New S&W 629 .44mag shoots WAY left...

[rhinoh]

Picked up a new S&W 629 .44mag 5" today.
Ran by the range for a quickie this evening.
Not good.
Shoots about 2" left at 25 ft with rear sight all the way to the right, any farther and the blade would be hanging out of the slot..
I don't think it is me flinching as I also have a .45Colt and shot it tonight with some pretty stout reloads and don't have the issue with it.
So...what should I do?
Send it back to S&W?


In the pic it is the upper left one. S&W .45Colt in the middle with SP101 .22 at top right and SP101 .357 bottom right.

 

[Plastikosmd]

I would try another ammo, look closer at barrel, cone, muzzle, sights etc

 

[buck460XVR]

Did you shoot it off bags or a rest at all? Barrel canted?

 

[rhinoh]

More info-
shot off rest after initial accuracy problem surfaced.
Tried two different brands of ammo...
Barrel looks straight, ie not canted.
Forcing cone looks good to me, ie symmetrical.
Muzzle looks good and symmetrical.

 

[CyBuzz]

My father in law had the exact problem! Sent back to S&W and they fixed it.

if I recall he got a new barrel.

 

[444]

I have that exact situation right now with a Model 27.

I don't have the answer.

 

[F-111 John]

Send it back to Smith. The barrel needs tweaking, and they have the jigs to do it properly.

 

[788Ham]

Try moving the rear sight to the LFT, see if that isn't whats the matter.

 

[Twiki357]

I would say it's the ammo. I just tested light reloads in my Model 29 4' last week. Same brand cases, primers and 240 grain bullets, but three different powders, each at .2grains above minimum. At ten yards, Herco was 3" left & 5" high, 2400 was all over the black, and Blue dot was a 2" group right on point of aim. Quite a difference

 

[jmr40]

I once had the same issue with a Ruger. Somehow the barrel was not installed straight. Sent back to Ruger and they fixed the problem.

 

[BSA1]

Check on whether you are cross eye dominant by centering the rear sight blade and aiming with your other eye. I was having the same problem until another shooter commented on where my shots was going and suggested I switch eyes. I did a little research, tried it and bingo! On target.

 

[rondog]

I vote for mfg defect such as a barrel problem, as mentioned. Pretty common, "they don't make 'em like they used to", that's for sure. Contact S&W and say "looky here.....", they'll fix it.

 

[45_auto]

Did you try having anyone else shoot it?

 

[rhinoh]

Called S&W today, explained the issue, they asked no questions, said I will have the return label in 2 business days.
Be interesting to see what the fix is.

 

[rhinoh]

Gun arrived back today from S&W. Paperwork said "adjusted barrel to frame alignment"

Just got back from range- all good now!

 

[aHFo3]

that's a happy ending! I'm glad it worked out for you. S&W has always treated me right.

 

[CraigC]

You're telling me that you got it back in a little over a week and it's fixed??? Now that is impressive customer service!!!

 

[Brian Williams]

What they probably did was remove the cylinder and whack the gun on a large piece of babbit (a lead like material commonly used for bearings years ago) and that bends the frame slightly and corrects the alignment of the barrel and frame.

 

[rhinoh]

Yep it was gone a week and a day, I figure the extra day was because of Memorial Day being in there.*

All in all a very good customer service experience, shame it got out of the factory with a problem but they handled it quickly.

Placed a Weigand rail and a Burris Fastfire III on it...not sure I like the Fastfire, awfully small window to find and line up. The screws with the Weigand were either a hair too long or the holes in the rail too deep, wouldn't let the cylinder swing out, quick fix by shortening the screws though.

Also got a chance to try out my loads, 8.0 grains Unique- about 925 fps, pretty mild pleasant recoil.
10.0 grains Unique, 1250 fps, definitely feel that one!
Both using 240 grain Hunters Supply cast FP. Have some jacketed 300 grain by Sierra, Hornady and Nosler to play with also. Found reloading supplies for the .44 mag weren't near as hard to find as some of the more popular calibers
Now the quest is on for a Rossi M-92 in 44 mag...have them in .357 and .45 colt to match some other revolvers.


*Actually Fedex had it at the sorting center in my town at 0415 the morning before it was delivered. I saw that in tracking and hoped they would actually deliver it that day, but nope, they held it for the 2nd day delivery Don't know if that is a policy or not, I've had UPS actually deliver stuff early several times...once I got an Amazon order on Monday that was ordered over the weekend...still trying to figure out how that happened!

 

[witchhunter]

I am sure glad I didn't read any answer that involved a vise and a cheater pipe. Like how we fixed uncle's 20 gauge!!!! Glad they took care of it.

 

[Onmilo]

"adjusted barrel/frame alignment"
S&W gunsmith smacked the barrel with a 1.5 pound lead babbit bar until the bore was centered.

 

[Boxhead]

Good deal. I have had nothing but exemplary service from S&W over the years.

 

[gamestalker]

Are you certain you moved the sight the correct direction? Take no offense, as this is an easy mistake to make. To correct to the right, move the blade to the right. I did the same thing once, and it just about gave me fits.

GS

 

[MartinS]

You move the REAR sight in the direction you want the bullets to go.

 

[rhinoh]

Geez guys I stated in the first post opening this thread the rear sight was moved all the way to the RIGHT and it still shot left.
That it why it went back to S&W to be fixed...which they did.