You want to see barrel wear ? 460 with 170 rounds !!!!!!!!

[WNY_Whitetailer]

Craig...What's the verdict?  Did you get your 460 back yet?  What was done to remedy the situation?

[craiginok]

WNY Whitetailer,yes i did get it back,thanks for asking.
 The letter that came with it said: replaced barrel and repaired frame:
Regarding the frame,they polished about 1/2 of the flame cutting away,from what i understand the top strap flame cutting is not a big deal, it supposedly stops at a certain point and doesn't get any worse ( i really hope so).
As for the barrel,the area around the forcing cone was polished until it looked like chrome(it wasn't shiny at all when i got it new) the barrel had to have been set back or replaced because the measurements(cyl. to bbl. and cyl. end play) are different than when sent in.The reason i thought the barrel may have been set back was the area around the crown,where the muzzle brake covers it still had lead stuck on it from me firing some lead bullets thru it right before sending it off.I didn't think smith fires lead bullets for testing.
It really doesn't matter,they took care of it and sure did it in a timely manner,13 days between sending and getting it back,i thought that was great.
Since then i've fired 100 395 grain wfngc lead,50 360 grain wfngc lead,150 .454 casull 300 gr xtpmag,100 45 colt 255 lead laser cast plain base.
So far I see no errosion around the forcing cone or any further  flame cutting on the top strap.
I did not shoot any of the 200 gr factory loads,i think i'll wait to hear if any other reports about the errosion come up.           thanks,craig.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

Good to hear...Seems as if S&W's customer svc is doing it's job right...

[odoh]

After reading this thread ~ I chkd the forcing cone on mine ~ looked like a chiminey. I did some cleaning and was surprised when the area cleaned up looing chrome-like. Then read the new posts to the thread and feel that mine is/will be good for a long time to come.

[S.B.]

You failed to list your loads velocities?

[all4abuck]

Hello Craig,

Can you repost the picture of the forcing cone and flame cutting that you originally saw?  I like to compare mine to it, as I see the same issue.  Just want to see if bad enough for Smith to replace.

Thanks.

[Old Griz]

Darn. I can't get the original picture.

[simplicity]

Well I have to put in my .02  I have a 500 smith standard 8 3/8 barrel and I have over 4000 rounds through my revolver and the 500 is a 60,000 psi round though there isn't a factory round that really breaks 50,000psi most of my handloads are pushing the 60,000 mark and the only issue that I have had with the revolver is the hammer springs tensioner set screw loosening up and the hammer not having enough force to set off the primers.  As far as the comment earlier as to the 500 not using nearly the same pressure as the 460 beg to differ 5,000 really isn't all that much when it comes to 60,000 to 65,000.  As far as the frame cutting  I do have a mark in my revolver but it's about .002 deep nothing I'm going to worry about if cause by 4000  which I would say 75% were 60,000psi handloads. I do stay away from h110 I find Lil gun much better performs better and you can get the same performance with about 5,000 less chamber pressure.  The cutter issue with the particular 460 and the barrel I think is mostly due to the metal and it's treatment that was used in the makeing.

[S.B.]

simplicity, you have the electrical equipment to check pressure? Wow!

[efremtags]

I was never excited about the release of the 460 when it debuted, Mainly because I was not satisfid with how they overcame some of the design issues.

When Ruger released a 6 shot 45 casul, they came up with a new stronger stainless alloy that was used in aerospace for their frames. It worked out ans seems a satisfactory step to achieving their challenge.

Smith overcame the severe erosion providing a ultra-fine polish on the  on the forcing cone. To me this seems like a band aid fix. I know the gun itself is well designed from a strength issue, but for  the price you are paying for these, it should do more than just not blow up.

Personally, I think this round wlll not succeed long term in a revolver until many of these issues get resolved for real. I think we are nearing the end of the hype media coverage, and people are using them for real and understanding for themselves whats true or not. I have noticed a lot of used 460 and 500 for the mater showing up in gun stores around here.

I am glad to see SW service is still good and providing you the service you deserve on this issue. I had a buddy buy a 22 revolver that the barrel was installed about  5 degrees of center from straight, so when you looked down the barrel, the sights were aligned to the left of the bore. They fixed it and did a performance center tune up job because of the embarrassment they had for selling a gun with an obviously crooked barrel. This is what keeps me coming back to smith.

[ratgunner]

I can't see the pictures.Can you repost,please ?

[SharonAnne]

Simplicity, you have 4,000 rds through your .500 S&W???  Does your right hand still work???

[S.B.]

Flame  cutting is considered normal wear in any revolver by manufacturers? It also happens in .38 specials and smaller calibers. Usually, only goes so far, then stops?

[SharonAnne]

Craig, i think i read that S&W said they replaced your barrel. have you measured it to see if it was only set back?

[S.B.]

Probably the only way to accurately measure this would be with a depth mike and a very long stem, and would work only if you had a measured reference before you sent it in? Because of their individuality, barrels will measure differently when new.

[Kenneth L. Walters]

I've shot my two 500's quite a bit without any problems but I was using relatively light reloads. 

I asked a friend at one of the bigger distributor's about the 460.  He said that sales died when Smith recalled the non-performance center guns because of barrel problems.  All 460 sales slumped even for guns that were not recalled.  As far as I know there haven't been any serious problems with the 460 except for a bad bunch of barrels BUT the guns aren't selling.

I have been surprised that Smith hasn't come out with a third chambering for this frame size.

[S.B.]

So, Kenneth L. Walters, are you an industry insider? Or is this just gun store talk? Please, not trying to be rude or start a flame war just an interested party.
Steve

[Kenneth L. Walters]

So, Kenneth L. Walters, are you an industry insider? Or is this just gun store talk? Please, not trying to be rude or start a flame war just an interested party.
Steve

I really didn't understand that comment at all.

I was really interested in the 460 but I couldn't see where it offered anything that the 500 couldn't deliver.  And I've been happy with my 500's even though I'm not shooting anything but a mild load by 500 standards.  I would like to see something else in the 500 frame and have been surprised that Smith hasn't introduced any more cartridges.  When the 500 first came out there was talk about a 223 revolver.  That would have been novel.

[S.B.]

Ken, didn't mean to offend you, was just curious about how you get the best inside info on this stuff?
Steve