Overtightened barrels. A big problem?

[1sailor]

For the last few days I've been trying to decide between a 4" 686P and a 5" unfluted talo 686P. Then today I was reading a thread that made it seem at though overtightend barrels with misaligned sights are almost the norm. Now I'm wondering if buying a 686 at all is such a good idea. I was going to get it online so there's not really an opportunity to examine the gun beforehand. Is this really a big problem. The majority of my shooting would be targets at 25+ yards so misaligned sights are something that could be a problem. I want something that's going to be more accurate than my plastic semi auto.

 

[mikethebike67]

Two weeks ago I ordered a 4"627 from my lgs, they ordered two, one for me and one for the store. Both of them came in with canted barrels. Mine has been sent back to S&W to get fixed. It's pretty sad. Mike

 

[snowman]

Sir,

When I've bought a gun online, I've called the seller and asked them to look through the sights and see if the front is at 12:00. I've had the seller admit to me when it is off. Some of course may lie. You just have to use your judgment about the seller's character as you speak with him. I also have told sellers upfront that I won't accept a gun with a canted sight. Check the return policy. There are a number of us here who won't buy a gun that can't be returned if we're dissatisfied.

There is some risk in buying online that can't be avoided. However I've bought every one of the guns I presently own online, with no problems. There isn't a one of them I could have obtained locally.

Best wishes,
Andy



P.S. I have three 686s, two of them the plus model, and they are all outstanding guns. One is a dash 3, another a dash 4, and the third one a dash 6.

 

[ejeli]

It's really hard to assertaine from a general forum how many good ones are shipped out that are perfect. The only time we hear anything is when there is a problem. The thousands that are good are never heard from. I'm not condoning sloppy workmanship but I believe the the ratio of good to bad is a lot better then the impression we get by hearing of the bad ones.
I for one have bought two PC revolvers this year with no canted barrells, no FTF no spitting etc.
I probably will be buying more as soon as the mad money builds up again and I'm sure it will be another Smith, lock and all.
e.

 

[1sailor]

I was actually looking at the guns on Bud's so it would be new.

 

[JGH]

I just recently bought my first .44mag, 629-8 3" Deluxe. Soon as I opened the box (ordered it) I looked at the barrel and saw it was canted. I showed it to my dealer and he said that more and more he is seeing S&W come in with canted barrels, more with it than without it.

It bothered me...so I called Customer Service and relayed my concerns to them. I was told that its PERFECTLY normal and that if the barrel is "clocked" past center or canted...that is because it was the BEST position to lock the barrel for accuracy.

I called BS on that (in a polite way ). When I asked CS if that other barrel positions were tested and I was told no... which then my reply was "so how do you know that the current canted position is the most accurate or the best"...they could not answer me.

I have only shot a few rounds through it at short range and it was accurate. When I get more time (later this week) I will do some further testing on it. In my gut though...I am not happy with the canted barrel, just doesn't sit well with me. If the gun shoots as it should I will then have to decide if looking down a canted barrel is going to bother me everytime I shoot it. If so...I will reluctantly send it back for correction. Note: I HATE sending guns back for items that should have never left the factory in the beginning.

To make it worse for me...my new 617 4" bougth the week before I got the .44mag also has a canted barrel, but just barely.

 

[notsofast]

Sorry for pileing on but my 627's barrel aint at 12 oclock

 

[Titegroups]

Do yourself a favor and find a used one with a hammer mounted firing pin. In the long run you'll be glad you did.

 

[sodacan]

I agree with Titegroups. With S&W, older is better.

 

[BTS]

I bought a new 4" 686p a little over a month ago.

The barrel was over-tightened by a hair (a little less than 2 degrees). I doubt too many would notice or that it would impact most people's shooting, but I wanted it to be right.

Sent it to S&W and received it back corrected two weeks later. Nice and easy. Not a dime out of my pocket.

I am very happy with this gun. It shoots like a laser. And even with the ILS, it has looks to die for.

I would do it all over again. As said above, the mistakes get overblown because no one ever posts about good news. Mine had an issue and S&W made it right.

 

[JBnTx]

I've sent two revolvers back because of canted barrels that required the rear sight be adjusted
all the way over to the right, in order to zero them.

One was a classic M29 and the other was a classic M25.

Both came back in about two weeks with a letter stating that they had adjusted
the barrel/frame alignment.

I still need to shoot them to verify they've been fixed.

