OP
Problem with New 29-10
- Thread starter JD3006
- Start date
Well, I hope you get it back fixed quickly. I'm quite happy with my 29-10 I picked up used about a year or so ago. I changed out the Altamont stocks because for some reason they always felt a litle loose on the 29, but worked find on my Model 28-2. Go figure. It was OK really. I like Hogues too.
Last edited:
OP
Since I can now add pictures, thank you SLT223, I want to tell a positive story while we wait for news from the factory. Last summer at a small gun show. I spotted a four inch 28-2 with just a small amount of holster wear otherwise very nice. I thought you already have four and six inch Highway Patrolmen, but the little voice told me "They have target stocks you need that one with nice service stocks!" So, a little negotiation and out the door we went. On the way to the truck, I was telling my wife how much I loved my new Three Five Seven and she says "Why don't we go shoot it" I love her too and she is not for sale or trade. We went home I swabbed the bore and grabbed a box of shells. The result is in the picture. Offhand 7 yards single and double action. The trigger actuator being the most important part of the accuracy equation I will tell you that is the best I can do with a .357. At this point I'm having one of those really good days, so we pass the gun show on the way home and I decide to show the targets to the guy who sold me the 357. This is the funny part. I approached the table and said, "Hey you sold me a 28-2 this morning" He gets this funny look on his face like I was going to ask for my money back. Anyway, I showed him the targets, bragged on my shooting, and just how much I liked the new Smith. He tried to get me to give him a couple more hundos but I declined. Just a really good Smith and Wesson day.
A little long winded but I just wanted to say most of my Smith and Wesson days are good ones.
JD
A little long winded but I just wanted to say most of my Smith and Wesson days are good ones.
JD
Attachments
Joni_Lynn
US Veteran
Many years ago I saw something similar at a gun shop in Idaho. A gentleman ordered a new at the time Colt Anaconda in 45 Colt. Barrel was marked 45 Colt but had a bore for a 44 mag. The guy ordered a replacement and wanted to keep his factory error. (as a non-shooter)
OP
Joni, I wondered if they would send me the 41 barrel since I technically own it. I paid a lot for it. This is my first interaction with the service department, so I don't know if they return the old parts.
JD
JD
I thought the 44 magnum bore is 0.430".
I agree with Steelslaver, S&W should be ashamed. Mismarked guns are one thing but mixed parts are a totally different issue. I would be sending a very pointed letter to the head mucky-mucks expressing your extreme displeasure, then sit back and watch them crawl to you. At least that's what they should do.
In the letter I would explain how they narrowly avoided a massive personal injury law suit that could have resulted from their negligence.
I agree with Steelslaver, S&W should be ashamed. Mismarked guns are one thing but mixed parts are a totally different issue. I would be sending a very pointed letter to the head mucky-mucks expressing your extreme displeasure, then sit back and watch them crawl to you. At least that's what they should do.
In the letter I would explain how they narrowly avoided a massive personal injury law suit that could have resulted from their negligence.
The land diameter is about .420 and the groove dia .429-.430
I personally doubt the gun would have blown or come apart. It may well have spit a lot of lead or copper jacket out the gap. Part of that would depend on the bullet profile. I have forced a cast 45 bullet though a .429 sizing dia. It took some extra effort over a normal cast 44 slug, but my sizer has a pretty short handle.
Remember this PO Ackely did stuff like rechamber a 308 caliber barrel to a round like the 35 Whelen down the 308 barrel without excess pressure. As long as the bullet can release from the case it will simply swage to bore size
The problem arises when you stick something like a 318 bullet in a 30-06 case and then chamber it in a normal 30-06 chamber when causes the case neck to squeeze tight on the bullet which then does not release and causes a progressive powder to go to an extremely high pressure with no outlet.
With a 44 cylinder and a .410 barrel the bullet would release normally and as it moved forward case volume would increase as the bullet swaged to fit the bore.
