New 442-2 with "Crooked" Barrel?

[Robinett_11B]

Hey everyone! I'm new with the forum, and pretty new to revolvers as well. I've been around various handguns and all standard Infantry weapons for quite some time now and I think something may be wrong with this 442 I just purchased. I bought a 60-14 a couple months ago and just traded it for this 442. I've been looking at it and I think the barrel "slopes down" from the frame. It's hard to tell in the photos, I know...but you can tell a lot more in person. I haven't found much on this in many of the different forums I looked in, so I was seeing if anyone around here could give me an idea of what I should do about this. I'm going to call S&W tomorrow. *What should I expect from them?* Should they be able to "straighten" the barrel back out?* Should I request a new gun?* Can I expect the same service life of an "unaffected" 442 if they just redo the barrel alignment?*
Thank you for all your input and help. I hope to be a good contributor to the forum...

 

[Wayne M]

That gap at the top of the barrel and frame shouldn't be there. Call S&W and explain the problem and tell them you want to return it. Alternatively take it to your dealer, show him the problem and give him your letter to S&W and have him send it back for you. The gun's not the way it's supposed to be.

 

[P&R Fan]

Welcome to the forum. I have gotten this impression too with my Centennials. I determined it is an optical illusion, at least with my guns. How does it shoot?
Sorry, after my post I read post number two. I had not closely looked at your pictures. There does appear to be a gap that shouldn't be there.

 

[Robinett_11B]

Welcome to the forum. I have gotten this impression too with my Centennials. I determined it is an optical illusion, at least with my guns. How does it shoot?
Sorry, after my post I read post number two. I had not closely looked at your pictures. There does appear to be a gap that shouldn't be there.

Thanks, P@R Fan. I just purchased the gun a couple days ago and I haven't fired it yet. I was going to today, but I wanted to wait and see what you guys on the forum and S&W's CS had to say about the issue.

 

[Robinett_11B]

That gap at the top of the barrel and frame shouldn't be there. Call S&W and explain the problem and tell them you want to return it. Alternatively take it to your dealer, show him the problem and give him your letter to S&W and have him send it back for you. The gun's not the way it's supposed to be.

Aprreciate your input, Wayne M. That gap didn't look good to me either. My dealer told me I'd have to take it up with S&W if I had any issues, because I'd already paid for the gun. Should I expect them to just "fix" something like this or should I request a new 442? I've gathered that it's harder to fix these kind of things on an aluminum framed gun.

 

[MERV5-5505]

Hello-

Fort Lewis? We are neighbors...(Thank you for your service.)

Yes, I agree...that barrel looks wrong. On an aluminum or alloy frame gun...it might not hurt to ask, (nicely) for a replacement. I believe the 442's are still available sans-lock, just make sure that if they are willing to give you a new gun, that it is a 100% 1-for-1 replacement. IMHO, I would hate to get a IL revolver replacement for a no-lock wheel gun.

Hope this helps...I wish you and your service-mates safe tours.

 

[photoman]

That space between the barrel and frame top doesn't look right. I think Wayne's got it right. Give S&W a call. They'll take care of you. Don't give up on the Airweights. They're awesome guns!

 

[BubbaGubber]

Aprreciate your input, Wayne M. That gap didn't look good to me either. My dealer told me I'd have to take it up with S&W if I had any issues, because I'd already paid for the gun. Should I expect them to just "fix" something like this or should I request a new 442? I've gathered that it's harder to fix these kind of things on an aluminum framed gun.

Personally, I think your dealer is acting like a turd....he should take care of this for you. Nothing like washing your hands of a problem.....

 

[photoman]

I've gathered that it's harder to fix these kind of things on an aluminum framed gun.

This is true. They will, more than likely, replace the gun.

 

[Robinett_11B]

Hello-

Fort Lewis? We are neighbors...(Thank you for your service.)

Yes, I agree...that barrel looks wrong. On an aluminum or alloy frame gun...it might not hurt to ask, (nicely) for a replacement. I believe the 442's are still available sans-lock, just make sure that if they are willing to give you a new gun, that it is a 100% 1-for-1 replacement. IMHO, I would hate to get a IL revolver replacement for a no-lock wheel gun.

Hope this helps...I wish you and your service-mates safe tours.

Thanks, MERV5-5505! I appreciate the advice and the support! I guess I just put Ft. Lewis in haste when I made my profile. I actually live between Tacoma and Puyallup...pretty nice considering The Marksman is exactly 2 miles from my house! Yeah, that is something I'm concerned about...I was happy to find the last 442 sans IL they had, and now I would ~hate~ to have S&W replace my gun with an IL model :/ Thanks again...

 

[Robinett_11B]

This is true. They will, more than likely, replace the gun.

Thanks, Photoman44. I hadn't heard anything solid about how hard it was to "fix" these kinds of issues on the Airweights. I was really excited about the gun and I still am...I'm just dissapointed I got "one of the bad ones" that can come out every now and then. It carries much nicer in my pocket then the M60 did! I'm hoping S&W can repair or replace it without too much hassle...

