Got my 43C back from S&W repair..2nd time Update :/

[allglock]

I originally sent it in for excessive barrel gap,uneven barrel gap, and leading, and spitting.
I got it back 2 weeks later, with a note that says cut forcing cone , and repair barrel.
Upon inspection, it seems to me, like all that was done, was to tighten the barrel, to get to the desired gap. I can see the stress marks in the barrel, where the tool was used to crank it in. (barrel gap is still uneven... .005 everywhere, except the top which is .006).
I have not shot it yet, but will report back about the spitting and leading.
Hey, if they fixed it, I will be happy. But still not happy, about the stress marks on the end of the barrel, where it appears that, that cranked in on the barrel.......
P.S. Does anyone know how far the barrel must be turned to take up .002-.003 ?

Here are a couple pics. Noted the white spots in the metal towards the outside ring of the barrel (crown). I have looked at other new ones, and they do not have them.

 

[OldBlood]

I need to send in a new 686 with off-center barrel, been putting it off because of comments like yours. Can you post pix of the marks? Does anyone know if barrel threads are normal or reverse?

 

[allglock]

I need to send in a new 686 with off-center barrel, been putting it off because of comments like yours. Can you post pix of the marks? Does anyone know if barrel threads are normal or reverse?

I would send it in if I were you. I havent even shot mine yet. Like I said , if it is fixed I will be happy. I am just not sure the route S&W took to fix the gun.... I hope it was the correct route.
I will try to get pics, but it will be hard to get such closeup shots with my, not so hot camera.

 

[Tyrod]

I originally sent it in for excessive barrel gap,uneven barrel gap, and leading, and spitting.
I got it back 2 weeks later, with a note that says cut forcing cone , and repair barrel.
Upon inspection, it seems to me, like all that was done, was to tighten the barrel, to get to the desired gap. I can see the stress marks in the barrel, where the tool was used to crank it in. (barrel gap is still uneven... .005 everywhere, except the top which is .006).
I have not shot it yet, but will report back about the spitting and leading.
Hey, if they fixed it, I will be happy. But still not happy, about the stress marks on the end of the barrel, where it appears that, that cranked in on the barrel.......
P.S. Does anyone know how far the barrel must be turned to take up .002-.003 ?

Well, at least one turn. Let's hope they took something off the shoulder instead of just relying on the crushability of aluminum. Personally, I don't think I'd worry too much about a B/C of +-.001. I've seen plenty of revolvers with far more variance than that.

The thing is that while they had the gun in their hands, and assuming they took the barrel off to cut the shoulder (I wouldn't bet the farm on that one) it would have been too easy to make the B/C perfect, new forcing cone and all. Yes, it would have taken a lil more time, but "dammit man take some pride in your work".

Is the 43C like my 317 with a steel lined aluminum shrouded barrel?

 

[allglock]

Well, at least one turn. Let's hope they took something off the shoulder instead of just relying on the crushability of aluminum. Personally, I don't think I'd worry too much about a B/C of +-.001. I've seen plenty of revolvers with far more variance than that.

The thing is that while they had the gun in their hands, and assuming they took the barrel off to cut the shoulder (I wouldn't bet the farm on that one) it would have been too easy to make the B/C perfect, new forcing cone and all. Yes, it would have taken a lil more time, but "dammit man take some pride in your work".

Is the 43C like my 317 with a steel lined aluminum shrouded barrel?

Yes, it has a steel barrel with the aluminum shroud. The barrel has some weird shape in the front , where the tool is used to tighten the barrel. I can see stress marks in the steel, on the tightening side (assuming, righty tighty, lefty loosey).

 

[Tyrod]

I concur with your conclusions. That would bug me. I'm pretty tolerant about most things, but I intensly dislike cosmetic damage. Upon resale, it's the first thing a potential customer will zoom in on.

Then, some number of years down the road when the new owner comes on this site asking about these weird marks, somebody will accuse Bubba of poor workmanship again.

For me, those marks indicate over torqueing. I'd send it back. I'd be wondering what overstressing the frame would do. If you're willing to live with it, then by all means shoot the gun, and soon, and if anything else crops up send it back again.

I'm sure S&W keeps track of comebacks. At least I hope they do. But, who knows?

 

[panamajack310]

I personally have never liked tha fact that S&W started the two piece barrel. I never bought one because I was always weary about the integrity of the metal and the fact there was two different metals to make the barrel.

