UPDATE 4/30/18 - Gun is Finished! - This makes me sick - Barrel Crack - PC Comp40

[Jaymo]

When did S&W start outsourcing their CS to Taurus?

 

[TercGen]

So glad to hear that Bar-Sto may be able to help you out with this tragedy SVT28. What a heart-breaking situation, best of luck!!

 

[SVT28]

Update: I heard from BarSto today and they said that the owner is spending a little time a day looking through the old stock "vault" to try and find something that will work for my gun. I can't imagine all of the cool one offs and rare barrels that are probably down there!

Maybe I'll hear something by Friday, patience has never been my strong suit

SVT28

 

[SVT28]

Update: I know its been a while since my last post on this one so here is what's new. I had not heard from Barsto for about a week and a half so I gave them a ping today to see if there were any updates from their end. They've been sorting through boxes and boxes of barrels they have finally found the box of Smith 40 barrels for the 3rd gens. They've requested a few more barrel measurements that otherwise would impossible to measure with the pistol locked up.

Luckily, our fellow forum members are awesome and someone has been helping me out with pictures and measurements of theirs. The most recent request is for the barrel hood width and length of barrel from start of the hood near the firing pin to end where its flush with the inside of the compensator.

I really don't want to get my hopes up and think this gun could be fixed soon, but I'm feeling positive that it will EVENTUALLY be fixed. I even had to stick it in the depths of my safe to keep it out of sight/out of mind when I grab my CCW everyday.

Staying positive, one day at a time.

SVT28



Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[crankyoldlady]

Thank you for the up date. Many forum members are following this thread with fingers crossed.

 

[SonnyJames]

Hi SVT. Thank you for the update. I was crushed when I read your original post and the circumstances that lead to the failure. I really hope that the guys at BarSto can come through for you. If they do not have the barrel on hand I can see them trying to machine one for you. So far they appear to be engaged and helpful, and if they do resolve the issue for you, they will earn my business and respect. Keep us updated and all the best!

 

[Oldline]

That is absolutely heartbreaking...I will say this, BarSto sure helped me out working with Robar when I had an unexpected out of spec barrel (stock) issue with a very old Colt Delta Elite that I'd had forever and they did so at an extremely reasonable price at the time. I'm not surprised they are doing everything they can to come up with something that will work.

I sure hope that works out, that is just horrible, special weapon like that.

 

[cballman]

Now that i have a little more time on my hand. Refound this thread and was wondering how your barrel problem has turned out. I hope you have gotten good news and a fixed gun.

Charlie

 

[SVT28]

Charlie, thanks for the followup and resurrection of this thread. I followed up with Barsto 3 times over the last month and they have gone dark. I just sent them another email today and will followup with a phone call on Monday. I wish they would bump this up on their priority list so I don't have to keep badgering them for updates. At first I was feeling about 60-70% about Barsto helping but with the delays and lack of responsiveness I'm reducing that down to below 50%.

It would really help me out to get some closure from Barsto, either they are going to help me out, or I need to start following up on other leads for businesses willing and able to make me a barrel...

This whole ordeal has been agonizing and a complete PITA but I know my persistence will eventually pay off somehow. Project positive thoughts, project positive thoughts...tis the season where we can hope right???

SVT28

 

[RGVshooter]

This ^^^^^^^^^^

I understand they don't support the pistol anymore. Got it. But how they can keep something that I paid for and own, just because they feel it is a "legal liability" I don't understand.

They can't and won't. I would disregard this as internet baloney. if you send the pistol to S&W for repair, more than likely it will be out of your pocket and they'll install factory original parts back in the gun.

 

[SVT28]

Hallelujah! Today is one FINE day

I called Barsto this morning after a couple weeks of them going dark and ended up speaking with the owner who was delighted to tell me that they found a replacement barrel for the PC Comp 40 and they were just about to give me a call to let me know it would be going out Monday of next week!

They told me I should have an invoice in the next day or so and the estimated cost of the barrel and shipping will be around $200.... score

I told them that this barrel is so dear to me I was tempted to drive from AZ to come pick it up in person and give them a hug haha. Instead I'll just anxiously wait for it in the mail. (Heads will roll if the package gets lost or compromised) In the meantime, I've got to call around to see if there are any local gunsmiths with the tools and experience to cut the old barrel hood to get the slide unlocked, and then pull compensator off and preserve the barrel bushing. I may be ahead of myself, but I think I won't have a problem finding a gunsmith, and that the hard part (finding a barrel) is in the rear view mirror.

Props to Barsto for coming through in the clutch. They will always be a business I support and patronize.

Thanks to all who have given their best wishes and support, I'll keep everyone posted as I get her back together!

SVT28

Edit: I near fell over watching another Comp40 on the broker the other day. $3k was the sold price

 

[GaryS]

Great news. I think the trick now is going to be finding a smith with the equipment and training to remove the old barrel and who is also familiar with S&W 3rd Gen guns.

