How S&W checks cylinder gap today......

Had a Dan Wesson Pistol Pack once (never should have sold it). Got to try gaps between 0.0015" and 0.010". Didn't see any real differences except that below 0.003 I got some cylinder drag with lead bullets after some shooting. Went back to using their recommended 0.006".
 
Thought that somehow I had measured my new 686+ PC wrong last night since the cylinder gap from everyone's revolvers are in the 6 to 8 range while mine is between .003 and .004 on all cylinders measuring both sides as the same ..

Today I found a gage that is .0035 and it goes all the way through but the .004 won't .. I measured all 7 cylinders and they all measured the same ..

Is this normal for a Performance Center Revolver or did I just get an exceptional one for the Performance Center ??

Is there anyway to know who the smith was that did the pistol ??
 
I doubt that every production gun gets checked by QC. Most likely, they have a sampling plan that requires inspection of select guns based on production numbers and past rejections. Old process that is effective. Unlike a certain manufacturer that doesn't seem to inspect anything - relies on the end user to be their inspector.


Kimber was the first Thurd that came to my mind! I'll never own anything else they "produce"...
 
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My 69 2.75, 0.0025 to 0.003, all 5 charge holes.
Ballistics by the Inch has some data on cylinder gaps. Generally, the velocity difference between 0.001 and 0.006 looks negligible. Take home message for me is once there is a gap the width is a minor issue as long as it's in factory specs.
 
interesting that at a 2 inch barrel all the ammo performed within a very small amount of difference .. the longer the barrel of course the higher the velocity ..
 
I'm not a revolver guy since this is the first revolver I have owned since the early 70's ..

Will take a little getting use to .. Already can see how its much different then any of my autos with quick reset triggers which only have to be release a few 1/8's of an inch while the 686 has to be release the full length of trigger travel .. I'm much slower dry firing it per round ..

Though it will make a good night stand revolver for things that go bump in the night !! Little chance of a mis fire or other malfunctions with it ..
 
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