|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jun 14, 2023 16:23:17 GMT -5
My LGS got in a New S&W 350 Legend. I find them obnoxiously heavy, but the oddity piqued my curiosity.
The only exterior flaw I could find was the barrel was a tad too tight. The barrel rib was obviously offsides looking where it met the frame. But, that would fix quite easily.
The barrel gap was .0035" which is extraordinary in a factory Double Action.
Cylinder lock up was very solid. It would be hard to find better in a factory gun.
Then, I opened the cylinder. What I witnessed has to be seen to be believed!!!
Pictures to follow...
|
|
|
|
Post by tdbarton on Jun 14, 2023 16:33:39 GMT -5
Not sure what Huey is talking about - it looks fine to me:   |
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jun 14, 2023 16:38:39 GMT -5
There you have it. Not much more needs to be said.
But, most definitely validates why S&W is on my "Do Not Order" List.
I own and enjoy several S&Ws. Might even buy a couple more. But, they will be fully inspected before I lay down my money...
|
|
|
|
Post by leeenfield on Jun 14, 2023 16:41:01 GMT -5
wow, and to think I walked away from new S&W's when I looked at a "Performance Centre" 627 where they had over chamferred the chambers and the extractor star needed cartridges in the chamber to stop rotating without the cylinder...
That gun was worked over by a "master" - compared to this one.
perhaps S&W is trying to one-up H&K fluted chambers?
|
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jun 14, 2023 16:56:09 GMT -5
I texted these pictures to Jack Huntington. He replied that he'd never seen a worse mess made of a cylinder. That's quite a statement with his experience level...
|
|
|
|
Post by 45MAN on Jun 14, 2023 16:58:05 GMT -5
I WAS NOT AT RISK OF BUYING ONE, EVEN A LOT LESS SO NOW.
|
|
|
|
Post by rangersedge on Jun 14, 2023 17:28:45 GMT -5
Wow! Makes one want to inspect in person vs take chance ordering online. I've long thought Lipseys or someone like that could charge a healthy premium for inspected, fired, tuned firearms. Could be so designated somehow, would increase customer satisfaction / confidence / resale value and still save the customer money vs getting and then shipping off to gunsmith. Ideally, that would be what the "Performance Center" designation would mean at the factory level; but...
|
|
|
|
Post by potatojudge on Jun 14, 2023 17:32:08 GMT -5
Any chance it missed the finish reaming/honing stage? If so I hope their finish reamer isn't piloted.
Ask to keep the cylinder. Have it cut for a 357-414. When it comes back you've got a sweet dual cylinder gun.
|
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jun 14, 2023 17:44:49 GMT -5
Factory ammo chambered with the slight and typical wobble. I cannot imagine it missed the finish reamer. By time you honed those groves out chambers would be grossly oversized.
I'll be @%$#&!!! if I pay $1500+ for a new factory gun for a base gun...
|
|
|
|
Post by reflex264 on Jun 14, 2023 18:03:10 GMT -5
Holy smoke!
|
|
|
|
Post by magman on Jun 14, 2023 18:20:00 GMT -5
Wow, that's even worse than my experiences with PC guns.
Sorry for that mess.
|
|
|
|
Post by leftysixgun on Jun 14, 2023 18:49:37 GMT -5
Come on guys, those are speed breakers or bumps. They help the speed of the rearward trust slow down....
But in doing so they will have the be lightly tapped out with a brass punch!
Or rumble strips...
|
|
|
|
Post by bigbrowndog on Jun 14, 2023 19:52:36 GMT -5
Encore, could you share the name of the shop, and would you mind if I shared that pic with some of my SW contacts???
Trapr
|
|
|
|
Post by Encore64 on Jun 14, 2023 20:05:46 GMT -5
You are most welcome to share the pics. They may already have them as my LGS sent the pictures to try and get the gun replaced. My shop does not want to sell this gun.
As far as the shop name, I'll check with them and revert...
|
|
|
|
Post by bradshaw on Jun 14, 2023 20:05:47 GMT -5
Not sure what Huey is talking about - it looks fine to me: ***** These chamber ridges are to headspace brass trimmed to arbitrary lengths for the kitchen table experimenter. Note that no two chambers appear the same. This allows multiple different case lengths for each chamber. The ,manufacturer forgot to number case length options for each chamber. Is that a chamfer at the root of the forcing cone? David Bradshaw |
|
