguy]

Interesting that something with a visual imperfection is acceptable.

Interesting no mention of windage. I think you got a hold of a bad egg on your first call. Heck of a difference between within tolerances and making it sound like it is part of the design.

 

[Bob1943]

S&W specs say that +/- 5 degrees is good. There have been a LOT of complaints about this. I don't understand why the hell a quality gun manufacturer can't screw a barrel on straight. It could be eyeballed better that what goes out the factor door. They could put some very fine index marks under the barrel and fix most of it. But if it's sent off and not outside 5 degrees off, it's in spec. I'd like to see a barrel with the sight off by that much and see how noticeable it is. It seems like if you can't adjust the sight to make up for the error, it's way off.

5 degrees is a lot of cant! And would make the gun look very unattractive & very poorly assembled. I had a Ruger GP100 that had about a 1-degree cant and I thought that was bad. Of course Ruger fixed it and sent it back perfectly aligned.

I have been on a search for a Smith 686 snub nose for the last 4 months. I have looked at about 8 or 9 of them in the LGS and of that number, 6 had canted barrels. The ones that had straight barrels were all scratched up. Smith seems to have a significant problem getting their barrels screwed in straight.

 

[etexas]

I have two. What is the process of sending one back to S&W? Do they send shipping labels or do you absorb all cost?

 

[Wyatt p. Tato]

I would have asked for that in writing. I would have the letter framed and posted a copy on every Internet forum I could. I would get a table at every gun show I could and proudly display the gun and letter.

Got that Smith and Wesson.