Model 617 Quality Control: Barrel Cant & Crooked Sights

[Jvaladez93]

Hey guys I just picked up a Model 617 (4") the other day. Unfortunately when I got home I noticed the barrel being twisted on the frame just a bit. I was one of the poor souls who didn't know to inspect the gun prior to purchase for these issues. I figured I'd go shoot it to see if that affected anything.

Rounds were way off target regardless of how much I adjusted the rear sight. I had that thing ridiculously off to one side to try and fix it. Didn't have enough adjustment on the gun to make up for how far off it was.

I know it's not my trigger control because I have thousands of rounds with my j frames and TRR8. I know I'm good with revolvers. I even rested the 617 and shot it single action to be sure. The rounds impacted erratically but tended to hit right of the target. Although not always. It seemed like the rounds were destabilizing and just flying where ever.

Has that happened to any of you?

I'll attach pics of the front sight. You can tell that the rear end id the front sight is not straight and you can clearly see the left side of the barrel sticking up over the frame.

I'll also attach a picture of the bore after 200 rounds. I'm new to 22LR revolvers. Is this excessive leading for this amount of rounds?

I'm wondering if the barrel isn't lined up straight with the cylinder either and causing the bullets to destabilize.

I just reached out to smith for info and possible shipping label for warranty work.

Any info you guys have would be much appreciated. I've never seen this before.

 

[Nick B]

Smith replaced two 617's of mine for new ones for that problem.
The gunsmith there at S&W told me the frames were out of spec which made the barrel sit crooked. The third one I received was fine .

 

[sjs]

I also got one like that and returned it to the seller.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Send it back to SW. that front sight looks awful. Like it was torqued clockwise after install.

 

[s&wchad]

The barrel doesn't look that canted to me and the front sight shouldn't throw you off paper. You aim with the top of the blade and it seems centered.

I don't think I've ever encountered leading like that and I've shot countless .22's. There's an awful lot of lead shavings in there. Before you contact S&W, give the bore a good scrubbing and shoot it again. I'd also have a look at the back of the barrel and see if they actually cut a forcing cone.

 

[Jalopiejoe]

Hey guys I just picked up a Model 617 (4") the other day. Unfortunately when I got home I noticed the barrel being twisted on the frame just a bit. I was one of the poor souls who didn't know to inspect the gun prior to purchase for these issues. I figured I'd go shoot it to see if that affected anything.

Rounds were way off target regardless of how much I adjusted the rear sight. I had that thing ridiculously off to one side to try and fix it. Didn't have enough adjustment on the gun to make up for how far off it was.

I know it's not my trigger control because I have thousands of rounds with my j frames and TRR8. I know I'm good with revolvers. I even rested the 617 and shot it single action to be sure. The rounds impacted erratically but tended to hit right of the target. Although not always. It seemed like the rounds were destabilizing and just flying where ever.

Has that happened to any of you?

I'll attach pics of the front sight. You can tell that the rear end id the front sight is not straight and you can clearly see the left side of the barrel sticking up over the frame.

I'll also attach a picture of the bore after 200 rounds. I'm new to 22LR revolvers. Is this excessive leading for this amount of rounds?

I'm wondering if the barrel isn't lined up straight with the cylinder either and causing the bullets to destabilize.

I just reached out to smith for info and possible shipping label for warranty work.

Any info you guys have would be much appreciated. I've never seen this before.

In your 1st photo it's not clear if it's canted, let's see a better photo from the top looking back towards the frame.
That front sight is really screwed up! I'm guessing it's the groove cut into the barrel! That's unacceptable!
The gun should be returned just for that!
As for the leading we need more information! It is a mess! Are the rounds plated?
More info please!

 

[350mag]

I returned one like that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rich Richardson]

The barrel bore looks like the inside of a NYC water main. What are you shooting?

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

I once had a 629 that was all in spec except that the notch for the front sight was milled in crookedly. While you could zero the revolver, the rear sight was all the way to the right as the front sight canted to the left. I can't imagine how that was possible as I'm sure that the worker cutting the notch should have had a jig on his milling machine to cut it perfectly. While I'm pretty persnikity about details when I buy a gun, I never thought to look at at that poorly milled in front sight notch. I will now.

