Sharp crack shooting 44 smith

4

44smith

New member
I have 3 Smith 629's with 4" barrels. A 629-3 with 4" barrel that I've had for a long time. And two new 629-6's with 4" barrels
Using the same ammunition out of the same box: 240 grain hollow points.
The 629-3 and one of the new 629-6's have a loud, more dull sounding, boom when shot and kick straight up.
The other new 629-6 has a loud sharp crack when shot that affects the left side ear only and it kicks to the left a little.
Anyone know what would cause the sharp crack sound?
I can't figure out why the one is different than the other two on the same guns.
Thanks for the help.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum.

You may have the cart before the horse. It may kick left, and that's why the left ear hears it most. I would suspect a sharper crack if the barrel/cylinder gap were bigger. You might get out the automotive feeler gages to see. 0.004" to 0.006" seems to be pretty normal in these guns, though I did once have one with a 0.002" gap that would start to rub when it heated up.
 
Unclenick, I measured the gap with the feeler guages and on the right side it is .0045, and on the left side it is .0075.
Shouldn't they be the same or close to the same on each side?
Thanks for the help.
 
What conditions are you shooting under? Indoor or outdoor range? If outdoor, under some sort of roof? How high is it. What hearing protection do you wear-plugs and muffs, or just one or the other. Check your grip, and your grips-are they really comfortable for you?
 
We shoot outdoor in the open, no roof, on our own property. Wear plugs, but have shot without some. One time with the one that cracks cause it hurt my left ear so much. Have shot the others without too and they don't have that really sharp crack. My grips are pretty comfortable.
Thanks
 
It sounds like the forcing cone is cut unevenly. If the gun is new from the factory, I would call them and I think they will take it back and correct it. It is a simple job for a gunsmith with the right tools, but why pay to have a factory mistake corrected.

Jim
 
Haven't noticed any lead spitting. Have only shot 12 shots through it. With the gap being larger on the left than right I've been wondering if that has something to do with it. Forcing cone stikes? Different pressure coming out of each side of the gap?
Haven't really shot pistol that much. In fact we've had the 629-3 for around 20 years and we are still on the second box of ammo. Mainly just packed it in the woods for protection. Check it once a year for accuracy and that's about it.
Thanks for the help.
 
James K, I just got it back from S&W and they told me it was all within their spec. That anywhere from .004 to .010 is within specs. Even if the sides are uneven, each side is within specs. Don't sound right to me.
I'm trying to get other opinions on it from people with more knowledge than me. Then I will probably call them back again.
If I have a gunsmith do it I'm worried about loosing my warranty for further repair.
Thanks for the help.
 
I'm using 240 gr. hollow point. It's the same box of ammunition that I've had for 15+ years and used in the 629-3 and the other 629-6 and they never made that loud crack. More of a loud dull boom. They are all 4" barrels. I'm not sure, but if it doesn't do it in one it shouldn't do it in the other unless there is something else making it do it, if my thinking is right.
I haven't shot revolver a lot so kind of short on knowledge on them.
 
I think S&W is wrong this time but the uneven barrel has no effect on performance and safety. Still, IMHO, an uneven gap is not right even if both sides are within spec. Your choice as to whether to get a gunsmith to correct it. He will (should) use a facing cutter to even that barrel, which will leave both sides with the same .0075 gap.

Jim
 
sonic boom

If I read right first dull boom shots were from a three inch barrel the sharper sound is from the 6 inch my thought is the six inch got enough velocity to hit sound barrier, went supersonic your hearing the sonic boom while the three inch barrel produced subsonic velocity. Hope your hearing it threw ear muffs or plugs
bb
 
Jim, Do you think if I had the barrel evened up that .0075 gap would be fine? I know Smith said from .oo4 to .0010, but from what I read most like it around .004 or .005.
I don't know myself what pros or cons the bigger gap may cause, if any.
Thanks
 
bb, All 3 629's are 4" barrel. I would think that if one would go supersonic they all should from the same length barrel, shouldn't they?
Thanks for the help.
 
musher, I was wondering that because if it was , the direction it's angled could cause the bullet to hit the left side of the forcing cone first, causing it to kick a little to the left before straightening out down the barrel. I mentioned that in the letter that I sent with the gun to S&W. But all they sent back for information is that everything meets S&W specs. Nothing about what they checked or anything. They called me and told me that the BC gap was within specs even though it was wider on one side than the other.
I'm not sure how to figure out if the cylinder is parallel to the barrel.
Thanks for the help.
 
I'd focus more on how they shoot. What do they perform like, and is there any difference in accuracy? No? Then don't worry about it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top