Depressing first post (Pictures added)

[Wheelgunner686]

It really saddens me that this has to be my first post to the forum. I've owned several Smith and Wesson revolvers over the past few years and never had a problem with my 442 or 686+. But today I picked up my 627 Performance Center (Bloodwork revolver) and once I got it home I noticed the barrel is slightly canted to the left (if looking down on the revolver with muzzle pointed away) and it appears that the dovetail front sight is also out of alignment (as if they were trying to compensate for the canted barrel). Now granted this may not be considered a major defect to some it really bothers me that I paid really good money for a PC gun and it was allowed to leave the Performance Center workshop like this. I've already emailed S&W and intend to send it back for proper barrel and front sight realignment and centering. I read a thread from a few months ago about someone who had the same problem with their model 29 and that S&W customer support told them that the barrel is canted to the left on purpose, but I will not accept that for an answer. Please give me some hope that S&W will make this right.

Pictures:

Its easier to see in person, but in this picture you can tell that the ribbing on the barrel and the ribbing on the frame do not match up. The barrel appears to be overtightened, not by much, but also not what I would expect from S&W's Performance Center line.

In this picture you can clearly see how offset the dovetail front sight is from center. Again, unacceptable and I'm pretty disappointed.

 

[Camster]

Welcome.
Nonsense that it should be canted-it should not.
Not to worry-Smith will take care of it on their dime.

 

[Dragon88]

They will probably take your gun in for service, but it is likely within spec for S&W as it is currently. You could always shoot the gun and see how it does on paper. Good luck.

 

[dwever]

HANG IN THERE! My Bloodwork revolver is just an incredible revolver, and I carry it, compete successfully with it in USPSA Production Division, and I have had zero work done on it. The accuracy, balance, and action are all very very nice (If the "Bloodwork revolver" refers to Mr. Eastwood's weapon in the movie of the same name I have one, but with an unfluted cylinder). My revolver is pictured at Doug Wever's Photo Galleries at pbase.com

This forum in 2007/8 reflected a similar spat of problems with the Perf. Ctr. I have also purchased a PC 627 with the 5" barrel, a PC Stealth Hunter 629, and a PC 1911 with zero problems out of the box (1911 finicky with certain ammo). It stinks that you drew what I trust is an exception to the rule.

 

[s&wchad]

Shoot the gun off a rest and see if it prints to point of aim.

 

[photoman]

I almost didn't post but I just can't resist...

Did you inspect the gun before buying it?

 

[Wheelgunner686]

I almost didn't post but I just can't resist...

Did you inspect the gun before buying it?

I did, but having never noticed a problem like this with my previous S&W revolvers I didn't think to check the barrel alignment in detail. In retrospect I should have checked it, lesson learned and you can bet I will start checking barrel alignment with future purchases.

 

[GyMac]

I don't blame you for being upset - I would be, too. Send it in to be fixed.

 

[photoman]

I did, but having never noticed a problem like this with my previous S&W revolvers I didn't think to check the barrel alignment in detail. In retrospect I should have checked it, lesson learned and you can bet I will start checking barrel alignment with future purchases.

I look 'em over with a fine tooth comb since I buy mostly used guns. Just a week back I looked at a pristine Model 12 snub for sale and the first thing I looked for was a cracked frame. Sure enough, there it was. The dealer was VERY upset as he hadn't noticed it when taking the gun on trade.

Smith & Wesson will make it right. Let us know if they don't.

 

[feralmerril]

I blew those pictures up 400%. I belive the barrel was turned in too far so to compensate the front sight was drifted over a tad from center.

 

[JohnAC]

Ok - I've got a few S&W's in my collection - nothing compared to many on here but I also work part time in a local gun shop (Work for gun parts, basically) and I've seen a ton of S&W's come in and out.

My observation has been this: If you look close enough, I am afraid more often than not the barrel is not perfect.

I know people to claim they have dozens of S&W's that are all dead on. I call BS on that. Either they are not looking close enough, or they need their eyes checked. Almost every one of my Smith's is not exactly dead center. That includes 2 66-2's (2.5" & 4" barrel), a 66-3 (2.5"), a 686-5 (4") and a newly acquired 24-3 (3") Lew Horton.

The only S&W revolver I own that does not exhibit ANY cant that I can detect is my 686-3 4", and my 442 airweight.

Most are canted as if they were over-torqued, the 66-2 2.5" and the 24-3 are canted a bit to the 'light' side. Now to be fair, you really have to look close on most to see the imperfections. I bet most of these are off a few thousandths from top dead center at the most, but I see it.