 

[allglock]

The more I look at this, the madder I get! Everyone here always says don't worry, S&W will fix it.... Just send it back..... Well how many times do you think it will take? We are also talking time down... Well here goes another 2-3 weeks shot to heck!

 

[Tyrod]

I personally have never liked tha fact that S&W started the two piece barrel. I never bought one because I was always weary about the integrity of the metal and the fact there was two different metals to make the barrel.

Having had a Dan Wesson for over 25 years, the 2 piece barrel never bothered me.

The more I look at this, the madder I get! Everyone here always says don't worry, S&W will fix it.... Just send it back..... Well how many times do you think it will take? We are also talking time down... Well here goes another 2-3 weeks shot to heck!

Ya well that's the trick ain't it. The "S&W never does wrong" crowd will tell ya to be patent, yada, yada yada. I just wonder what options you'd have if you'd bought a different brand and had the same issues. I also wonder why S&W can't make a 6-$700 gun right the first time and then if they don't, why it take 2 or more returns to finally get it right.

 

[ladder13]

Ya well that's the trick ain't it. The "S&W never does wrong" crowd will tell ya to be patent, yada, yada yada.

Well I've been here 7 years and would like to know where this "crowd" is that says "S&W never does any wrong". I can't seem to find even 1 person who says that, but I'm

 

[Tyrod]

Well I've been here 7 years and would like to know where this "crowd" is that says "S&W never does any wrong". I can't seem to find even 1 person who says that, but I'm

First of all, if you're gonna quote me, please quote me correctly. Second, you're beyond belief you don't get the sense that there are folks 'round here that have an answer for for every "problem with S&W" thread that pops up. It's either "well, it's a production piece and you have to expect some issue occasionally", or "are you sure it isn't you" , or "you're being too picky". These are the folks I referring to. It's never "well S&W screwed up and there really isn't an excuse" from these folks. But, then again, if the shoe fits.........

 

[ladder13]

First of all, if you're gonna quote me, please quote me correctly. Second, you're beyond belief you don't get the sense that there are folks 'round here that have an answer for for every "problem with S&W" thread that pops up. It's either "well, it's a production piece and you have to expect some issue occasionally", or "are you sure it isn't you" , or "you're being too picky". These are the folks I referring to. It's never "well S&W screwed up and there really isn't an excuse" from these folks. But, then again, if the shoe fits.........

Well, I did quote you exactly. No need to get personal with this "if the shoe fits" garbage.
Have a nice day.

 

[perrazi]

don't you just love the new guns they make now?

 

[turbo38gn]

don't you just love the new guns they make now?

I do!!! I don't have enough money to buy em all... And for the record... as some have already seen.. I don't have a lot of patience, especially when someone screws up and even more so when someone is FOS...

 

[1973Glenfield25]

I don't see getting a 10oz revolver without a two piece barrel. They are pushing the limit on these things.

To their credit, S&W puts out a lot of very fine stuff. But I can see getting ticked off after paying that much money.

 

[allglock]

I do!!! I don't have enough money to buy em all... And for the record... as some have already seen.. I don't have a lot of patience, especially when someone screws up and even more so when someone is FOS...

I dont know who you are referring to? when you say they are "FOS", but I sure hope you are not talking about me?
My pictures show the idiocy and carelessness at S&W............NUFF SAID!

 

[chp]

Allglock - it's frustrating when a firearm doesn't work like it should. It drives me crazy. Let us know how it shoots.

 

[BoDog]

I have been around gun stores almost 50 years. The local dealer was one of the largest in our area and took me under his wing to teach me to shoot. In return I would help him in the store when he didn't have enough employees on hand for free, but I got some great deals. I have seen defects in almost all brands, even a Browning Superposed, it almost beat us back to the store with the repair done.
Most hi volume mfgs have QC problems at one time or another, but have you talked to a young high school graduate lately? Labor force quality has declined. Seems to be a training problem mixed with a I don't give a s..t mentality.
Just my humble openion.

 

[Packard]

All manufacturing processes have tolerances. Most general machining tolerances are ± 0.002" (plus or minus two thousandths).

A manufacturing tolerance of ± 0.001" is very tight.

Parts of a revolver are machined to much tighter tolerances. The side plates are hand-fitted and the mating line is nearly invisible. That means that they are working to ± a couple of tenths of a thousandth.

A pistol smith can hand fit to a closer tolerance, but a mass produced weapon would probably be fine with ± 0.001".

 

[allglock]

I just sent it back,for the 2nd time, and asked for a barrel replacement.
I can only hope for the best!