New 617 with grooves in chambers

[Scharfschuetzer]

That's a new one for me. If I ever buy a new S&W, I'll certainly look for those striations before buying. Perhaps S&W will give us a good response in order to explain them. Yes... I know that's unlikely.

I've had Model 17s and 18s for over 45 years (two of each) and they all have had or have smooth and polished charge holes.

 

[Herky Bird]

Interesting, it looks to me like chatter-marks from interpolating the holes prior to finish-honing; might be from a worn-out or brand-new cutter.

 

[bigfatty]

Interesting, it looks to me like chatter-marks from interpolating the holes prior to finish-honing; might be from a worn-out or brand-new cutter.

I agree with this. I've had stuff like this on all kinds of different firearms. Worn out tools. Send it back, it's not normal.

 

[Jerry in SC]

My 617-6 has them, does not effect extraction at all. Chambers appear to be to spec (not loose or tight) cylinder throats are consistent. Very accurate. No misfires of any kind in over 1,000 rounds. My son's 648-2 does not have them.

At this point I'm unsure as to send it back unless someone gets S&W to resolve it for them.

 

[sparkyvega]

Now I have to go look at mine.

[update] Nope. Mine has no such machining marks.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

My 43C was bought new in January 2012 and has the striations in the aluminum cylinder, they go the full length of the case but not fully to the front of the cylinder. I fired it maybe 100 rds back then, cleaned and put away. Today I decided to economize on .38 ammo and used the 43C for most of my snubbie practice.

Extraction on this gun seems easier than on my 18-3 with smooth chambers. Accuracy is hard to determine in an Airlite gun with a heavy trigger and short sight radius, but seems on par with my 340PD.

The striations are not absolutely perfect but are way too uniform to be some kind of accident. Unless some kind of problems develop, I don't plan to "fix" anything.