2020 3 inch python off center bores

5391 Views 76 Replies 36 Participants Last post by Snake Bit, 14 d ago

Dogdoc1

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

I was going to buy a new 3 inch python and have examined two at two different gun stores. in Both examples the bore was significantly off center when viewed as the gun is pointing at you! My 4 and 6 inch are fine. Anybody else notice this on their gun Or one they examined. What the hell is going on?
dogdoc

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Outboard-rob

· #41 · 2 mo ago

azshot said:
Colt manufactures these differently than decades ago. The bore axis isn't a concern, nor is the crush fit barrel gap. It's not a hand made gun anymore, it's hands-off. Will the gun fire right? Yes. Does Colt QA get out calipers and make sure the bore is exact dead center? No, why would they? It's not a specification for THEM.

Reminds me of my new Ford Bronco which I love. Many critiques on forums because sometimes the inner hinges are painted lightly. "I would take it back on a $45,000 vehicle!" comments. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people are out enjoying their Colts and Broncos that aren't so particular.

azshot said:
Again, I just suspect it's a cosmetic thing that has no cause for alarm or rejection. There is a lot of metal around that bore, much more than is likely needed for the pressures, compared to many other .357 diameter revolver bores. In old times a bore was drilled in a barrel, say a long rifle, and then the outside was filed down AROUND the hole, to make it look even. Because there was enough metal around the bore, that is how things got "centered." Not saying Colt did this with their old revolvers, but they might have. And antique rifle makers commonly did this.
We're talking an offset at the crown of what, a 1/16th or 1/32nd? If you weren't looking for it, most would never have even noticed.

azshot said:
Again, I just suspect it's a cosmetic thing that has no cause for alarm or rejection. There is a lot of metal around that bore, much more than is likely needed for the pressures, compared to many other .357 diameter revolver bores. In old times a bore was drilled in a barrel, say a long rifle, and then the outside was filed down AROUND the hole, to make it look even. Because there was enough metal around the bore, that is how things got "centered." Not saying Colt did this with their old revolvers, but they might have. And antique rifle makers commonly did this.
We're talking an offset at the crown of what, a 1/16th or 1/32nd? If you weren't looking for it, most would never have even noticed.

Outboard-rob

· #42 · 2 mo ago

On a $1500.00 gun that's crap.No one should accept a gun like that. How did QC miss that?

Reactions: 2

azshot

· #43 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

I give up...too many new members come here just to interpret the newest thing as, "the sky is falling".

Reactions: 3

Outboard-rob

· #44 · 2 mo ago

If it’s off that much at the forcing cone your really gonna have issues. Come on Colt.

Reactions: 2

Archer1440

· #45 · 1 mo ago

Of course it's aligned properly with the cylinders and forcing cone, or it would never have passed proof test. However, camera angles aside, if this is correct, it is certainly unacceptable.

Reactions: 1

Dogdoc1

Discussion Starter · #46 · 1 mo ago

To all the nay sayers , I told you so. Amazing how so many defend poor workmanship. I bet a lot more will be noticed although I hope not as I want a straight 3 inch!

Reactions: 5

azshot

· #47 · 1 mo ago (Edited)

Doing some research, Lo and behold bores that are not centered is common in guns, and considered a non-issue.

"If you want it concentric you turn or grind the OD between centers. Most barrels are profiled after rifling and concentricity ends up being a crap shoot. Ideally you are looking for good concentricity but the barrel OD is a cosmetic profile so it's not a priority. " Link

"the contour of the barrel not being "concentric" with the bore is of very little, if any consequence..." Link

"Your overthinking this issue. All bores wander to some extent. "

"How the bore runs on the ends of the barrel doesn't tell you what is happening between them. Every gun barrel made has a portion of the bore that is a little off center. Some more so than others." Link

"There is a huge difference between the bore being off center (which is very common even in some custom barrels) and the chamber being cut off center from the bore itself (which is common in factory rifles, especially Rems). An off-center bore will not degrade accuracy one bit..." Link

"it is a LOT more common than most realize. Even in custom barrels..." Link

And so on, as many different guns sites as you want to read. This thread was much ado about nothing, unless obsessing is your thing.

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Reactions: 4

BusaDave

· #48 · 1 mo ago

azshot said:
Doing some research, Lo and behold bores that are not centered is common in guns, and considered a non-issue.

"If you want it concentric you turn or grind the OD between centers. Most barrels are profiled after rifling and concentricity ends up being a crap shoot. Ideally you are looking for good concentricity but the barrel OD is a cosmetic profile so it's not a priority. " Link

"the contour of the barrel not being "concentric" with the bore is of very little, if any consequence..." Link

"Your overthinking this issue. All bores wander to some extent. "

"How the bore runs on the ends of the barrel doesn't tell you what is happening between them. Every gun barrel made has a portion of the bore that is a little off center. Some more so than others." Link

"There is a huge difference between the bore being off center (which is very common even in some custom barrels) and the chamber being cut off center from the bore itself (which is common in factory rifles, especially Rems). An off-center bore will not degrade accuracy one bit..." Link

"it is a LOT more common than most realize. Even in custom barrels..." Link

And so on, as many different guns sites as you want to read. This post was much ado about nothing.

Yes, one reason I do not post on these kinds of threads for the most part. Just not worth it!

Reactions: 1

gtmtnbiker98

· #49 · 1 mo ago

As much as I critique the constant nitpicking on these snake guns, that off-centered barrel would force my OCD into overdrive.

