Is this a canted barrel? M69

[wolverine]

I totally agree that it shouldn't be there . . . but doubt that most folks (probably including me) will take the time & trouble to return the revolver for adjustment. So . . . S&W gets away with another PP job of final tuning . . . and on a Performance Center revolver . . . totally not acceptable.

What do we do to get their attention?

Afternoon ralphtt

Start our own gun company & produce better quality products at a lower price.

S&W is selling everything they can make in a hurry at a good profit so what is their incentive to change.

We can't just stop buying the S&W as they are one of the few that make what we currently want in a revolver.

It will come back to bite them when things get slow & their quality past catches up but they are rolling in the money now so they could care less about their future.

 

[magnumfreak]

Great replies. I sent pics and info to S&W and got a ticket started so i will post results. Sure hope it goes better than last time, in aug last year i needed to send a 41 mag pd back and it took a month to get a return lable yet the gun was returned within 2 weeks repaired. Ti cylinder had crack they replaced it.

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

My new model 66 is off a little also but front sight is not canted. Kind of upsets me but I don't want to mess with the pia of sending it back. The first 66 I orderd was shipped to my dealer with the front sight messed up and dealer sent back before I even had a chance to look at it. The new replacement took another month before I picked it up. My next new Smith won't be a new Smith I'm going after a nice 13-2. I can give Smith and Wesson a thumbs up for my new 617 it was put together right.

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

Another picture

 

[magnumfreak]

S&W reply

Havent decided if i will demand fix.

 

[Retired W4]

Because we don't have access to special tooks what can we do?

 

[Retired W4]

I have a fairly new M66 Combat. My top strap is aligned similar to the OP's original picture (mildly underclocked), but much more slight, it's very close to being aligned with the grooves. Not perfect, but very close. The front sight also appears to be well-centered and vertical when I look at it from the front. I also noticed some flashing on the front of the barrel. Again, not bad, but not perfect.

OTOH, today I'm highly anticipating getting my brand-new model 640-3 back from Smith for an overclocked barrel. Really anxious to get it back to see if Smith got it lined up correctly. If they did, even though I wasn't terribly happy sending in a new gun because of this, S&W will be back in my good graces.

Hopper, have you received the gun yet?

 

[Hopper]

Hopper, have you received the gun yet?

Yes! Sorry, I updated a different thread where I had initially reported the problem with my 640-3 to the gang.

I wish I had taken before/after pictures, but it appears that S&W has my barrel very close to spot-on. It may be off by micrometers (if that), but it's really, really close.

I got my 640 back on last Friday, which was exactly 3 weeks from the date I sent it in. While turn-around time wasn't as quick as Ruger, I'm happy to report that I am pleased with the results.

I'll be slinging some lead with it this weekend, at which time I'm also going to install an XS Big Dot on the front. Looking forward to making sure it's a straight shooter!

 

[Matt Hooper]

Threads like this convince me even more that buying "vintage" S&W is the way to go. Maybe they had their fair share of issues when fresh from the factory back then as well but at least most will have been fixed by now.

I can't imagine how annoyed I'd be after spending something like 1k+ on a new gun only to have obvious QC issues.

I'm in a small city in Canada so a, most of what I buy is online (so not seen or handled first) and b, returning a gun to Smith (or a distributor who would then return to Smith) would be a major PITA

I'm leaning that way too! 3 of my last 5 revolvers (new out of box) had to go back for one thing or another. However, just picked up a 54 year old Colt Python and a 14 year old S&W M15 and they are dead nuts on.

My last new S&W was a 686 Plus Pro. Disaster out of the box. Talked to a friend at the mothership who said it was cheaper to fix em rather than invest in QC. Can you believe that? Frustrated.

 

[Hopper]

Please, please tell me you're kidding. I suspect you're not, unfortunately.

 

[Retired W4]

Very sad. I was curious because I have one at S&W right now. I will explain when it is returned.

 

[F75gunslinger]

i don't know about being considered a canted barrel, but if that were mine I'd be INCREDIBLY annoyed by it. One more thing to look for on any new S&W I might consider buying. I'm seriously thinking they fired the whole QC department and hired a bunch of cross-eyed folks in bad need of glasses.

 

[bigfreakinrevolver]

I have seen a lot of this with almost every model 69 I have seen come in to the shop. Some really bad and some like yours. Sorry to say but it's common. IMO. I'm very OCD about stuff like this even though it's minor.

 

[Ol' Dirty]

My 686 has a clocked barrel. I talked to customer service yesterday and they promptly sent a fedex ticket and told me to send her in. If they fix the barrel issue I'll probably just send it over to the performance center for a little more love.

 

[xuouy1]

looks to me that the serrations on the receiver are off center.

 

[xuouy1]

looks to me like the serrations on the recover are off center

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

The more I looked at my 66 the more it bothered me so I put the barrel of my new 66 into my padded vise jaws tighten the barrel a little and turned the frame clockwise and bingo the barrel sleeve turned ,didn't take much torque, and the barrel serrations lined up perfectly with top strap serrations on the frame. I took the advice my uncle gave me years ago "never force anything when working on firearms". I could not believe how easy the outter barrel sleeve turned��I'm happy that I was able to fix it myself and not have to send back to Smith & Wesson and wait weeks to get my 66 back. I hope this my help others fix what S&W should have done correctly the first time.

 

[BigBill]

I mainly shoot all of my handguns at 25yds. Anything less is a waste of time and ammo. If it's shooting at the POA I may shoot it at 100yds next depending what caliber and gun it is. All my ccw guns get shot at 100yds. I like to know how accurate the gun is and if it has any limitations. I don't worry how the barrel looks if she shoots at the POA don't touch my gun. Looks mean nothing.
At the end of some of my 25yd shoots before I leave I go out to 100yds to see if I can make a pinpoint shot at a small rock or clump of grass. Example my cz85db (amberdexterious cz75) in 9mm luger using 3' of Kentucky windage I can ping anything on the 100yds berm. My 6" colt python was the same way.

I am not worried about buying a brand new S&W revolver because there warranty does cover the gun so well if it needs repair I like having that product support. S&W stands behind there products. I don't think any other gun manufacturer does that. For a American manufacturing company to stand behind there new products like that says something about the s&w company.

 

[ironhead7544]

I have seen a number of older revolvers with this flaw and others. Some of the older pinned ones were quite off. As long as the front sight looks straight and the gun hits correctly, I wouldnt worry about it.

 

[one eye joe]

Pinned barrel guns were usually aligned properly and are still my favorites. That being said, all guns that are not pinned get a closer review by me before purchase. Alignment of the barrel like that on the OP's post is a dealbreaker for me. I simply will not spend my money on quality control like that nor will I participate in the process of returning the firearm to reinstate it to condition it should've been in at manufacture.

The only way to convince manufactures to correct these problems is to stop purchasing their product. Theme of the day appears to be quantity not quality, something I won't be a part of.

WELL SAID, 2K7---I AM IN TOTAL AGREEMENT ! ! !