S&W 629 Classic HELP

[atlanticfire]

Hello all
Normally I dwell on the rifle side of THR and most of my time is spend shooting and reloading rifle. Some time ago I purchased a used S&W model 629 classis with the 8 3/8" barrel. I put a Bushnell Elite 3200 scope on it. Before my reloading dies showed up I purchased a few boxes of plain old American eagle ammo to shot. Once my dies arrived I begin reloading. I have become fond of shooting the beast and have gotten better with it. But. . . . yes also a catch, I seam to be getting more of this unpleasant splatter recently. I don't load anything hot or even above average for factory ammo. My revolver education is lacking I know. I don’t have anyway to measure the gap between the cylinder and the barrel. So I compared it to my new Ruger Vaquero. Doesn’t even compare! I can see the light of day between the S&W and barley if not anything at all between the Rugers. This now puts doubt in my mind as to the condition of the pistol. I have inspected the rifling several times and it looks to be ok. I didn’t say excellent or great I just said ok. I’m thinking maybe I purchased a shot out revolver. Anyway I’m looking at my options. Either send this for repairs, or purchase a new pistol? I want to stay 44 since I have tons of brass and purchased bullets in lots of 500. Since I bough it used will S&W be of any help? Or would I just need to find a pistol smith to work on it. Is this even worth it? I’d like some of your thoughts. If I cannot get it repaired I’m thing of a Red hawk.
Thanks guys

 

[SCMtns]

I had a 5" 629 Classic that I loved the feel of but traded in for a Ruger SRH Alaskan in .454/ .45 Colt. Among the reasons was the "splatter" you refer to. I once had three little chunks of lead bury themselves pretty far into the fleshy outer part of my left ear from shooting some PMC practice ammo. After that, I never fed it PMC ever again, in case it was that company's use of a thin copper jacket poorly mated to the lead, but I also never quite trusted it again either.

I owned it primarily for carry in bear country, and it wasn't too inconceivable that I would have to shoot it some day without eye protection. The largest of the pieces of lead that stuck in my ear would probably have blinded me if it had hit an eye. (Yes, I was wearing eye protection that day.) There were numerous other times that small bits of lead and copper spat out. I always had to make sure nobody else was close when shooting, and that got old.

I feel for you, man. Nobody else that I know of makes a wheelgun as slick out of the box as a S&W, esp. in the single-action trigger pull department. But I couldn't tolerate the hot lead flying out the cylinder gap. I don't want to say "Buy a Ruger," but that's what I did. The only thing I can think of is this: have you tried shooting hard-cast bullets out of it? They might hold together better than the softer lead found in most factory ammo...

 

[atlanticfire]

hummm, the bullets I reload with are Hornady's 240gr jackets HP. Funny things is that it hasen't always been this way, Granted I shoot pretty much every weekend year round and I've had the things for about 5 years. Now that dosent mean that its goes to the range with me everytime, expecially when its cold out and I can only stand it so long. But I would say I've got about 10K down the tube. Now thats on top of what ever was on it when I got it. So Im think if I call S&W and complain about it maybe they would take a look into it?

 

[krs]

I have a low round count 5" 629. The cylinder end gap to barrel is .006".

If you're really getting a lot of spatter I'd look at the pistol's timing which you can check fairly well with a strong light shone into the end gap from the side while you look at the firing pin through the bore. Each cylinder should be centered and obvious misalignment will be your problem.

But......all revolvers spit some, it's part of the fun.

 

[umc180gr]

Give Smith and Wesson Customer Service a call, they are awesome. Here is the number, I bet they will help ya.


Please contact our Customer Support Center for instructions on how to return your handgun for repair: 1-800-331-0852 (Inside USA) 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Monday - Friday).

 

[Majic]

Have you given the barrel face a good cleaning? Look closely as smeared lead will look like the barrel's steel.