I Think I Killed My S&W 610!

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Havok7416

Havok7416

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I was at the range last week with my 610. When I went to shoot it, I noticed the front sight seemed bent. After unloading, a friend and I checked the barrel, and sure enough it was canted to the left by several degrees!:what: I took the gun to a gunsmith, who called me today. He said the barrel is over-torqued and wanted to know if I had worked on the gun at all recently (the answer to that is no).

I bought this gun used last year and have since fired 500 to 1,000 rounds - both factory and reloads - out of it with no problems. The gun will be on its way to S&W tomorrow morning.

Has anyone heard of over-torquing a barrel? How would this happen and what do I do to prevent it in the future?
 
Barrels often rotate in the frames. I have had this happen usually when the barrel has been removed for any reason. I have had the barrel of one of my Model 29s replaced and it rotated. Had my gunsmith re-align it and pin it.

On other revolvers, rotate to correct and set with Loc-tite.

I emphasize that this has only happened to me on guns that have had their original barrels removed for some reason or another, such as refinishing or replacing the original.

Bob Wright
 
Well that's mildly troubling since I didn't do that to my revolver. The gunsmith said a turn would need to be taken out of the threads on the barrel and the forcing cone re-done, but I'll wait to here from S&W.
 
I've seen a number of guns from the factory with clocked barrels, so it's possible it's always been like that, but you just noticed it now. Regardless, getting it just right isn't a trivial job, as your gunsmith noted, so yes, it ought to go back to S&W, IMO.
 
It's certainly possible I didn't see it until it got worse, but the sights were canted so far to the left as to be downright comical.

Here is the magnificent creature in better times:

DSCF3280_zpsbb6d03f5.jpg
 
Maybe there is a reason that S&W used to pin their barrels (as opposed to "crush fitting" them into the frame)? I have old pinned and recessed S&Ws and newer ones - all of the newer "crush fit" barrels are constricted at the frame junction. I'll never sell the old ones. The new ones? Sure.
 
Drail said:
Maybe there is a reason that S&W used to pin their barrels (as opposed to "crush fitting" them into the frame)? I have old pinned and recessed S&Ws and newer ones - all of the newer "crush fit" barrels are constricted at the frame junction. I'll never sell the old ones. The new ones? Sure.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure when they changed over, but this is a 610-1. Production started in 1998.

horsemen61 said:
Could be havok if you decide to sell her please pm me
Click to expand...

I actually had a 610-3 with a 4" barrel that I sold awhile back.
 
Pinned barrels and recessed chambers stopped about 1982. Actually when the 610 was first introduced (about 1993) I came very close to buying one. It is an extremely good cartridge for a revolver when used with moon clips. I remember seeing a lot of guys using them in pin matches.
 
?

I can't figure out why S&W and other manufacturers don't put a witness mark on the frame and barrel so that assembly guy can line them up.
With precision machined parts now it shouldn't be rocket science.
I wish scope and ring manufacturers would do the same.
 
It rotated to the left, but I don't have a picture of the barrel. It's sitting in a box right now on the gunsmith's table.
 
A friend of mine had the same problem with a Ruger Vaquero .44 Magnum. Even though he bought it used Ruger took it back under warranty and replaced the barrel with a custom made one (they no longer had any barrels in stock because that particular model had been discontinued). They also polished the entire gun (stainless), so the new barrel matched the finish on the rest of the gun. All in all a first class job of customer service.

Let us know how things turn out with your S&W.
 
Old ain't necessarily bad

Iggy said:
Mebbe them old pharts that insist on pinned and recessed S&Ws know something after all.
Click to expand...

Now yer talkin'... :)
 
I've seen a few Smith's and some Rugers with canted barrels from the factory, and as a result, it has become one of the things I check very closely when buying. Based on a lot of reading I've done on the web, it seems to be most common with L frame revolvers, but I could be wrong. The last one I looked at was a Ruger SP101 4.2" .357. That one was BAD, as in like 10+ degrees cant.

Sorry for your troubles man. Let us know what S&W says.
 
My Dad had a Super Red Hawk that he bought used that had a canted barrel. We didn't notice it until he had it a few months. Sent it back to Ruger and they sent him a brand new gun in return. Free S/H both ways. Hopefully S&W treats you the same.
 
MrBorland said:
I've seen a number of guns from the factory with clocked barrels, so it's possible it's always been like that, but you just noticed it now. Regardless, getting it just right isn't a trivial job, as your gunsmith noted, so yes, it ought to go back to S&W, IMO.
Click to expand...


^^^This. If it's over torqued, it didn't get worse from shooting. It would loosen, not tighten. Many times folks don't realize the barrels are over torqued because the gun shoots fine and accuracy is good. It's not until they have become more familiar with the firearm or they read a thread about "clocked" barrels on the internet that they look close enough to see it. This is the case sometimes with guns that have been owned for many years. Since in many cases, it is cosmetic, it does not make any difference in accuracy or performance. Depending on how far it is "clocked". S&W may or may not correct it.

As Kodiak has said, I've seen canted barrels on other brands of revolvers also.
 
my model 28 developed this problem after about 15 years of shooting (no more than 2000 rounds of max loads). sent it to s&w for the fix. problem solved.

oh, it's a dash 2 (pinned and recessed).

murf
 
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