Carry_Up
Single-Sixer
It does not surprise me that the subject of canted barrels has come up - AGAIN. I suggest that the most recent OP on this subject to do a simple search or two to reveal the hundreds of posts on this topic. You will find what you want to know and more. Try the other forum as well - also saturated with information on the same topic.
No, what surprises me is that the usual suspects are present to chime in with their fantasy claims of high quality factory service that will take care of this problem, or any others. You will find that dozens of customers who have sent their NEW SP101's and GP100's in for canted barrels (and other problems) have NOT received professional and timely service at all. If you want to send in your new firearm and have it disappear into the Bermuda triangle for months, then factory service is for you.
My theory is that all these happy upbeat comments come directly from the factory itself. It is, they say, the occasional screw-up that is an unavoidable by-product of mass production. 2 comments: first the unavoidable screw-up can be detected and fixed before leaving the factory. Or, the production process can be tweaked to prevent the problem from happening. Neither of these things has been done. How do the other major revolver manufacturers manage to screw on their barrels straight? Or more importantly, how do the revolvers in question constantly get produced incorrectly?
The problem with canted barrels has existed for some years and is not limited to the SP or GP lines. Take your pick of the numerous reasons why this problem has persisted for so long.
Let me point out why the buyer may not be aware of the problem before purchase. 1). Barrels are just shy of square by only a few degrees; it is not immediately obvious even to trained observers. They are ALL screwed on incompletely, never too far. 2). Those of us who value proper gun handling are not in the habit of cocking the firearm in the gun store, bringing it to eye level and carefully pointing it at some light colored surface to detect a problem. 3). We are definitely NOT in the habit (and rightly so) of staring down the barrel of ANY firearm, especially if other people are present. Usually the canted barrel problem is easiest to detect in just this manner - i.e. looking down the barrel from the muzzle end - unfortunately.
Finally I will say that after speaking with a number of gunsmiths who have tried to screw the barrel in just a little to fix this very problem, have bent the frame or stripped the barrel threads. The barrels are crush fit and apparently are also permanently fixed with lock-tite. I think the only way to go on this problem - assuming the dealer will not take it back - is to install a modified front sight. As far as the occasional and inevitable mass production mistake, that is a joke. I personally own 2 SP101's and 2 GP100's, purchased over the course of several years. All 4 of them have canted barrels. Why would I send them to the same people who couldn't manage to do it right the first time?
Just another personal opinion.
-CU
No, what surprises me is that the usual suspects are present to chime in with their fantasy claims of high quality factory service that will take care of this problem, or any others. You will find that dozens of customers who have sent their NEW SP101's and GP100's in for canted barrels (and other problems) have NOT received professional and timely service at all. If you want to send in your new firearm and have it disappear into the Bermuda triangle for months, then factory service is for you.
My theory is that all these happy upbeat comments come directly from the factory itself. It is, they say, the occasional screw-up that is an unavoidable by-product of mass production. 2 comments: first the unavoidable screw-up can be detected and fixed before leaving the factory. Or, the production process can be tweaked to prevent the problem from happening. Neither of these things has been done. How do the other major revolver manufacturers manage to screw on their barrels straight? Or more importantly, how do the revolvers in question constantly get produced incorrectly?
The problem with canted barrels has existed for some years and is not limited to the SP or GP lines. Take your pick of the numerous reasons why this problem has persisted for so long.
Let me point out why the buyer may not be aware of the problem before purchase. 1). Barrels are just shy of square by only a few degrees; it is not immediately obvious even to trained observers. They are ALL screwed on incompletely, never too far. 2). Those of us who value proper gun handling are not in the habit of cocking the firearm in the gun store, bringing it to eye level and carefully pointing it at some light colored surface to detect a problem. 3). We are definitely NOT in the habit (and rightly so) of staring down the barrel of ANY firearm, especially if other people are present. Usually the canted barrel problem is easiest to detect in just this manner - i.e. looking down the barrel from the muzzle end - unfortunately.
Finally I will say that after speaking with a number of gunsmiths who have tried to screw the barrel in just a little to fix this very problem, have bent the frame or stripped the barrel threads. The barrels are crush fit and apparently are also permanently fixed with lock-tite. I think the only way to go on this problem - assuming the dealer will not take it back - is to install a modified front sight. As far as the occasional and inevitable mass production mistake, that is a joke. I personally own 2 SP101's and 2 GP100's, purchased over the course of several years. All 4 of them have canted barrels. Why would I send them to the same people who couldn't manage to do it right the first time?
Just another personal opinion.
-CU
