My New 617 Just Went Back to S&W for Warranty Repairs

[Bruceboy]

Interesting, I have about a dozen S&W .22 revolvers with barrel lengths from 2" - 6" in both J and K frames. I found CCI target ammo the worst of all for gumming up the cylinder chambers and forcing me to run a wire brush through the chambers after less than 20 rounds. I solved the problem by reaming the chambers but found using cheap Federal 525 Value Pack ammo solved the problem and was accurate in all the guns.
Leading has never been an issue since I switched to Federal. The CCI's run fine in my .22 semi's so go figure.

Hope S&W makes good on your gun's issues,

Al

 

[SWFan27]

Because it is not flame cutting. I don't believe it either.

You should see the gouge in the metal of the top strap. Believe me, I tried cleaning it and was hoping for the best. The cleaner I got everything the more obvious the damage to the top strap was clearly visible. And it was not a file mark from the factory. My Dad saw the pictures and thinks it is a timing problem. It could be a forcing cone problem also factoring in.

I am hoping S&W will properly repair it. My Dad suggested they may just replace it and stamp it with the same serial number. My dad is in his 80s and owns a bunch of vintage S&W's and still goes to range several times a week and enjoys reloading.

 

[SWFan27]

"gouge across the metal of the top strap above the forcing cone"

At first I thought I had the same thing after reading this. Straight groove across the top of the top strap above the cone. Tough to remove too, used a razer blade to filially get it off.
But did look cut at 1st. Even after a good cleaning.
At least I think this is the area we are talking about.

I wish you were correct and that I only had an issue like you pictured. And I wish there was no need to have to send my new 617 back to S&W for warrant repair. My other S&W revolvers work flawlessly, and my 357 Mags have no flame cutting after thousands of magnum rounds. Usually, 125,140,158 and some 110 grain rounds.

I would post pictures, but I don't have an account with one of those hosting sites. The cuts on mine even came out the sides of the frame on both sides of the top strap.

 

[Yendor357]

Fan 27, Bless your Dad’s heart for being so optimistic. I’m afraid he remembers the Old S&W. They were wonderful!

I’m my opinion, the people that work there now are not near the equal to the craftsmen and gunsmiths they replaced. The reality is: It may be fully correct when you get it back, and it may not. I’m just being brutally honest. I have my fingers crossed for you and am hoping for the best.

 

[MCM]

Have only had to send one back, TRR8 for light strike in D/A.
Came back fine. Am sure they can fix your issue, no prob.

 

[Furrball]

I had a forcing cone issue on my New Model 69 Revolver.
It seems I am seeing posts regularly on forcing cone issues on New Smith and Wesson Revolvers.
Sounds like a good chance that is where the problem is.
The good news is they repaired/cut down the forcing cone on mine. And Customer Service was easy to deal with.
Hopefully yours will go as well.

 

[scooter123]

I would post pictures, but I don't have an account with one of those hosting sites. The cuts on mine even came out the sides of the frame on both sides of the top strap.

You don't need to have a posting site, you can post your images directly to this site. Just scroll down to Additional Options and click on the Manage Attachments button.

I will also note that if those are lead deposits due to the forcing cone issue the only way to remove those deposits is to scrape them off with an Exacto Knife or something similar. I do not believe that it is actually possible to get flame cutting with a 22LR because there just isn't enough pressure to do it. Get a bit silly with a 357 Magnum hand load and use 21.5 grains of H110 to get a 125 grain bullet over 1400 fps out of a 4 inch 620 and you will get flame cutting. Shoot with an American Eagle 158 grain JSP load at 1200 fps you will not. BTW the H110 load is an established load but in function it's a bit over the top, loud as a 500 Magnum with 25 feet of flame downrange. In addition the blast ring from a 0.006 inch B/C gap will obscure the target and be a bit blinding at a well lighted indoor range.

 

[Yendor357]

I have complained a lot about the poor customer service, and this particular revolver. But once the gun is correct, they’re pretty cool.

I got bored this afternoon and put an 8 inch scope on a 4 inch gun. This was my best group so far. I was tired and it was supper time. So I figured it was a good place to quit. The gun isn’t hiding any flyers. MMHP is all I have right now.

 

[SWFan27]

You don't need to have a posting site, you can post your images directly to this site. Just scroll down to Additional Options and click on the Manage Attachments button.

I will also note that if those are lead deposits due to the forcing cone issue the only way to remove those deposits is to scrape them off with an Exacto Knife or something similar. I do not believe that it is actually possible to get flame cutting with a 22LR because there just isn't enough pressure to do it. Get a bit silly with a 357 Magnum hand load and use 21.5 grains of H110 to get a 125 grain bullet over 1400 fps out of a 4 inch 620 and you will get flame cutting. Shoot with an American Eagle 158 grain JSP load at 1200 fps you will not. BTW the H110 load is an established load but in function it's a bit over the top, loud as a 500 Magnum with 25 feet of flame downrange. In addition the blast ring from a 0.006 inch B/C gap will obscure the target and be a bit blinding at a well lighted indoor range.

I have shot many brands of 357 Mag rounds through my S&W 66-8 and my 686+. From Buffalo Bore to target rounds. My favorite is the Remington 125 grain SJHP rated at 1450 FPS. And that is what I keep loaded. It is also the same round as my dad's reloads, but he loads both the old school SJHP 125 grain or 158 grain rounds. I have shot thousands of his reloads.

I currently have absolutely no top strap marks on my 66-8 and just a faint line on my 686+ which looks to be only topical and not actually in the steel. I think a good cleaning will make that line disappear. I am looking forward to getting my 617-6 back from S&W and praying for the best. It was delivered to them on Monday, and I received an email from them Wednesday evening 7/3 saying they had received it.

 

[Yendor357]

One day later….

It quit raining. It’s dead calm out so I decided to try 100 yards with the 4 inch 617. My best is 3.5 inch five shot group. CCI MMHP. I did 3.5” twice, in a row.

I’m going to quit now.