New 617 with grooves in chambers

[pistolpete10]

My new 617 has grooves in the chambers. All 10 chambers are identical. They look like this was done intentionally. Does anyone know if this is normal on new 617s. My new 629 doesn't have them. I will note that the grooves don't seem to hurt anything, no sticky extraction so far.

 

[joe44va]

Mine doesn't have them.

 

[deno56]

I bought a 4in and a 6in at the same time the 6in has the grooves
in the charging holes but the 4in does not.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Could the "grooves" you are seeing be the chamber mouths. S&W .22 cylinders ARE NOT bored straight through. There is a reduction at the front of the case to bullet diameter.

 

[Injunbro]

Fluted chambers were made in Israeli guns to ease extraction, it could be S&W is doing it too but I've never seen it. However if it functions properly I wouldn't worry.

 

[k22fan]

deno56's picture shows "grooves" running parallel to the bore. Striations might be a better description. The only way they could have been cut with the chamber reamer would be if the machine operator stopped spinning the reamer before dragging it back out. Odd. I do not think that is the answer. This is a new one for me.

Edit to add after reading Injunbro's reply before mine. The best know use of chamber flutes was in H&K's roller locked rifles and sub-machine guns. The cases had to float back to push back the bolt head to unlock the breach. It could be this is S&W's new idea to stop the complaints about sticky extraction in their .22 revolvers.

 

[Speedo2]

I've not seen it before. It looks deliberate, also that the grooves, or striations don't extend the full length of a 22LR case. It appears to me to be a pretty slick way to reduce or eliminate cases from sticking (less surface friction) while still allowing the brass to expand enough to seal the chambers. -S2

ETA: it would be interesting to see what the fired cases from these 617's look like, also to know it the grooves would effect the velocity of a 22 short.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Seems faulty to me.

 

[wingnuut]

mine is 3 wks. old 4 in. none on mine 617 -6 slick as snot

 

[.38SuperMan]

My wife's 317 has distinct grooves in each chamber. Winchester cases stick but Federal do not. She shoots Federal and isn't worried about it so I'm not either.

 

[DS-10-SPEED]

I can't see any way a drill or reamer can make lines like that, S&W must be trying some new round broaching process.

Broaching (metalworking - Wikipedia)

An example of a one type of round broach that has similar lines.

 

[colt_saa]

My new 617 has grooves in the chambers. All 10 chambers are identical. They look like this was done intentionally. Does anyone know if this is normal on new 617s. My new 629 doesn't have them. I will note that the grooves don't seem to hurt anything, no sticky extraction so far.

That is not normal

I would be contacting Smith & Wesson about a shipping label for a return to the Factory

 

[deno56]

That is not normal

I would be contacting Smith & Wesson about a shipping label for a return to the Factory

I sent it back to S&W it was there 4 weeks they check extraction and said the cylinder was in spec. It shoots good and no trouble whit extraction.

 

[Benchrest1]

I don't remember which one, but one of my 357's has that. It leaves those grooves on the fired brass. No problems shooting or reloading that brass, it just looks weird.

 

[VictorLouis]

Could it be a machining tool at the end of it's service-life, or perhaps missing the final step of polish-and-deburr (or similar)?

 

[rd97]

There is another thread in the forum about my problem with this. I have sent mine back and they returned it saying they could not find any issues. It is now back at the factory today still with extraction problems. These striations seem to attract crud. My gun starts locking up at about 100 rounds. My 4" with smooth cylinders will shoot all day. I'm not happy. I have asked if they will swap out the cylinder. I don't mind paying if necessary.

 

[pistolpete10]

The grooves in my gun are around the circumference, very uniform, perfect little grooves, best I can tell the entire length of the cylinder. Looks too perfect to be by accident. It also looks like it would be hard to do. So far no problem. Every S&W I've ever owned have been smooth and polished.

 

[rd97]

The stiations are the way they are being made now, I sent mine back to smith twice and they finally replaced the cylinder. The new cylinder had striations also, Had extraction issues as well as the chambers while in specks were just too tight. Had a local gunsmith put a chamber reamer to it and no more extraction issues, Also no more striations. I can now run an entire steel challenge match without extraction binding. My other 617 has the striation (4 inch) but runs like a swiss watch.

 

[Minorcan]

No Explanation

I sent it back to S&W it was there 4 weeks they check extraction and said the cylinder was in spec. It shoots good and no trouble whit extraction.

Pretty poor response not to give you a reason. Looks like they got rid of the guy that was making them correctly and hired an inexperienced person. This is why I only buy vintage S&Ws or I carefully inspect newer ones before putting down my money. I have heard that the new Colt Pythons had manufacturing flaws too. For me, old iron is the best.

 

[GT_80]

I'm starting to hear more problems with 617's- almost makes me wish I bought a SP101 or GP100 in .22lr- My 617 frame is cracked, it's back at the factory, and many other have sent theirs back for bad crown on forcing cone, and issues like this with cylinder grooves...