Forcing cone problem?

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Picked up a new S&W 686 3" barrel. Took it to the range and fired 31 rds. I noticed a lot of dust was blowing out the front of the barrel around round 20. This is what the forcing cone looks like and there was a bunch of crap in the barrel. The forcing cone on my other 686 doesn't look like this one at all and has never had has much debri in the barrel. I'm thinking this is a problem but I'm no gun expert. Is this a problem? I ran a tooth pick over it and can feel every groove.


The smooth cone is the other 686 with 600 rds fired.

[darmog]

More than likely its just unburnt powder from the ammo you are using. Is your other 686 a 6" barrel? If so, then maybe the ammo you are using has a powder with too slow a burn rate to fully ignite the entire load in such a smaller barrel.

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The other one is 6" but I'm still concerned about the forcing cone. Attached are pictures of the 3" barrel with a few passes with a bronze brush. The last picture is the cleanest I was able to get it. Is this just the nature of a 3" barrel.

[checkenbach]

The new guns have a different style of rifling, that doesn't look too bad to me.
I would be more concerned with the machining marks(circular grooves), they look like crap.
I had to send my 686 SSR back to be repaired, it was there and back in two weeks, repaired to my liking.
Shoot it a bit more to see if there is any other things that bug you(canted barrel, spitting lead...)

[Fherot]

The new guns have a different style of rifling, that doesn't look too bad to me.
I would be more concerned with the machining marks(circular grooves), they look like crap.
I had to send my 686 SSR back to be repaired, it was there and back in two weeks, repaired to my liking.
Shoot it a bit more to see if there is any other things that bug you(canted barrel, spitting lead...)

I agree with the machine marks... I'd call S&W.

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I tried 3 times with the number on their website and was on hold for 20 minutes each time before I hung up. Anyone have a direct number?

[BigRich]

That is one of the roughest forcing cones I have ever seen on a Smith and Wesson revolver. I would ask them to lap it to a very smooth finish. That will help keep so much crud from embedding in your barrel.

[jkonquer]

The new guns have a different style of rifling, that doesn't look too bad to me.
I would be more concerned with the machining marks(circular grooves), they look like crap.
I had to send my 686 SSR back to be repaired, it was there and back in two weeks, repaired to my liking.
Shoot it a bit more to see if there is any other things that bug you(canted barrel, spitting lead...)

Check the canted barrel. If its a newer model 686, its most likely canted

[GM4spd]

50+ year old forcing cone M29. I don't think yours looks all that bad. How
does it shoot,if it doesn't throw flyers I wouldn't be concerned. Pete

[Fherot]

Don't let anyone tell you to just 'leave it as is'.

It looks terrible and you have an excellent warranty to fix it free. Why wouldn't you?

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Anyone know how to get ahold of S&W? I've called numerous times and sent many emails and have gotten no response.

[checkenbach]

This worked for me... http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...4_757812_image

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I got the 686 back yesterday from S&W. They had a quick turn around but not to impressed with the warranty process. After many calls and always being on hold I got ahold of someone. Told them the forcing cone issue. Said they would send a shipping label but after a week no shipping label. I did email also and got a response a few days later and then told I would receive a label in 5 days but didn't get anything. So back to calling and after being on hold for 30 min get ahold of someone tell then everything again. I got a shipping label 2 hours later. Ship the gun out the next day September 5th. I got a letter last Wednesday from S&W saying they recieved the firearm and repairs take 2-3 weeks. It showed up yesterday. They replaced the barrel and looks like they test fired it. Now I need to get to the range so I can start enjoying it.

[Freq18Hz]

I've had awesome customer service from s&w. I think they are probably dealing with the same flood of panic calls every other manufacturer is. Even Wilson combat has extended wait times now.

Let us know how it shoots. Smith quality ain't what it used to be.

-Freq

[subscriber]

It looks like they used a chipped cutter on your forcing cone and ran it backwards! The metal is ripped and very far away from smooth enough to just use and forget.

It can be recut with the appropriate cutter and the barrel set back one revolution, if necessary. Forget about lapping it - you need to remove too much material for lapping.