Model 69 muzzle crown

[Dave Lively]

In the six years that have elapsed since I started this thread (Which was my first post on this forum) I sent my gun back to S&W because it was shooting high with the rear sight all the way down and they would not send me a new rear sight. Since it was going back anyways I mentioned this issue and they recrowned the muzzle so it now looks like the picture of the 610 I used to own. No difference I could detect in accuracy but I rarely shoot it off a bench and offhand the limiting factor for accuracy is me, not the gun. Even if it was just cosmetic I am glad I got it recrowned.

Rougher and not as nice looking as the crowns people achieved using the Brownells kit but good enough for me.

The gun shooting high was due to the rear sight blade being too tall in the early versions of the 69. I understand they started shipping with a shorter blade after people complained about the gun shooting high.

I am surprised the pictures are still here. I used to use PhotoBucket quite a bit for inline embedded pictures six years ago instead of attaching them so most of my posts from this time have broken links for pictures.

 

[BE Mike]

A buddy of mine bought a model 69. It locks up after several rounds have been fired. He has sent it back to S&W at least once and the issue remains. He almost exclusively shoots moderate .44 SPL ammo. He is a very experienced shooter and says that the 69 is no fun to shoot with magnums.

 

[mtgianni]

BE Mike, if your friend wants to shoot magnums in it I suggest X frame grips. They make the gun much more comfortable.

 

[darg]

I had a similar burr on the crown of my 5926 which made the gun shooting low by over 12" on 7 yards when the barrel was room temperature. It took roughly 10 to 15 rounds through it every time I tested it to be more accurate. Used a brass polishing die from Brownell's to get rid of it and it's now perfect from the first round on.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

A buddy of mine bought a model 69. It locks up after several rounds have been fired.

Do you know what's "locking it up"?

 

[StakeOut]

When I first shot my NYPD issued Model 10 heavy barrel($40.00) back in 1966 as a new recruit I got great groups in the 8 ring at 6 o'clock.
When 2 pistol team range officers shot it they blew out the X ring.
Letting others shot your weapon with the same ammo is revealing.
I've learned a lot since then.

 

[smithman]

You need a taller front sight, not shorter. That will lower the impact point of your bullets.

It reads as if he's talking about the rear sight blade.

 

[cmj8591]

Here's my question about recrowning a two piece barrel: The muzzle of the barrel is a flange that holds the barrel shroud in place. The flange part is connected to the barrel at the spot where the new crown is cut. It seems to me that would remove some metal at the junction of the barrel and the flange. Will crowning a barrel in this manner weaken the ability of the barrel to hold the shroud in place?

 

[Protocall_Design]

Not if you keep it to a minimum. Cut just enough to make a small even chamfer.

 

[BE Mike]

Do you know what's "locking it up"?

No, I suppose if he ever figures it out, he'll be able to rectify the problem. It does seem to have something to do with the gun heating up. He cannot fire 50 round of Special loads without the action seizing.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Here's my question about recrowning a two piece barrel:
Will crowning a barrel in this manner weaken the ability of the barrel to hold the shroud in place?

The M69 is a two-piece barrel. When you chamfer the muzzle you're only beveling the edge of the bore where it meets the muzzle.

I can't see how this in any way could weaken the barrel's flange which is on the outer edge of the muzzle.

You only need the cut the chamfer to the depth of the groove to get equal presentation of all the lands/groove at the muzzle.

.

The M66-8 is also a two-piece barrel. The M610-3 is not.



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