Smith forcing cone variations?

[dogdoc1]

Hello

I recently geared up with all the tools needed to set back barrels or install new barrels on Smith or other revolvers. ( A new lathe is on the way but for now I use the setback tool)I have done a couple with Patrick Sweeneys book as my main guide. I purchased the expensive 11 and 18 degree cone gauges from brownells and quickly found that factory barrels are all over the place with many much deeper than the gauges say is correct. One of my accurate model 29s swallows the gauge. Go figure? I just rebarreled a 629 with a 3 inch and found it was already deeper than the gauge with no cut in the cone after setting the barrel. The factory cone was very rough and the gun leaded badly. I said what the hell and went ahead and cut the cone without regard to depth and diameter to make it smooth. With the right load off a ransom rest it will put 6 shots into about an inch.Am I crazy or is it more important to have the cone smooth? The factory sure does not seem to go by the "proper" gauge dimensions. Two brand new factory barrels were already too deep when I purchased them. Does the gauge apply aftermarket match barrels with no cones precut more than factory barrels? How can you smooth a cone without making it deeper as the come from the factory? Some of my factory Smiths are so deep I do not think 1 or 2 threads setback would be enough but does it matter if they shoot good?( I do not think so)

[bountyhunter]

Hmmmm... inconsistent quality on new SW revolvers.

Color me stunned!

Now I don't feel so bad about the many weeks I spent trying to find a neww Model 66 with a decent barrel-cylinder gap and a cylinder that didn't wobble excessively in lockup. I am out in kali, so I was hoping that SW was punishing this idiot state by intentionally sending all their rejects out here. It would just be too depressing to think the garbage I am seeing is actually par for the course.... but we all know it is.

[EricW]

Adam,

If you really just like abuse, couldn't you just specialize in equine medicine? Every time you think about smithing a new S&W, you could just head out to the corral and BAM! get whacked in nads by Trigger.

[Ross Carter]

One thing to remember when gauging the forcing cones with the Brownells gauge is that it is only valid for the angle of the gauge. In other words you can't use the 11 degree gauge to measure a 14 degree forcing cone. It's hard to tell sometimes what angle the factory cut is. I agree with your findings of inconsistancy though, and you are correct that sometimes even 2 threads won't be enough to clean up a factory forcing cone. I do believe that smooth is more important than the exact angle and if the gun shoots good you probably won't improve it. You can do a good job with the Brownells facing tool especialy if you make an extra bushing or 2 to support it better.