 

[M29since14]

It bothered me...so I called Customer Service and relayed my concerns to them. I was told that its PERFECTLY normal and that if the barrel is "clocked" past center or canted...that is because it was the BEST position to lock the barrel for accuracy.

The technique of clocking the barrel so the revolver shoots approximately to point-of-aim is as old as the hills and was/is perfectly normal, particularly with fixed-sight guns.

All revolvers torque off one way or the other when discharged, owing mainly to the reaction of the gun to the bullet encountering the twist of the rifling, I am told. Minor adjustments for that, and accounting for various small errors in manufacturing (which "stack-up"), may require slight adjustments in fitting the barrel, but I agree it should not be so pronounced that it is obnoxious. Just what is considered obnoxious is going to differ from shooter to shooter, and the factory is of course contending with the duty of trying to satisfy some people who may regard their revolver more as a work of art, rather than the useful weapon it was designed and manufactured to be.

This is all nothing new. I have 44 Magnums from all of the early "eras" ('50s-'60s-'70s) that have barrels clocked slightly the the left (from the shooter's view), on some guns more noticeable than on others. And it was going on 100-years or more before that. The internet has something of a genius for ignoring the obvious on this topic.

If the gun doesn't suit and one doesn't want to be bothered with asking the factory to adjust it, why buy it? Buy another gun and save any possible agonizing. If buying over the web, I am one of those Snowman refers to who will not even consider buying a revolver without some kind of inspection provision. In most cases, it is just unreasonable for the seller to assume a buyer can know enough about the gun from a few photographs. I am suspicious of any seller who is not confident enough of his gun and his description of it that he refuses to allow inspection/right-to-return.

 

[mag318]

My LGS stocks 686s in 2.5",4" and 6" barrels. Today he had a 3" that someone ordered. I looked at several and sure enough the barrels were ever so slightly canted to the left. By slight I mean 1 or2 degrees and you really have to look at it to notice. The 3" one they got in was perfect. As much as I dislike revolvers with the lock and MIM triggers and hammers, I was impressed with the 3" version. It was a 7 shot with perfect timing and a light, smooth double action. If the gentleman who ordered it doesn't take it I just might.

 

[olds442guy]

I ordered a classic 29-10 online and when I got it, the barrel was totally straight.

It's probably just luck of the draw when you buy it before you see it close up

 

[sarge1967]

I have been thinking about getting a new 586 or 686 but with all these barrel issues I am seriously considering a Ruger GP 100. They are just so UGLY! But at least it would shoot straight.

 

[Invictus357]

I've posted this elsewhere but will mention it again.

I bought a new 686+ last week.

I checked several 686 models and most of them had a very slight cant.

But it was so slight I would have bought any of them.

There was a 586 6" Classic there that I just had to fondle. There was no barrel cant.

The one I chose, a 686+ 3 inch model, has no cant at all and is perfectly straight.

My new (test fired last May at the factory) beauty is superior in fit, finish and function to the last 686 I bought about 4 years ago.

As for the ugly GP100 comment, I have one and I think it's a beautiful chunk of steel

 

[Nightowl]

It is hard enough to get a good sight picture for a precision shot with a "good" front sight, let alone with one that is not vertical. If I can see a slanted sight, it would have to get fixed!

YMMV

 

[sarge1967]

As for the ugly GP100 comment, I have one and I think it's a beautiful chunk of steel

I guess beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. They are fine weapons. My folks have one and I was very impressed with the accuracy, fit and finish of it.

 

[BSA]

If the front sight is canted when it is brought back to vertical you will need to adjust the rear sight to bring the gun back to zero. So one or other is going to be off to one side.

Guns represent one of two things to me; collector or shooter.

Collector guns are meant to spend their lives unfired and in the dark recesses of gun safes. Since shooting them will hurt their value to other collectors the fact that the front sight might be canted in meaningless.

For a shooter to be of value to me it must hit MY point of aim. Since each of us is different the point of aim is also different. Thus the canted front sight may be the correct alignment for my eyes.

A gun that is meant to be shot should always be fired to determine its function and accuracy. If the gun puts the bullets where I want them then a little cant is fine. Freaking out and screaming manufacturing defect before even shooting the gun is silly and ill informed.

 

[JBnTx]

Freaking out and screaming manufacturing defect before even shooting the gun is silly and ill informed.

A revolver that costs the better part of a thousand dollars had better be completely functional in all aspects.

How many years has Smith and Wesson had to get it right?

..