S&W 325pd - Anyone notice this?

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Not sure of the technical name for it.... The little piece of metal above the cylinder/barrel gap to prevent flame cutting of the frame. It's very small - enlarge the picture to see it. When they moved the gap rearwards it exposed more of the frame behind the guard... maybe they could have used a longer guard for the 325?

Maybe it won't hurt anything, but it looks "out of whack" to me. :)
 
The .44 mag Model 329 PD has them also...it looks like a little piece of stainless steel spring strip, inserted so it protects the top strap from the cylinder gap blast. Hopefully they don't fall out, you'd likely never notice it.
 
It just seems a little silly to bother putting it there if it doesn't line up with the barrel/cylinder gap.

The 340pd looks ok:
163061_large.jpg


The 325pd is not lined up:
163415_large.jpg


The 396 doesn't have one:
163688_large.jpg


It may seem trivial... I can usually get past aesthetics like the cylinder-frame gap, but not functional anomalies. I like the 325pd, it just looks like they pulled spare parts out of the S&W inventory overstock and came up with parts that don't fit, or at least weren't designed to work together functionally. It's like mounting a bicycle fender 5 inches off to the side. Sure the bike will work, but it's not serving it's function... and it just looks goofy :p
 
I'd venture to guess that the frame of the 325 is the same as used for the 329.

The flame guard is needed for a thumper like .44mag but, as Tamara pointed out, probably not needed for .45acp.
 
My 296, after ~1,400 rounds, has a definite 'line' etched there. I wish they had put a SS guard there on mine! I doubt I'll see mine etch all of the way through from my use... the ammo restrictions on that 296 have made it not so much fun to shoot. Now, that 696, that is another story... I am trying to wear it out!

That 325PD looks neat... but I don't think I want one due to that price. I could buy a 500 and some ammo from my dealer for the same $. I think one finicky Ti cylinder is enough for me. I do enjoy my 4" 625, though - neat and economical big-bore N-frame fun.

Stainz
 
Carbonator,

It just seems a little silly to bother putting it there if it doesn't line up with the barrel/cylinder gap.
Click to expand...

It goes in when they're making the frame. At that point, they don't know whether the frame is going to wind up as a 325, a 327, or a 329. Generally, only magnum cartridges generate enough pressure to cause severe topstrap flame-cutting, which is why the non-Sc alloy Airweights in .38 and .44 Spl have never had those gizmos.

Don't forget that the 396 is an Al-framed gun in .44 Spl; the Sc-framed 386 has one.
 
At ~1000 rounds, my 296 shows only the faintest trace of topstrap erosion.

Topstrap erosion (aka "flame cutting") is usually a self-limiting problem, cutting in only so deeply before stopping of its own accord. Only a combination of a butter-soft frame and an uber-high-pressure cartridge will let it get to a point where it can cause problems.
 
Thanks BlkHawk73 for posting this pic -

170245_large.jpg


Well, looks like Smith and Wesson read my thread and decided to fix the problem - they're releasing this with my "enlarged flame guard" idea.

I'm satisfied. Royalties in the mail, ya think? :D
 
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