 

[photoman]

With the aluminum frames, the barrel installation is, more or less, a one shot deal. That's why S&W will not refinish the Airweights. Removal and re-installation of the barrel usually leads to a cracked frame.

When you talk to them, and if they offer a replacement gun, insist on a no-lock replacement. I can think of one other on the forum that did this with success.

 

[Robinett_11B]

With the aluminum frames, the barrel installation is, more or less, a one shot deal. That's why S&W will not refinish the Airweights. Removal and re-installation of the barrel usually leads to a cracked frame.

When you talk to them, and if they offer a replacement gun, insist on a no-lock replacement. I can think of one other on the forum that did this with success.

Thanks alot, Photoman44! Appreciate it. I'm going to contact S&W tomorrow. I'll keep you all posted. Feel free, anyone, to offer any input or advice. Thanks, everyone...

 

[AZretired]

I won't buy from a dealer that doesn't have a return policy. The barrel looks like it needs one more turn to close the gap. Those barrels are tapered.. Call S&W they should take care of you.

 

[Robinett_11B]

Well, I just called S&W and the guy was sort of an a**hole. He wouldn't hear anything I was saying about what was wrong with the gun. He just said that they'd have to see it and make their decision. I said, "okay, but ~~what if~~ this was something that couldn't be fixed...what would you do then?" and he got very defensive and insisted that the gun had a lifetime warranty and so on. He said they'd look at it, make the neccessary repairs and send it back. He wouldn't even hear me about if they'd replace the gun ~~IF~~ it ~~WASN'T~~ something they could fix. He asked if I had fired it yet, to which I said no. And he talked down to me like I was being ridiculous and told me to "go fire it and see how it shoots!". I told him that I didn't want to fire what was obviously an "out of the norm" 442 and he talked to me like I was just trying to be difficult. His responses didn't exactly inspire confidence.....so I'm hoping they can make this right w/o too much hassle. I just don't really feel comfortable carrying the gun as is, or even if they just "make repairs". Anyone have any more thoughts on what I should expect from S&W on this issue?

 

[Wayne M]

I agree that you should take the problem up with S&W but if your dealer doesn't want to pack it up and take care of getting it back to the factory for you I'd never walk through his doors again.

Don't worry about the phone call, S&W will do what's necessary to correct your problem.

 

[Robinett_11B]

I agree that you should take the problem up with S&W but if your dealer doesn't want to pack it up and take care of getting it back to the factory for you I'd never walk through his doors again.

Don't worry about the phone call, S&W will do what's necessary to correct your problem.

Thanks, Wayne M. I appreciate your advice. Anyone else, feel free to add some input...I'll take all I can get.

 

[Robinett_11B]

Just in case anyone thinks differently...I'm not coming on here and knocking S&W's CS because one of their reps may of been a little condescending with me. I know he's just a guy taking calls and hearing about peoples issues all day. I know that he can't really give me any in-depth answers either. I'm going to reserve my judgment of their CS after I find out what they are actually going to do to solve this barrel issue. I talked to the gun shop I bought it from and they said they could either send the gun to S&W or have their smith look at it. I don't see much of a difference in them sending it to S&W or me doing...just adding a middle man. I could be wrong though? And I would much rather just have S&W see what they could do about fixing or replacing the gun vs. have a local smith see what they could do.

 

[-db-]

I have the same gun and while looking at it closely, mine also has a slight gap, not as wide as yours but I can see a sliver of daylight, between the top of the barrel and the front of the frame. The barrel on mine isn't crooked relative to the frame at all, though. Have you measured the gap between the cylinder and forcing cone? Is the cone square to the cylinder? An exceptionally wide gap and/or one looking like this: \ / may indicate the barrel either wasn't seated properly or the gun may have been dropped or banged around, knocking the barrel downwards slightly within the frame.

Understand that the barrel is tapered, also, which may give the illusion that it's sloped or bent, depending on which angle you're viewing it from, when in reality it isn't. If the cylinder gap looks fine, I'd try shooting it before sending it in. If it shoots to POA or close to it, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Robinett_11B]

I have the same gun and while looking at it closely, mine also has a slight gap, not as wide as yours but I can see a sliver of daylight, between the top of the barrel and the front of the frame. The barrel on mine isn't crooked relative to the frame at all, though. Have you measured the gap between the cylinder and forcing cone? Is the cone square to the cylinder? An exceptionally wide gap and/or one looking like this: \ / may indicate the barrel either wasn't seated properly or the gun may have been dropped or banged around, knocking the barrel downwards slightly within the frame.

If the cylinder gap looks fine, I'd try shooting it before sending it in. Understand that the barrel is tapered, also, which may give the illusion that it's sloped or bent, dpending on which angle you're viewing it from, when in reality it isn't.

Thanks, -db-. Maybe there is a "tolerance" for a barrel-frame gap...although I don't know that much about revolvers, I wouldn't think so all the same? I don't have any kind of means to measure the cylinder-barrel gap...and it's hard for me to tell if the gap is closer on one end or the other. I don't feel too comfortable with this kind of gap though...I compared it to a rental 642 at a local range and you could see the difference, even at a glance. It was obvious that something was "off" about my 442 when compared to the fit of that 642.