S&W Model 64 Barrel Assembly

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fotojake

New member
Newbie question, and I searched for an answer, but: Why does the Model 64 (-8) have the barrel assembly it does? It looks like a barrel within a barrel, with the inner barrel (sleeve?) coming up about 1/8 of an inch short of the actual muzzle. One would think that that would affect bullet performance as it comes out of the barrel.

Thanks.
 
S&W has been going to sleeved barrels lately (notably the Model 69 .44 mag), it's probably easier to manufacture/cost saver. Since the bullet only encounters the rifling in the inner barrel, there wouldn't be any issue with interference with the outer barrel. Most reviews I've read say it doesn't have an adverse impact on the gun's consistency/accuracy.
 
It's a 2-piece barrel. AFAIK, S&W initially designed it for their .500 Mag, since there's less stress at the barrel/frame junction. The design doesn't hurt accuracy - matter of fact, 2-piece barrels have a reputation for excellent accuracy.

One of the features of S&Ws 2-piece design, though, is that barrel removal/replacement is a factory job, as it requires a special mandrel that tightly fits into the bore.
 
The main advantage of the two piece barrel system is that it is a lot easier to assemble at the factory. The results from the public have not been all that positive, though, so S&W has apparently decided (at least for now) to keep the old system in most of their revolvers.

Jim
 
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