Posted: 1/26/2009 6:13:31 AM EDT
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Greetings,
I purchased a used S&W Model 63 this weekend (It is a J Framed "kit gun"- .22lr, 4" barrel, stainless steel, adjustable sights). The revolver was in good shape and it locks up nice and tight. The exterior finish had some wear (shiny spots) on it, which is to be expected as these pistols are meant to be run hard and hung up wet. I took it to the range and ran 13 different loads through it. All of the loads grouped to the left, so I adjusted the rear sight accordingly. Unfortunately, I am almost out of adjustment in the rear sight. This struck me as odd, so on closer examination I discovered two problems. The barrel is mildly canted (problem #1). Problem #2 is the front sight was machined off center!! The front sight is integral with the barrel on this model. 
I could send it back to the factory to have them reseat the barrel, but the front sight would still be askew. As the revolver was made between 1981 and 1982 I expect I would have to pay for this service. Alternatively I could send it off to a custom gunsmith and have the front sight machined off completely. I would then have a flush surface upon which a quality blade front sight could be pinned in. I will probably go this route as the front sight is too wide to do good work with anyway. The trigger pulls are not bad, but they could be improved. I will probably have them slicked up as well when the pistol is going under the knife. Also, I do not like serrations on my triggers, so I will have those removed. I shoot my double action revolvers in double action mode 90% of the time. At this point you are probably questioning my sanity. I could easily sell the revolver for what I bought it for, but I have been looking for a small trail gun. This one fits the bill, but it has some warts which I would have had to address regardless. There is no moral to this story, but if you are buying an older S&W from the more "colorful" periods of quality control they experienced over the years take a good look at the sights! One lesson I had to re-learn was how much variance there is in how well different loads shoot through rimfires. I found two loads- a subsonic hollowpoint from Winchester and Winchester T22 that grouped quite well. A few of the others- CCI loads mostly- produced patterns. This was a surprise to me, as I have always had good luck with CCI rimfires. I am going to keep this revolver and use it in the field (as it was intended). It isn't everyday that I can buy something with defects and still enjoy using it so much.
Yea, I was never overly sane.
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Quoted:
I'd send it back for their trigger work, (which is awesome IMO), and see what they'll do about the sight issue for you. (I prefer the serrated trigger) Huh, I never thought about S&W doing "custom" work before. I will contact them and see what they think. I was considering sending the beast off to Clements Custom Guns and having that fellow do the voodoo he do so well. I have to say I haven't had a .22lr revolver in ages and I have forgotten how much fun they are. Ripping through several hundred rounds without fretting about the cost helps too. I saw that HKS makes a "speed loader" for the Model 63. Thing must be tiny. I am dubious about how well it would work. You have to push the cartridges down into the cylinder on occasion to seat them. As for serrated triggers you can have my share. All they seem to do is rub my trigger finger raw. One shouldn't go through life with an irritated booger hook....
Or perhaps I just have extra sensitive (sniff) hands?
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I too have a 63 & bought it used. Thankfully, mine shot straight from the git-go.
These things around here are either in nice shape & ungodly expensive or beat to hell & ungodly expensive.
FWIW, I vote to send yours to S&W & let them make the sight right. That way you MIGHT get surprised with some warranty coverage, or at least give them the option of doing so. Sending it to a custom 'smith kinda takes that option off the board, IMO. 
Oh, yes, ALWAYS listen to the Gunny!
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Howdy Bob,
Yes, I am remiss for not posting pictures! I took my 63 out again and I brought along my Dan Wesson .44. The difference in size is astounding! I am eager to get the action on my 63 smoothed up as I know I can shoot the wee beast better than I currently am. I also need to do some grouping work on the 63 to see if I have any off chambers. I usually do this on new revolvers (new to me, at least) and it is a rare revolver where I don't discover one chamber being a tad off the others. My 63 came with Pachmayr gripper stocks which I frankly like. I like the feel of the Pachmayr Compact a tad more, and some Herrett stocks would be an absolute luxury. I even considered getting a set of Herrett stocks made for my daughter (age 8). I don't know about that, as she will outgrow them plus the truth is I already spoil the kid enough as it is. When I was eight my parents idea of spoiling me was giving me an option which boot I wanted them to use when they kicked my ass!
The kid keeps growing like a weed, so I am now in the market for another small rimfire rifle for her. Her little brother got her Chipmunk, so the kid is currently without her own rifle.  Yes, shocking indeed
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Quoted:
I also need to do some grouping work on the 63 to see if I have any off chambers. I usually do this on new revolvers (new to me, at least) and it is a rare revolver where I don't discover one chamber being a tad off the others. My 63 came with Pachmayr gripper stocks which I frankly like. My 63 seems to be pretty darn accurate, so I may have dodged your chamber issue. These are the grips that I put on all of my wheel guns: 
I have large hands & these fill them perfectly & allow me to really get a nice sight picture. Many wheel gun shooters seem to forget about/overlook the importance of having grips on the gun to allow them to shoot well, IMO. |