s&w 629-1 question

[bikemutt]

Found a 629-1 today that appears in decent shape. One thing that concerns me is the barrel cylinder gap is smallest I've ever seen, I really had to go searching to find it with a flashlight. Also the gap appeared ever so slightly tighter at the top than bottom. Any concern the tight b/c is a sign of trouble? The side plate screws indicate bubba has played around inside.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Point out to the shop someone has messed with the insides and try to talk them down some.

I doubt the tight barrel gap will hurt.

Do check for end-shake, cylinder shake, crane sprung, hammer at SA drops, etc.. Check to see if the timing is right and the cylinder locks tight just before full cock.

Deaf

 

[DylNger]

You might want to watch to see that the cylinder isn't jumping backwards or ending up between lock positions after you fire a round. That's a common failure of that model. It is a symptom of someone firing loads it wasn't built to handle actually. As long as no one has been firing 300 gr. cartridges through it I would guess you would be fine. And the gap on my 629-2 is very tight too. But mine is straight. Still that could be a slight manufacturing defect. Look for any signs of the bullets not entering the barrel correctly. I wouldn't guess that would happen but you never know.

The good part about owning a S&W is that every decent gunsmith worth his salt will know how to work on it. That's a very popular revolver you have there. Just don't treat it like it's a Ruger (really big loads) and you should be fine. Rugers are built MUCH stronger but it's not like a lower powered .44 mag. is a "low power" round. You can still put a hole in the crank of a '72 Chevy small block. It may not actually penetrate a small block but it will certainly penetrate the skull of pretty much anything you point it at in N. America if you use the right loads. Mine is minute of man accurate at 150 yards or more too.

For protection against your unfriendly neighborhood bear I'd suggest the low recoil Buffalo Bore ammo and for putting big holes in bad guys I'd suggest Hornady LeverEvolution. That's what mine likes anyway.

 

[unspellable]

end shake

Do check the end shake. On a S&W there is a bit of spring tension pushing the cylinder forward and if there is excess end shake it will appear as thought the gap is too small. Judge the gap with the cylinder held all the way back. Also make sure the crane doesn't have end shake, I've see that to the point where the cylinder dragged on the forcing cone.

If it really does have too narrow a gap it's a fairly easy fix. On a field gun I like a fairly tight gap anyway. It's more of an issue on a defensive gun where reliability is everything.

I'd worry more about the innards so long as neither the crane nor cylinder have excess end shake.