629 barrel issues

[Kennedy]

I have a 629 that is back to S&W for the 3rd. time. I had new barrel installed after an obstruction that "ringed" the 8 3/8 barrel. They replaced it with a 6 in. This barrel shoots extreme left. To center the shot at 15 yds. it requires rear sight to be extreme right position. S&W told me this is within acceptable limits. This issue happened in their shop. My old ringed barrel NEVER shot left, even after incident. I now have a $1000.00 paper weight. What could they have done in their shop to cause this issue? I told them this is totally unacceptable. I verified this issue with two other competent pistol shooters.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Shoulder on the barrel isnt cut straight

 

[hoz53]

I have a 629 that is back to S&W for the 3rd. time. I had new barrel installed after an obstruction that "ringed" the 8 3/8 barrel. They replaced it with a 6 in. This barrel shoots extreme left. To center the shot at 15 yds. it requires rear sight to be extreme right position. S&W told me this is within acceptable limits. This issue happened in their shop. My old ringed barrel NEVER shot left, even after incident. I now have a $1000.00 paper weight. What could they have done in their shop to cause this issue? I told them this is totally unacceptable. I verified this issue with two other competent pistol shooters.

i was gonna send a 625 in to them for warranty repair. Ive been glad i didnt. We know these companies dont have the craftsman working that they used to. Its not surprising these things happen. Warranty service is a crapshoot like you found out. I wouldnt just give up on a 629. Id find a good SW smith and have them fix it even if i had to pay for it.
Dont want to do that??? send it to me and ill take care of it.

 

[shortgrass]

It is possible the frame got bent when the bulged barrel was removed. Or, instead of making a skim cut on the barrel shoulder for proper indexing, it got leaned on to hard during new barrel installation, and bent the frame a bit. S&W frames aren't really that 'hard/tough" to 'spring'. Those are just "maybe's". Hard to pin down without having it in hand. Heck, the barrel may not be properly indexed! Just a 'guessing game' at this point.

 

[55fairlane]

I'm just guessing, but, if it were me, A) look at the crown. I have bought a few rifles from guys who said similar & after a good recrown they shoot. B) the barrel isn't square to the frame, bad machining on the barrel? A bur on the mating surfaces? The bore isn't parallel ......
Don't give up, I think a little pressure from you and the company will make it right (if they can)

 

[Kennedy]

I'm just guessing, but, if it were me, A) look at the crown. I have bought a few rifles from guys who said similar & after a good recrown they shoot. B) the barrel isn't square to the frame, bad machining on the barrel? A bur on the mating surfaces? The bore isn't parallel ......
Don't give up, I think a little pressure from you and the company will make it right (if they can)

I certainly hope they make it right. As of now I have a $1000.00 paper weight. My instincts tell me they bent the frame during instalation. It was bad enough that they do not make the 8 3/8 barrel and had to install a 6 and still show a 7 for their "performance shop" guns. They do not seem to be the company they once were.

 

[Zebra13]

I’d like to know what S&W’s “acceptable limits” are. In my experience, they’re completely unacceptable.

I absolutely love my 9mm Shield and decided I wanted a M&P .45 for my duty gun. Plus I owned S&W stock, so I thought I’d put my mouth where my money was, so to speak. So I bought one. While it felt great in the hand, my qualification scores went from the low to mid 490’s to low 480’s/high 470’s. At first I thought it was due to my aging eyes but one day I brought along my prior duty gun, a Glock 21, and my scores returned to their normal low/mid 490’s range. Hmmm…

I had a couple other people shoot the M&P and each of them opined that something was wrong with the gun. So I wrote a letter detailing the above, boxed it up and sent it back to S&W. A few weeks later I got the gun back with a no-frills piece of paper saying “within acceptable limits”.

BS. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I should be able to stand on my hind legs and outshoot the gun.

Needless to say, the M&P went down the road, and the Glock went back in the holster.

None of the above does the OP and his problematic 629 any good, but it may serve as a warning to those considering a S&W for their next purchase. You might get a turd, and turds apparently fall within S&W’s “acceptable limits”.

Justin

 

[Dan V.]

Is the front sight located correctly?

 

[Pres100]

I have two 629's (4" and 8 3/8") and they are fantastic guns. The 8 3/8" (scoped) is an absolute hammer as far as a pistol goes..... I have little to no problem hitting a 6" plate at 200 yds. Been using Win 296 and 200 XTP for well over a decade and it never disappoints.

I'd stick with it. I also have half dozen other S&W wheel guns that are fantastic as well... one of my daily carries is a 340PD which I also love!