I have a 41 mag and several 44 cylinders, but not enough motivation, faith or overwhelming need to test that theory however. LOL
I personally doubt the gun would have blown or come apart. It may well have spit a lot of lead or copper jacket out the gap. Part of that would depend on the bullet profile. I have forced a cast 45 bullet though a .429 sizing dia. It took some extra effort over a normal cast 44 slug, but my sizer has a pretty short handle.
Remember this PO Ackely did stuff like rechamber a 308 caliber barrel to a round like the 35 Whelen down the 308 barrel without excess pressure. As long as the bullet can release from the case it will simply swage to bore size
The problem arises when you stick something like a 318 bullet in a 30-06 case and then chamber it in a normal 30-06 chamber when causes the case neck to squeeze tight on the bullet which then does not release and causes a progressive powder to go to an extremely high pressure with no outlet.
With a 44 cylinder and a .410 barrel the bullet would release normally and as it moved forward case volume would increase as the bullet swaged to fit the bore.
I have a 41 mag and several 44 cylinders, but not enough motivation, faith or overwhelming need to test that theory however. LOL
Last edited:
I can definitely see it spitting a lot of bullet material out of the barrel-cylinder gap. I sure would not want to be at either side of that revolver if it had been fired. I still cannot wrap my head around how such a major mistake made it out of the factory.
Like I said it is what happens when you have assemblers doing the exact same thing all day, probably with a set quota of pieces to get assembled. Everyone quits THINKING and just goes through the motions. Grab a part and stick it in. A 41 barrel gets in with the 44 barrels, it gets spun into a frame, it gets torqued by the guy who does that, frame and cylinder go in a gig that trims the barrel shank, a guy sticks in forcing cone cutter which does either 357, 41, 44 or 45 barrels and turned x number of turns, the cylinder gets stuck in, the tool that trims the ratchet teeth gets stuck in and run by the guy that does that, trigger and hammer are stuck in and it is cycled, off to the fire 3 round guy it goes.
OP
The package was signed for this morning In Springfield Mass. I don't know when we will hear from them. I really don't think it was fired at the factory. I didn't see any residue on the front of the cylinder, forcing cone, muzzle or around the firing pin. My pictures aren't the greatest but what do you all see?
JD
JD
There should have been three chambers fired and no, I do not see burn rings around any of the chambers. That would explain how it got out of the factory, it was not test fired, which is supposed to be the final QC check.
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2021
- Messages
- 266
- Reaction score
- 888
I see a once proud and respected American manufacturer repeatedly embarrassing itself. I wish they would try to turn this around. I know they’re not perfect, but it’s hard to imagine something like this happening at Ruger or Colt.
OP
It's pretty and it shoots
After thirty days at the factory, I received my 29-10 with the proper .44 barrel installed. I was concerned that they might mar the finish while installing the new barrel, they did not. It is pretty.
I fired 20 rounds of Hornady Custom 240gr XTP 1350 fps. Everything worked fine and I was pleasantly surprised how comfortable the Altamont stocks were. I then switched to my handload with 240gr Missouri bullet and Trailboss 1000 to 1100 fps. My second target is in the picture. I will confess, that is as good as I get with a .44 mag.
This weapon now looks and performs like I expect from Smith and Wesson, and I believe it is worth $1399.
After thirty days at the factory, I received my 29-10 with the proper .44 barrel installed. I was concerned that they might mar the finish while installing the new barrel, they did not. It is pretty.
I fired 20 rounds of Hornady Custom 240gr XTP 1350 fps. Everything worked fine and I was pleasantly surprised how comfortable the Altamont stocks were. I then switched to my handload with 240gr Missouri bullet and Trailboss 1000 to 1100 fps. My second target is in the picture. I will confess, that is as good as I get with a .44 mag.
This weapon now looks and performs like I expect from Smith and Wesson, and I believe it is worth $1399.
Attachments
75Vette
Member
That target looks great to me! Start stretching it out to 12 or 15 yds. With the groups pictured I bet you'd do good. Glad to hear the factory made things right.
OP
