S&W Two Piece Barrels

[cottontoptexan]

I have heard some talk of Smith & Wesson revolvers having two piece barrels. I just purchased a model 625 with the locking hammer mechanism. How do i know if it is a 2 piece barrel. Maybe they were referring to the autos i do not know. Mine is revolver in 45 ACP. Shoots well and appears to made to the S&W quality that they are known for. Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I'm not 100% sure since I do not yet own a Smith revolver with a two piece barrel, but I have seen them.

Go here:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...angId=-1&parent_category_rn=15706&isFirearm=Y

Click on "larger view." Then look at the front of the barrel. It's a different color. I believe that might be a two piece barrel, viz., a barrel and shroud, much like Dan Wesson.

Yours is here:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...angId=-1&parent_category_rn=15706&isFirearm=Y

I don't see any such indication.

Either way, the Smith is a fine handgun. Someday I might own a modern Smith but, as my screen name implies, I'm somewhat partial to pinned and recessed Smiths.

 

[Ala Dan]

As I understand it, on some models Smith & Wesson used
barrel sleeves. I think this is the case with most of the new
scandium models. Your traditional models made of stainless steel
don't have this feature. I personally don't like two piece barrels.

 

[sgt127]

Its kind of a mix and match right now. The Model 620 has the two piece barrel and, its a full size solid stainless gun.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...angId=-1&parent_category_rn=15705&isFirearm=Y

As Alan Dan pointed out, most of the exotic framed guns have two piece barrels.

I believe the X frames have them too.

I have seen model 66's made just before the demise of the K frame .357 with two piece barrels.

I'm not a fan of the two piece barrel either, not sure I know why, we'll see how they hold up. If you look at new Smith, look at the side of the barrel near the muzzle, you will see what looks like a "cap" on the end of the barrel, thats the barrel liner.

 

[Action_Can_Do]

S&W claims that the 2 piece barrels will outlive the older ones and that eventually all their revos will have them. Time will tell.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'VE GOT a m336 Titanium with at two piece barrel.

It's not what some might think. It is actually a barrel, with the outer a sleeve much the same as the Dan Wesson's.

They are installed and would be removed by a wrench using a socket that is actually a plug that matches the bore diameter and twist. The outer sleeve has the ribs, sights and ejector pin lugs.

Ron Docimo (formally Maryland Gun Works) has built some outstanding S&W PPC revolvers using this design. It allows a much easier installation and removal of the barrels.

Not really a problem, and makes for a more "modular" approach to design.

The biggest difference in these barrels is that the rifling is EDM cut (like the Nowlin barrels) and is cheaper to manufacture.

My 336Ti barrel is exceptionally smooth, and for a 3" featherweight gun, exceptionally accurate.

YMMV

 

[Jim March]

Various ammo chrony results are showing new S&Ws shooting faster than older ones, the newer also being about on par with Rugers.

It occurs to me that a HUGE advantage to two-piece is the ability to control the cylinder gap size without having to turn the "outer barrel part" where the sight is! In other words, the traditional cure to a too-large gap is to bring the barrel in at least one full turn, to put the front sight all the way back around to where it started from. If the barrel really only needed 1/2" back or whatever, it means a lot more work, you have to shave the back of the barrel, maybe tweak other stuff at the barrel's shoulder.

In a Dan Wesson you just set the gap to whatever you want, tighten it all up, check the gap one last time, the front sight will *always* be in the right place. You might be off a hair on windage and have to re-zero the rear sight but the difference will be well within the adjustability range of the rear sight and probably won't need re-zero at all. (Best to check of course.)

Sounds like the S&Ws will work the same way, except the adjustment tools won't be made available to the general public. It will still cut gunsmithing time way, WAY down on gap adjustments.

And since gap adjustments will be easier at the factory, with luck we may see the all-too-common .008"+ gaps drop down to .003" - .004" or so where most users want 'em if they're paying attention. (I favor .002" for snubbies for max velocity but that means more frequent cleaning...)