S&W revolver--fixing the little things

[ExMachina]

Wanted to get the expert opinion on a new Smith that I own.

Long story short is that I have a factory-new N-frame (IL and MIM) and it has already been back to the factory twice over the last four months for repairs. Each time it arrived back home it had a new cylinder. This last time it came back, the barrel cylinder gap had grown to over 0.012". This was a result of S&W trying to correct a problem of (very) excess headspace by moving the cylinder back in the frame window but then failing to turn-in the bbl. :banghead:

I'd like to send it back to Smith and Wesson to get the gap down to a level in keeping with a brand new revolver, but I'm a bit apprehensive at this point. Neither factory return trip addressed all the issues I had requested and I'm wondering if I should count myself lucky that they took care of the biggest problem (the excess headspace was causing me no end of light primer strikes). Now I'm not entirely confident they won't try to close the b/c gap by just moving the cylinder forward again

Did I just get freakishly poor servicing this last go 'round or is it par for the course?

The alternate solution I'm weighting is to live with the excess gap and then (sometime) have a local gunsmith close. Is that foolish?--should I expect more from the factory?

 

[CAWalter]

I've sent a couple of S&W revolvers back as well and each time they went above and beyond. One a 686 also had excessive and uneven gap, and showed signs of erosion. They fixed that and replaced the rear sight with a taller blade, the original always was up a little now it's almost bottomed out and they sent the old one back. Shoots better than ever. So my advice is make the call, and cross your fingers.

CAW

 

[ExMachina]

Yes. That's what I was led to believe, and I wholeheartedly give S&W full credit for their no-questions-asked, prompt service. And I have no doubt that if I send this gun back enough times, they will eventually get it right. I just don't understand how such a simple mistake got made this last time--move the cylinder back, close the gap. Simple, right?

Is there any way that I can actually speak to the gunsmith that's working on my gun? That would probably make me feel better about sending it back again.

 

[CAWalter]

I don't believe that will happen, but enclosing a well written note about what the problem is, and your concerns will be read by the smith.

CAW

 

[Remllez]

If you shoot lead slugs it may not be excessive. Have you shot it since it got back? I've had revolvers with B/C gaps that were close to yours that shot just fine and weren't spitters. Conversly i've had B/C gaps at .004 that started rubbing after less than a box of homegrown wadcutters.

I'm of the mind that from the factory it should be somewhere in between those two numbers and in days gone by it was. Having said that if sending it back again with a detailed description of exactly what you want doesn't bother you....Go for it, you may receive a brand spanking new gun back.

Under the lifetime warranty you are probably within your rights to have it fixed to what you deem acceptable. A phone call to the warranty repair center manager may get you fixed up. Please keep us up to date on how your C/S experience goes.

 

[Jim K]

"Just turn in the barrel" sounds easy, but it is not easy on an S&W since the front end lock is involved. But I seem to recall that a b-c gap of .12" is within S&W specs, and it is not really excessive (two sheets of printer paper is .17"). I prefer a gap of 0.07" as ideal, but have seen revolvers of all makes with a lot more than that and didn't have any spitting problems.

Jim

 

[CAWalter]

Actually the gap should be .004"-.006".

CAW

 

[ExMachina]

Yes, I believe that 0.012" is the upper limit of S&W's "acceptable" range, but I know if a put a few 1000 rounds through the gun it might be above that. So it will need to be fixed sooner or later (if not right now). It's not a problem at the moment, but I want to have some custom work done on the gun and I'd like everything to be right as it can be from the factory first.

I think I will take Remllez's suggestion and try phoning S&W--everything up to this point tells me that they want to help.

Maybe the third trip back to Springfield will do the trick!

 

[ExMachina]

Actually the gap should be .004"-.006"

according to the folks over @ smith-wessonforum.com that's the "old" tolerances. S&W has raised it's specs to include b/c gaps of up to 0.012"

 

[CAWalter]

I won't argue the point, but last year they where more than happy to take my 686 down from .007" on one side to .011" on the other, to square and a loose .004" . They turned the barrel in a turn and re-fit the ejector rod. Never shot better.

CAW

 

[ExMachina]

that's encouraging to hear CAWalter! thanks.