No sense is rushing now that you have the irreplaceable barrel, uh, replaced. Maybe I should say the almost irreplaceable barrel.

Hallelujah! Today is one FINE day

I called Barsto this morning after a couple weeks of them going dark and ended up speaking with the owner who was delighted to tell me that they found a replacement barrel for the PC Comp 40 and they were just about to give me a call to let me know it would be going out Monday of next week!

They told me I should have an invoice in the next day or so and the estimated cost of the barrel and shipping will be around $200.... score

I told them that this barrel is so dear to me I was tempted to drive from AZ to come pick it up in person and give them a hug haha. Instead I'll just anxiously wait for it in the mail. (Heads will roll if the package gets lost or compromised) In the meantime, I've got to call around to see if there are any local gunsmiths with the tools and experience to cut the old barrel hood to get the slide unlocked, and then pull compensator off and preserve the barrel bushing. I may be ahead of myself, but I think I won't have a problem finding a gunsmith, and that the hard part (finding a barrel) is in the rear view mirror.

Props to Barsto for coming through in the clutch. They will always be a business I support and patronize.

Thanks to all who have given their best wishes and support, I'll keep everyone posted as I get her back together!

SVT28

Edit: I near fell over watching another Comp40 on the broker the other day. $3k was the sold price

 

[crankyoldlady]

There is a Santa Claus. Mazel tov!

 

[SVT28]

@GaryS do I dare call the mothership and risk sending it in with the spare barrel? I might be a little crazy but I kind of want to watch the whole process and document it if possible. I certainly don't want to run the risk of some wet behind the ears newbie smith screwing up the gun or it having issues in the mail. Even with the spare barrel, I'm willing to bet Smith declines to work on it.

Frank Glenn and Nelson Ford are in my backyard. Bob Pultz at AJI also has been recommended.

SVT28

 

[b_san]

Edit: I near fell over watching another Comp40 on the broker the other day. $3k was the sold price

The BIN was cheap, very surprised it lasted that long.

 

[Sevens]

FANTASTIC!!!!

Happy to celebrate this news with you.

I have some ancillary thoughts. I don't know if I just used the word "ancillary" properly but forgive me, I'm excited!

I will assume (oops!) that this pistol hopefully uses a Briley spherical bushing as most PC pistols do. If so, your rescue needs to include the threaded housing for the titanium spherical ring, but there's precious little chance that the actual ring itself will be used with the new barrel. Briley offers these rings across 20+ different sizes, one-thousandth at a time.

This brings up a secondary question and potential issue -- how is the compensator attached? Needs to be detachable to fit the ring and assemble the barrel in to the slide.

Me? Ever the skeptic and without a hint of apology: HELL NO to sending it to S&W, they can't even QC the cheap plastic cookie-cutter toys they ship now, I would not let them even sniff the aura of this precision instrument.

 

[jsbethel]

I think the trick now is going to be finding a smith with the equipment and training to remove the old barrel and who is also familiar with S&W 3rd Gen guns.

Frank Smith - LSG, Mfg|Gun Parts|Warranty|Gunsmithing

 

[Stentor]

The BIN was cheap, very surprised it lasted that long.

Yep, it was scooped up pretty quickly at the $3k BIN (after bidding started to escalate).

It was interesting that bidding last week on that pistol was light (only 4 bids up to $1,750, not hitting the reserve). That certainly changed this week.

Glad to hear that the OP found a replacement barrel--that's great news!

 

[GaryS]

Sevens pretty much answered as I would. I'd not trust the factory to do work of this type on a valuable gun. Even though it was made by them.

I also agree about wanting to use a local(ish) shop if possible. Not that it happens often, but guns do sometimes end up lost, stolen, or misdirected.

If you have well regarded smiths in your area, then it's worth consulting with them.

@GaryS do I dare call the mothership and risk sending it in with the spare barrel? I might be a little crazy but I kind of want to watch the whole process and document it if possible. I certainly don't want to run the risk of some wet behind the ears newbie smith screwing up the gun or it having issues in the mail. Even with the spare barrel, I'm willing to bet Smith declines to work on it.

Frank Glenn and Nelson Ford are in my backyard. Bob Pultz at AJI also has been recommended.

SVT28

 

[bigggbbruce]

Instead I'll just anxiously wait for it in the mail. (Heads will roll if the package gets lost or compromised)

A little different..

A little while back I purchased a 1951 Colt Commander 9mm.. all original but missing the Coltwood grips.

I found a set on another forum and the member sent them Priority Mail. When I went to pick the package up at the P.O., I was sickened by with the sight of a smashed package and gaping wide open to the contents.

They by the grace of the Almighty, were still in the package..

Not as tough a find as your barrel, but not easy to find either..

Hope all is well...

edit.. add pic.