Your example is pretty obvious, and if it were me, the barrel being off THAT much would bother me. But, if you send it back, the first thing you're going to do is examine it very closely when you get it back - and I don't think you'll like what you're going to see.

 

[Ashlander]

JohnAC has me nervous now! It was all I could do to resist the urge to get up out of this chair and look closely at alignment of my revolvers' barrels. I figure if I have not noticed until now -- then it's too small to worry about.

 

[Wheelgunner686]

I blew those pictures up 400%. I belive the barrel was turned in too far so to compensate the front sight was drifted over a tad from center.

Sorry about the small pictures, I thought they would have been a little larger than that, but yes that is exactly what I believe the case to be.

Thanks for all the hope guys. I emailed Smith and Wesson about it earlier today and I'm still waiting for a response. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow I'll give them a call.

I understand even after sending it back to S&W it may not be 100% centered, I just want it to be more centered than it currently is.

It also seems like the cant of the barrel might be slightly affecting the ball detent from fitting completely in the detent hole. I'll see if I can get some pictures a little later.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Not what one would expect from a high priced PC revolver and sorry for your problem. Looks terrible from your pics IMO. I'd send it back immediately and demand they fix the crooked barrel. Seems to be the norm on many of their revolvers these days and it's NOT right.

 

[johnsonl]

I had to take my new Model 21 to my LGS for the barrel turn. The front sight was visibly canted to the left and it shot to the left. Their quality control, isn't. I'm going to have to replace the springs in my 642 so that my gal can pull the trigger. Pitiful. I will not waste any more money on new S&W revolvers. I love the old ones and will collect and shoot them forever.

 

[justsumstuff]

quality control inspection for used guns

I look 'em over with a fine tooth comb since I buy mostly used guns. Just a week back I looked at a pristine Model 12 snub for sale and the first thing I looked for was a cracked frame. Sure enough, there it was. The dealer was VERY upset as he hadn't noticed it when taking the gun on trade.

Smith & Wesson will make it right. Let us know if they don't.

It sounds like you have a list of specific things that you look for when purchasing a used gun. I too, purchase almost all used, but I don't know what to scrutinize specifically. Would you share? Thanks!

 

[CajunBass]

It sounds like you have a list of specific things that you look for when purchasing a used gun. I too, purchase almost all used, but I don't know what to scrutinize specifically. Would you share? Thanks!

This one works for me.

THE REVOLVER CHECKOUT - 10 year anniversary update. - TheFiringLine Forums

 

[stantheman86]

I agree a PC gun should have better QC, but canted barrels are pretty common with S&W and all makes of revolvers.

Even most of my S&W's made in the "good old days" have canted barrels, I had an M&P made in 1919 that had a forcing cone fitted too tightly and the barrel was canted.....also have two 581's from the early 80's, both with canted barrels. It's not a new issue with "new S&W", and if the gun shoots well it's not even an issue, it's more cosmetic than anything.

Like was said above, if you break out the calipers and measure pretty much any revolver there's gonna be some degree of cant.

If you want absolute hand fitted flawless perfection you're gonna have to buy a Korth

 

[18DAI]

I'm evidently the luckiest revolver buyer on this board. Not one of my forty three S&W revolvers has a canted barrel. Than again I examine what I'm buying fairly closely.

Of course all of them, except one, were made prior to 1999.

I would send that back to S&W and see if they are capable of getting it right the second time. Good luck! Regards 18DAI.

 

[stantheman86]

I don't demand cosmetic perfection, then again I'm also a Ruger revolver fanatic There's also a "scare" on the Ruger forum about all these "bad" SP101's with canted barrels, when in fact they hit to POA and work flawlessly.

If I were to "reject" S&W's with canted barrels, I wouldn't have gotten my two PD trade in 581's for less than $300 each, that shoot to POA and put a ragged hole in the paper at 25 yards A barrel that is clocked off by 1/16" isn't going to make me lose sleep at night, it was good enough to ride in a LEO's holster for 20+ years, and it's good enough for me!

Keep in mind that the original method of sighting in fixed sight revolvers, and in some cases target sight revolvers, was to slightly "tweak" the frame with lead blocks to get the POA and POI in line. So, we may own some revolvers with bent frames and not even know it

I agree, sometimes ignorance is bliss, when it comes to cosmetic issues........because of the internet we now have 1,000's of new revolver owners looking for canted barrels and now it's an issue, when revolvers with this "issue" have been rolling out of the S&W plant since the first Hand Ejectors came out.