The leading in your revolver's bore is beyond anything (by magnitudes) that I've ever seen in my Model 17 and 18 revolvers. As mentioned above, I'd look to see if there is actually a forcing cone at the back of the barrel.

Good luck.

 

[Jvaladez93]

The barrel doesn't look that canted to me and the front sight shouldn't throw you off paper. You aim with the top of the blade and it seems centered.

I don't think I've ever encountered leading like that and I've shot countless .22's. There's an awful lot of lead shavings in there. Before you contact S&W, give the bore a good scrubbing and shoot it again. I'd also have a look at the back of the barrel and see if they actually cut a forcing cone.

"That canted" isn't acceptable when you pay $850 for a 22LR handgun. It should be perfect. While I agree that it's not super twisted. It still is. And the front sight is crooked. These are purely aesthetic issues if I had to guess. Still for the price should not be an issue. What ever is causing the leading is most likely what's throwing the rounds way off.

 

[Jvaladez93]

In your 1st photo it's not clear if it's canted, let's see a better photo from the top looking back towards the frame.
That front sight is really screwed up! I'm guessing it's the groove cut into the barrel! That's unacceptable!
The gun should be returned just for that!
As for the leading we need more information! It is a mess! Are the rounds plated?
More info please!

The rounds are plated. It's the Herters Target Ammo.

Also in the first photo, look at where the barrel meets the frame. You can see the shinny edge on the left side sticking up over the frame. The right side is sticking farther below the frame. It was over tightened or over clocked. What ever you want to call it.

 

[Jvaladez93]

The barrel bore looks like the inside of a NYC water main. What are you shooting?

Herters Target ammo. Also that made me laugh

 

[Jvaladez93]

In your 1st photo it's not clear if it's canted, let's see a better photo from the top looking back towards the frame.
That front sight is really screwed up! I'm guessing it's the groove cut into the barrel! That's unacceptable!
The gun should be returned just for that!
As for the leading we need more information! It is a mess! Are the rounds plated?
More info please!

Does this angle make it easier to see?

 

[Jvaladez93]

The barrel doesn't look that canted to me and the front sight shouldn't throw you off paper. You aim with the top of the blade and it seems centered.

I don't think I've ever encountered leading like that and I've shot countless .22's. There's an awful lot of lead shavings in there. Before you contact S&W, give the bore a good scrubbing and shoot it again. I'd also have a look at the back of the barrel and see if they actually cut a forcing cone.

Also does this forcing cone look cut properly to you? I'm not sure what to look for.

 

[Narragansett]

The sight did not look that bad to me, but I would like to see looking down the barrel from the rear. Are your bullets making a bullet hole in the target, or are they keyholing, and going through the paper sideways?

That is some of the worst leading I have ever seen for a couple hundred rounds. Looked like you were shooting those Junk Remington Thunderbolts. Get some CCI standard velocity or good federals and try it again, after you clean the bore. As for the forcing cone, address that after you try some decent ammo

 

[Jalopiejoe]

Does this angle make it easier to see?

From that view the barrel doesn't look canted as much as it looks like the hole in the frame for the barrel was machined off center!!!
That might explain the leading as the bullets aren't entering the barrel centered!
That thing is junk!
I have no doubt that I would return it and Demand a Replacement!

 

[WR Moore]

I've got to agree that the displacement of the barrel with respect to the frame isn't right, but it's not from torque. The barrel might not be concentric with the bore, the frame might be out of spec or several other causes.

I also have to agree that the barrel bore is dreadfully leaded.

Back to the factory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jalopiejoe]

I've got to agree that the displacement of the barrel with respect to the frame isn't right, but it's not from torque. The barrel might not be concentric with the bore, the frame might be out of spec or several other causes.

I also have to agree that the barrel bore is dreadfully leaded.

Back to the factory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's Exactly what I'm thinking!

 

[Jvaladez93]

It's been very relieving to know that I'm not the only one experiencing or that has seen this. At the same time I'm very saddened by the quality control of a brand I love so much.

My TRR8 is already back with them under warranty. Haven't seen it or heard about it in nearly a month. Now I gotta send off another one before I even have that back.

At least my 342PD is rock solid. Probably because it was made nearly 20ish years ago lol.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I'm far from a professional, but I don't think I would shoot it anymore. Sadly, if you can't get the store where you bought it to take it back, then off to S&W and wait. Good Luck.