New 629 PC v-comp issue. I'm sad.

Det-Sog

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So, I was all stoked about my new performance center .44 that I spent a lot on. Went to the range today!! Yaaaaay... NOT!

So here we go.... BACK <--- to the FACTORY!!!



Sometimes you just have to pee on the electric fence. I know there have been issues with new Smith's. I did my best to look this thing over at the gun store. Long story short. Barrel is probably 5 to 7° out of clock. Couldn't tell until I got it home. Might as well take it to the range and see how it shoots. OK. Let's just pee on the electric fence again.

First three shots did not even hit a paper plate at 10 yards. OK, no problem, just zero it in. 4 inches low, 6 inches to the left. I crank the windage over. Ended up having to move the rear sight blade almost full deflection to get the windage correct. The windage is spot on, but as you can see from the picture the sight blade is all the way to the right.

I was using factory 230 grain S&B ammo, and shooting from the bench single action to make sure it was not me.

This far off for windage, what would YOU do???



Hard to tell from this picture, but when I put a straight edge on top, the barrel is obviously tilting towards the right when looked at top down muzzle away for me.




In defense of S&W, The rest of this thing seems to be a work of art. When I called Smith, the people that answered the phone were very courteous, polite and set me right up with a return label. It's really sad, because other than it's not accurate (I know), this is one of the sweetest shooting weapons I've ever fired. For a 44 Magnum, I shot 75 rounds of full house magnum and didn't even get tired. The weight of the gun coupled with the compensator handled the recoil very well. The trigger and the total mechanical action seemed PERFECT!

I'm just really chapped that I spent this kind of money on something that supposed to be top notch, and have to send it back in. I wouldn't be writing this, if I didn't know about other problems other people were having. Strike this up is just another data point for the QC issues coming out now days. Using the line from "Get Smart", you Missed it by that much. If the factory would've looked this over for just five more minutes, they could've corrected it before it went out. WHY S&W, WHY???

I'll take partial responsibility as though even that I did look it over before the purchase, I still missed the barrel clocking. I did my best with my eyeballs. I brought magnifying glasses and really looked this over. Without running a straight edge down the top of the barrel though, had out to do all over again, I'm not sure I would've caught it again by just eyeballing it without tools.

Oh well... Was looking forward to shooting this thing again in a couple days, but now I guess I'll have to wait several weeks.

Edited for spelling and grammar. I just did this from my cell phone as I get ready to go buy a freaking shipping box. Not like I've got other things to do.
 
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I said it before, and I'll say it again..........

I checked a 629 I purchased 3 TIMES! Everything looked good. Everything looked perfect. It came home with a canted barrel. Go figure.
You try and check everything. Annnnnd it wasn't my first time at the rodeo!
I was upset with myself. My salesman supposedly checked it too! (And he's sort of an old friend/family acquaintance )
I sent it in May 2016.
Got it back promptly.
And I have no problems with it.

Moral of the story.......
Nope. Dunno. It'll probably happen again. And thankfully it'll happen to me
:)

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man from the second picture, it looks dead center as far as the barrel goes.
 
I know. That's why I missed it at the LGS. Once you put a straight edge on it, it becomes obvious.

yeah same thing happened to me. mine isn't that bad though.

It is every so slightly under clocked on my 627 PC. point of aim is still the point of impact so I left it alone.

Good luck on getting yours fixed.
 
Det-Sog

I checked some of the paperwork i got back from my canted 629. See if when you get yours back, they send you something similar.

It shows it was off in the test fire. Shows reject,reject, acceptable.
Dont know what the #s mean. Maybe someone who knows??
06d488cc063f869cd8034d444e31ec8f.jpg


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It is every so slightly under clocked on my 627 PC. point of aim is still the point of impact so I left it alone.



Good luck on getting yours fixed.


I hear you. Now that I've had a night to sleep on it, I'm tempted not to mess with it. I've got it dialed in, so it hits where it's aimed...

I just don't think I can live with that rear sight blade being all the way to the right like that. I paid almost $1500 for this thing with taxes... Should be perfect IMHO.
 
I hear you. Now that I've had a night to sleep on it, I'm tempted not to mess with it. I've got it dialed in, so it hits where it's aimed...

I just don't think I can live with that rear sight blade being all the way to the right like that. I paid almost $1500 for this thing with taxes... Should be perfect IMHO.

nah get it fixed. I didn't have to crank my rear sight like that. that would bug me as well.
 
Oh. I presumed you were going to ship. You were looking for a box. I thought you got sent a shipping label for it.
Well......just know, that a phone call gets you a shipping label and it gets fixed for free! The only thing you spend is the time to put in the box and time without. They should be checking these barrels better.

If it were even a 1k, i would want it right. But its up to you.


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Thanks guys.

Yes, I called and got a shipping #. Just getting lazy this morning. Heading to Fedex now. Thanks for the moral support. That rear sight is waaay too far off. I just was "gut-checking" myself this AM. You guys are right. If I didn't send it in, I'd be kicking myself until I did or traded the thing away... I'm sending it in. :cool:

I will let you all know when and how she comes back.
 
UPDATE 08/08

THANK YOU S&W!!!!


Just got her back. Five week turn around. I'll keep this short...

They adjusted the barrel, and gave it a good once over. I just had to run to the range and throw a box of full house .44 Mag through her.. OUTSTANDING. Once I got it dialed in, I was tired from a long day, but all of the rounds were going right where I was throwing them.

IF there is anything still wrong with this PC 629 V-Comp... I can't find it. It appears to now be mechanically perfect. Now... If I can just work on my shooting skills. This 629 will drive tacks with someone that is good enough to do that.

Thank you S&W. That's GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. :D

Sorry for no pics. I am still migrating from PB.
 
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