Worth sending to S&W for recut?

[rich636]

Hi all,

I recently got this S&W 686 to use in IDPA. Last night I was cleaning the gun and noticed the crown looked lopsided. My other S&W's crowns are concentric by comparison. This picture is not perfectly in straight on but it does represent the issue I see. One side of the muzzle has almost no bevel, while the other side does. I assume this could bias the bullet as it leaves. Is the best course of action to send it back to S&W and ask for a re-cut?

Thanks

Rich

[Sarge]

Yes. Get a hold of them. They will make it right one way or another.

[Toolguy]

I see that a lot. It definitely has an adverse effect on accuracy. If you send it back they will fix it. However you can fix it yourself quite easily. You can get a 1/2" 45 degree chamfering tool and the correct pilot from Brownell's. A few twists by hand and you're done. You can then use the same tool to do your other guns (auto or revo). You can also use the same tool to chamfer the chambers. You just buy the different pilot needed for each operation and use the same cutting tool.

As a matter of course, I recut the muzzle crown and forcing cone on any gun I get. Then I know for sure that barrel is giving the best accuracy it can. The forcing cone cutter is a different tool.

Edited February 29, 2012 by Toolguy

[rich636]

Thanks everyone,

I've submitted the form to S&W for a shipping label. Hopefully the rest will go smoothly.

Rich

[Service Desk]

I see that a lot. It definitely has an adverse effect on accuracy. If you send it back they will fix it. However you can fix it yourself quite easily. You can get a 1/2" 45 degree chamfering tool and the correct pilot from Brownell's. A few twists by hand and you're done. You can then use the same tool to do your other guns (auto or revo). You can also use the same tool to chamfer the chambers. You just buy the different pilot needed for each operation and use the same cutting tool.

As a matter of course, I recut the muzzle crown and forcing cone on any gun I get. Then I know for sure that barrel is giving the best accuracy it can. The forcing cone cutter is a different tool.

Warren - do you use the Brownells crowning cutters ? I used them in the past, but the chattering was always an issue. I mainly do 'em in the lathe now - but was looking at the crowning kit offered by Dave Manson as an alternative to taking a barrel out and re-fitting.

[Toolguy]

I use the Brownell's cutters. The old one with screw in pilots has 8 flutes. It likes to chatter sometimes. The new one with slip in pilots has 12 flutes and does pretty good. I haven't seen the Dave Manson one, but I suspect it's a cut above the Brownell's ones. Pun intended. I have had very good results leaving the barrel on and recutting with hand tools.

[rich636]

Hi guys,

Just an update on this crown issue. S&W sent me a label, I shipped it out on a Friday and got it back 8 business days later with a much improved crown.