Reactions: 1

Dogdoc1

Discussion Starter · #50 · 1 mo ago

I have an extensive collection of revolvers and others including colts, smiths and others. None of mine are off center at least not to a noticeable degree. So no , that colt barrel is not acceptable to me And should not be acceptable to anyone . Make all the excuses you want for off center bores but nobody, being honest, wants that.

Reactions: 2

GRI

· #51 · 1 mo ago

Trigger Air gun Revolver Gun barrel Gun accessory

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whig

· #52 · 1 mo ago

Seems like there is a concerted effort to always make these new Pythons seem better than any Python ever hand made.

"Oh, the rear sight is just a little loose from the factory. Buy a new one from Wilson Combat."

"Oh, there are light strikes only once in a while. Send the gun into XXX to have the trigger spring enhanced."

"Oh, the cylinder doesn't always turn correctly for the next round. Send the gun back to Colt for repair."

"Oh, the bore is off center. This is a common finding with all firearms. It doesn't mean anything."

"Oh, that QR code really looks neat and enhances the profile of the Python. Nothing too much about that."

"Oh, there are fewer parts and MIMed metal parts are better than hand honed and fitted parts from those old 1950s Pythons."

Did I miss any?

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Reactions: 5

Eastwoodfan

· #53 · 1 mo ago

whig said:
Did I miss any?

Grips and rifling.

Reactions: 1

SnidelyWhiplash

· #54 · 1 mo ago

GRI said:
View attachment 843330

You can fix that with two lead babbitts. Piece of cake...will bring the group into point of aim with no problem.

Reactions: 3

inspcalahan

· #55 · 1 mo ago

azshot said:
Doing some research, Lo and behold bores that are not centered is common in guns, and considered a non-issue.

"If you want it concentric you turn or grind the OD between centers. Most barrels are profiled after rifling and concentricity ends up being a crap shoot. Ideally you are looking for good concentricity but the barrel OD is a cosmetic profile so it's not a priority. " Link

"the contour of the barrel not being "concentric" with the bore is of very little, if any consequence..." Link

"Your overthinking this issue. All bores wander to some extent. "

"How the bore runs on the ends of the barrel doesn't tell you what is happening between them. Every gun barrel made has a portion of the bore that is a little off center. Some more so than others." Link

"There is a huge difference between the bore being off center (which is very common even in some custom barrels) and the chamber being cut off center from the bore itself (which is common in factory rifles, especially Rems). An off-center bore will not degrade accuracy one bit..." Link

"it is a LOT more common than most realize. Even in custom barrels..." Link

And so on, as many different guns sites as you want to read. This thread was much ado about nothing, unless obsessing is your thing.

How many of your SAA's have a visibly off center bore? For that matter, I just looked at a pile of Smith's from 100 years ago up to 2021 year made and not one is visibly not concentric. Sure, with a micrometer, there might be a few not perfect but to the eye, they all look just fine. Looking at the end of those pictured 3" Colt's just isn't right.

It's got nothing to do with accuracy but, more about the visual appeal and just looking right. I've got a "custom" .338 win mag that had a lot done to it to become what it is. In doing so, the barrel was radically thinned down. It shoots lights out farther away than I can ask for and does everything I've ever wanted it to do. After many years, I took the muzzle brake off so I could try a suppressor. That's when I noticed the bore wasn't concentric. It worked fine as is. The problem would have been, had I not noticed and shot it with a suppressor, I can guarantee a baffle strike.

Visually, can you image if an engraved sideplate started up high and tapered off too high above the lower edge? Checkering on a grip panel not centered? I don't think we'd give them a pass, even though it's mass produced by a machine now.

Machine work these days is too easy to ensure a quality and consistent product, that barrels like that, especially with frequency, shouldn't happen.

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Reactions: 5

FL Moore

· #56 · 1 mo ago

My money comes hard and I surely won’t squander it on a colt with a offset and not perfect barrel and crown . Thanks for doing us all a service and pointing this egregious manufacturing error out !!

Reactions: 5

COKid

· #57 · 1 mo ago

Dogdoc1 said:
To all the nay sayers , I told you so. Amazing how so many defend poor workmanship. I bet a lot more will be noticed although I hope not as I want a straight 3 inch!

Phrasing

Uplander

· #58 · 1 mo ago

I‘m far from wealthy, but I’ve indulged in a lot of revolvers over the past 30 years and I’ve never seen that before.

By no means would it dissuade me from a 2020 Python, but I’d demand that was repaired. A big part of owning nice guns is appreciating their visual affect, and that barrel ruins it.

Reactions: 5

calidastar

· #59 · 1 mo ago

Snake Bit said:
My 3" Python looks fine....no wait, I think I see a scratch on the crown...OH NO! What am I going to do? I guess I'll have to tape over all the bulls-eyes i shot with that gun. That scratch ruins everything.

Wow! A guy asks a question and some people get offended so easily. It's almost funny but I don’t think a proper response is to give the guy he** just for asking a simple question. I have a Pietta pocket Remington with the bore off center. What's the big deal about pointing out a defect like that?

Reactions: 2

Witsend

· #60 · 1 mo ago

Dogdoc1 said:
I might can take a pic at my local Shop. But I am not throwing bombs just stating what saw. I own 2 that are fine(4 and 6) as well as an old one. I take it no responders yet have noticed this on the 3 inch. Please go look at some and let me know. I hope it is just a bad batch as I want one.

Me too. I am stuck between a S&W 686 delux, a Python and a King Cobra. I intend to carry it on occasion, so I know the Cobra makes the most sense weight wise, but both of the others are real close in weight to one of my regular carries (p229). I have an alarming zero revolvers, and as soon as I make up my mind, I am going to fix that.

Reactions: 2

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