My cylinder gap is way too big
- Thread starter slabside2
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The S&W Customer - Owner has now become the final QC checker..... 
Send it back and tell them to do whatever they need to and make it right.
Send it back and tell them to do whatever they need to and make it right.
VikingDude
Member
Just for clarification, the max BC gap is .010", not .012"
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For many years the B/C Gap was .006" - since they have had trouble adhering to their own spec's - they simply increased the gap number.
HorizontalMike
US Veteran
FWIW on a side note, I have an old 686 that had a gap of 0.009-10" that I had a LGS shave the shoulder that came back with a renewed gap of 0.003" that made me very happy. The lesson is that you don't always have to send your Smith off to the mother-ship. Sure, it cost me 2C note$, but at least I was/am able to support a local gun shop. 
Tytan01
Member
Personally, I like revolvers that shoot flames sideways. It looks great on videos posted online and it keeps the hair off my knuckles much more effectively than a razor.
The S&W Customer - Owner has now become the final QC checker.....
Hey, just like Harbor Freight!!
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Cylinder gap SPEC per 31 July 2020 was .004 to .010. Which is sad seeing how Ive bought 3 Smiths this month 2 being poorly machined and my Model 19-9 Classic was so bad I had to have it sent back and cylinder replaced. That being said it returned with a .011 cylinder gap. So after a month of waiting on the cylinder issue to be fixed looks like it has to go back due to an out of spec cylinder gap. .006 should be the standard but it looks like S&W is going for quantity over quality now days. Its a real shame.
OP
slabside2
Member
Gunsmiths are no more they’re called assemblers now.
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I have a 25-2 that's had a gap of .009" for years. It's plenty accurate, but the loads chronograph about 100 fps slower than a shorter-barreled .45 revolver, no doubt due to the big gap.
I would just buy some longer bullets and forget it. lol
BigBill
Absent Comrade
You can buy cylinder shims?
Benchrest1
Member
I have a no dash 686 with a gap of .009, and it is one of my better shooting revolvers.
Arquebus357
Member
Yes...TriggerShims.com
You can get a pack with 3 each, .002", .003", .004", .005" cylinder shims. These are meant to correct Cylinder Shake. It will not effect cylinder/barrel gap unless you measure C/B gap with the cylinder relaxed rather than pushed to the rear.
Tip...you will need to rig a small magnet to reach down and pull out shims in case you install the wrong size.
scruffy
Member
My experience with a B/C gap and the factory fix on a NIB Performance Center 642 last October: New 642-1 PC Cylinder Gap
Stroker468
Member
Late entry, but...
586 no dash. .010
686 no dash. .010
629-1. .008
19-3 which spent 2 weeks under water after hurricane Katrina .006
Just adding to the data base...
586 no dash. .010
686 no dash. .010
629-1. .008
19-3 which spent 2 weeks under water after hurricane Katrina .006
Just adding to the data base...
Last edited:
My guess is they will set the existing barrel in a couple of turns and, if necessary, trim the ejector rod or replace it, whichever is easier and cheaper.
