[Braz]

Learn me something, will ya?

Pinned I understand, the barrel is pinned in place. What's the recessed mean? Thankee for saving me the inet search.

[Mike Irwin]

Recessed means that on S&W Magnums each chamber is counterbored so that the cartridge sits flush with the rear of the cylinder.

This was only done on revolvers chambered for magnum calibers, and was dropped in 1983 along with the barrel pinning.

Note that the .22s still have recessed chambers, though, which is more a safety issue than with the magnums.

[Braz]

Thanks Mike,

Sounds like recessed might be a tadmore accurate and reliable.

[Standing Wolf]

Sounds like recessed might be a tadmore accurate and reliable.

I doubt recessed chamber bores are at all more accurate or reliable, but they certainly look better.

[mec]

see how cool the frame filling recessed cylinder looks:

[Mike Irwin]

No, no real advantage in either accuracy or reliability.

[Byron Quick]

Hey, but it looks cool!

[Braz]

Ahhh,

Well, the recessed cylinder seems to sit closer to the frame. It does look good.

[popeye]

Was not the original point to recessing magnum chambers to retain the rim in case of rim / case separation on firing. It seems like there were some early concerns. Or am I having a "senior moment ?"

[Mike Irwin]

Popeye,

That was the original stated aim of the recessed chambers, but that concern never really materialized at all.

[EJ]

The pinned barrel is perhaps more significant--

Replacing or changing a pinned barrel is relatively easy--

The newer barrels are pressed-fit-- with the frame crushed in tohold/crimp the barrel in place -- repacement or changing requires factory work and is much more expensive / difficult and even dangerous to the original weapon than the simply pinned models====

[Lone_Gunman]

Its not as easy to tell if the gun is loaded if the chambers are recessed, is it?

[Mike Irwin]

Lone,

No, it's not.

[EJ]

Lone & Mike--

True from the side--
But you have the same view--Recessed or not -- from the rear in firing position--

[Pinned&Recessed]

You Rang?;)

:D :D :D

[Mannlicher]

I have Smith's with pinned barrels and sights, and recessed cylinders. I have them without that. I see absolutly no difference in performance.

The Mod 65 that I just got back from the factory does not have a pinned barrel. I sent it to them for the installation of the new 3 inch barrel because I felt that they were better equipped to do the barrel change. I am super pleased with the work they did.