Dare I Start Another Canted Barrel Thread?

[lfurr]

FINALLY - some pics from the OP

far be it from me to tell a stranger what to do...but just so you know, this is how easy S&W makes it to get problems like yours fixed for free

1)Go to S&W website and submit a claim
2)Wait for email from S&W (3-5 days); email will have a FedEx shipping label attached
3)Print out shipping label
4)Box up gun and drop off @ FedEx
5)Wait (my gun was gone for a total of 7 days)
6)FedEx will deliver your gun back to your house.

So again, not telling you what to do...just sayin'

Yeah, everything I have read shows how easy it is to return. But if it shoots straight next time at the range, I will have a decision to make.....cuz I have also read how some folks get their gun back with the cant "a little better", or the cant "fixed but with scratches somewhere else", etc. So, now that you guys see the pics, what do you think???

 

[lfurr]

These two pics together might be a little clearer

Sorry, not a great photographer....took me a bazillion tries just to get these. So, how many "degrees" off is this? Anyone want to wager a guess, cuz I have no clue.

 

[ExMachina1]

Can you also take a photo of how the sight picture looks?

 

[lfurr]

Can you also take a photo of how the sight picture looks?

I tried like 15 times and could not get a clear picture, sorry. But when I line the front site up, it is very difficult to see the cant....very difficult. But I know it's there.

 

[PhilOhio]

Ifurr, what we need is a picture from above and slightly behind the gun, to see if the barrel looks like it is not centered with the top strap.

Easiest method I have used is to align a straight edge with the right side of the top strap and measure the distance from the right edge of the muzzle to it. Do the same on the left. If the distances are not equal, for sure you have a canted barrel.

On my 4" Model 63 years ago, the difference was a full 1/8", and S&W eventually did a perfect job of fixing it. I know not how.

Up or down cant is easier to deal with, fiddling with sights and blades, but it should not come from the factory that way, either.

WORST CASE POSSIBILITY: When a barrel is seriously canted left or right, you have to wonder whether they actually cross threaded those fine threads and just said, "Screw it. Get it out the door and let Customer Service worry about it." I'm not sure how much a cross threaded barrel would true, once threaded all the way in, but I'll bet they know on the assembly line. And then you have to wonder whether the threads which were ruined were on the barrel, the inside of the frame, or both.

 

[Nightowl]

It appears to me that a clocked barrel would put sideways pressure on the centerpin, pushing it to one side. This in turn would cause the cylinder to move to the side so that the chambers are not lined up correctly to the barrel, thus causing some inaccuracy. The friction on the centerpin could also cause the action to be harder to turn affecting the trigger pull. For a minute amount of clocking, this might not be a real world issue, but if it is enough to clearly see that the front sight is not verticle, and the front sight is angled, it should be corrected.

 

[pctech]

lfurr,

For what it's worth, my recent production S&W 617-6 (December 2010) has more barrel cant than your 686 does, but it's a straight shooter so I have let it slide. If your gun is accurate, I honestly wouldn't worry about the slight barrel cant I see in your pictures.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I will have to go home and try a pic of my 640's barrel. It isn't near as bad as yours and still bothers me. I would send that in for repair. If it comes back the same or with scratches I would send it back in again.

 

[KAC]

I bought a 14-6 several years ago to use for Distinguished Revolver (PPC), front sight was seriously canted to the left. Sent it back to S&W with a very concise explaination of what I needed done. Gun came back with the front sight replaced and still canted to left. Didn't ask for the sight to be replaced. Decided then that I would not send any S&W gun back, would just do it myself. Or, find someone local that could do it.

 

[lfurr]

You can all see, based on the 2 responses directly above KAC's (the ones from pctech and maximumbob54) how so many people have different opinions on this!

Well, as mentioned ealier, I think my next trip to the range will determine what I do. I'll keep you all posted.