S&W 66 Barrel Not Timed Correctly

[KY1911]

Just brought home this brand new S&W Model 66-8 4.25" .357 Magnum. Had ordered online and picked up at my local FFL. And....the barrel is jacked. Take a look. Is this normal?

 

[American1776]

My M69 is canted, the other way.

S&W cannot consistently put a barrel on straight, it seems. Shoot it and bring a screw driver to adjust windage. that's what i did today. at 10 yards I can achieve combat accuracy with full power 44 magnums, double action. I will have to accept this.

I have sent canted barrels back to S&W and had them returned the same way.

 

[LVSteve]

Even if the front sight lines up perfectly, it's the kind of thing you can't unsee.

Makes you realize why they went to sleeved barrels.

 

[American1776]

Even if the front sight lines up perfectly, it's the kind of thing you can't unsee.

Makes you realize why they went to sleeved barrels.

that model has a sleeved barrel, and they cannot make it line up with the frame.

 

[shocker]

The shroud is on straight and not canted. For whatever reason, it's not a spec that the milling lines up between the frame and shroud.

Short barrel versions of the sleeved barrel S&W eliminated the offending lines.

 

[KY1911]

Here are some better pics. Thanks for the feedback and observations. It looks off to me.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

I would send it back to S&W. Poor workmanship.

 

[Arquebus357]

Look at how the lines on the right side of the frame line up with the lines on the sight. On the left hand side it looks like the frame is missing a line or two. The barrel shroud actually looks like its lined up fine with the sight.

 

[kaaskop49]

I would shoot it before returning it for service. It is a hair off. As I posted earlier this AM in a similar thread, shoot it from a rest to eliminate as many variables as possible. I would go 7yds, 10yds, 50ft and maybe 25yds. Use good quality factory ammo. You may be surprised and I hope you are! Good luck and good shooting!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[wproct]

It is a hair off, the question is whether Smith & Wesson is going to be able to get it perfect or not? And there is only one way to find out. Please keep us informed on what action you choose to take and the results.

 

[Hapworth]

The serration are clearly mis-aligned; that does not automatically mean the barrel is canted.

OP, sight it in and determine how it shoots before deciding whether or not to send it back...

 

[American1776]

It looks to me that the frame is drilled slightly off center, making the barrel shank sit inside the frame slightly to the left (as viewed from a shooting position from the rear). Since the barrel sits inside the frame slightly left, the barrel lines will not line up with the center of the frame lines. To correct for this, I'd wager that the rear sight would need to be drifted slightly to the left.

This is not a case of canted sight. It is a case of a barrel shank drilled off center inside the frame.

 

[JR2ATN]

As others have stated it appears the lines milled on the frame are off-center, not a canted barrel. Pretty sloppy work but just a cosmetic flaw I think. This isn't the first 66-8 4.25" like this I've seen. S&W probably had a run of frames like this and didn't want to chuck them out. Is the serial # in the CZB range perchance?

 

[SixGunSancho]

Hi KY1911,

I am so sorry about your Model 66-8. I am sincere empathy for you. I know the feeling of expecting quality in exchange for money only to be disappointed. I suffered the identical frustration with a circa 1983 586.

There is no acceptable excuse for your gun's condition.

When one sees such an obvious imperfection, the natural thought is what other imperfections plague the gun. My 586's barrel was not aligned correctly. That should have been a huge clue for my naive belief that it was otherwise a good gun. During an extended firearms training course, the cylinder froze rendering my 586 inoperable. The cylinder would not open. That was the second and last time I returned it to S&W. I finally gave it to an old friend. I paid to ship it to his FFL.

I did not buy another S&W revolver until last month. I have a 2.75" copy of the Model 66-8. So far, it has been perfect. I plan on taking it into wilderness areas of the Rockies. I'll have at least one of my kids fishing with me. I have to have complete confidence in it in order to protect my kids from mean critters (black bears & lions).

I hope S&W customer service repairs your gun or exchanges it for a perfect copy.

 

[S&W Rover]

Won't help the OP, but for everyone else, don't accept any revolver at an FFL without a full inspection. This one, I'd return to S&W and tell them to fix it. They aren't going to.improve the product if people don't complain.

 

[TTSH]

As others have stated it appears the lines milled on the frame are off-center, not a canted barrel. Pretty sloppy work but just a cosmetic flaw I think. This isn't the first 66-8 4.25" like this I've seen. S&W probably had a run of frames like this and didn't want to chuck them out. Is the serial # in the CZB range perchance?

I think you are right. Notice how the rear sight lines up perfectly with the barrel shroud (but not the frame).

Not sure if that's good news or bad news for the OP, but that's S&W quality control these days.

 

[AlHunt]

It does look to me like the barrel is off center in the frame. Does that mean the forcing cone is off center to the chambers?

In any event it's just amateur hour workmanship.

 

[Barrie]

You paid good money for this product. Send it back to S@W as you deserve a perfect gun when you spend money like that. I would expect nothing less.

 

[Trooper224]

I think you are right. Notice how the rear sight lines up perfectly with the barrel shroud (but not the frame).

Not sure if that's good news or bad news for the OP, but that's S&W quality control these days.

This has been as issue for as long as S&W has made revolvers.

 

[COASTIE01]

Send it back to S&W. I had a 625 with a similar problem and they fixed it within a couple weeks.