Model 617 Quality Control: Barrel Cant & Crooked Sights

[Gearhead Jim]

In the old days, NYC PD required each new gun they bought for the officers to have a test-fire target with it. When visiting there one time, an instructor showed me a test target with a nice group and a photo of the gun it came with. The rear sight groove in the topstrap had not been cut, the topstrap was completely plain.
Can't recall which brand (Colt/S&W), but I believe S&W.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Clean out the barrel well. I hope you did that before one round went thru the barrel when new.
Throw some good lead through the gun before you consider accuracy is off. Herters target is good at shooting aluminum can targets but not for showing off the capabilities of the gun.
**** ammo yields **** performance. If you are evaluating accuracy always use a variety of good ammo. My 617 and my friends 617 loves most anything normal/ high velocity CCI/federal . We have bets on shooting empty 22 cases at 10 yds. I get heartburn everytime we are tied and pot increases.

 

[armorer951]

Another sad verification that Smith and Wesson is no longer doing a final and thorough inspection on all of their firearms. The consumer is now the final inspector and arbiter....meaning that many of these mistakes are never found or corrected.

Glad this wasn't a model 29 or other large caliber example.