[Morgan]

After getting a new toy, I checked the gap on all my revolvers. My backup 642 is at .007". Is this out of spec? Should I call S&W? It isn't the most accurate piece, but I don't practice much with it due to it's backup nature.

I'm a little disappointed, and I know that newer Smiths CAN be better - my recent manufacture 625 has a .003" gap. My old one's run tighter gaps, as well.

[Robert inOregon]

.007 is in the spec. Shoot and enjoy.

[bountyhunter]

.004 - .006 is optimum, the Kuhnhausenspec is .003" to .010". I have seen many new ones outside of .010", as high as .014".

[9mmepiphany]

your guns pretty much define the acceptable range for the cylinder gap. my old competition pieces had a .003" gap, but i cleaned it between matches. most of my duty pieces have gaps in the .004"-.005" range

as a rule of thumb, wider gaps lead to a more reliable but less accurate gun.

[Jim March]

.007 will do. (My name is Bondo, James Bondo...)

It's a little looser than I prefer, 'specially on a snubby. I like all the velocity I can get out of 38+P in a 2"...

[Morgan]

Thank you, gentlemen.

[Archie]

There has been some experimentation with barrel gaps.

The evidence shows with a larger barrel gap, velocity is less, but accuracy is better.

Wide gaps also spit lead and unburnt powder particles like crazy, too!

[Blueduck]

Jerry Miculek in one of his gunsmithing tapes ("Trigger Job") said that people thinking that a smaller gap made a revolver more accurate was a myth FWIW...

Our service inpection standard is the same .003"-.010" mentioned above. My 65 currently reads ..014" now thats a problem :eek: