<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dfariswheel:
BE WARY of local 'smith's.
Often they DO NOT have the Colt-specific action wrench and the barrel vise inserts.
What too many will do is use some kind of "expedient" tooling and this is RISKY in the extreme.
I've seen a fair number of good revolvers damaged or destroyed by this kind of "make do" gunsmithing.
Another thing to consider, is that too many local 'smiths will just turn the barrel in and call it done.
The problems is, Colt barrels are torqued against the frame, and in most cases, simply turning it further in will cause "bore compression".
This is an actual crushing and restriction of the bore caused by too much torque.
This leaves a "tight spot" in the rear of the barrel, and accuracy is gone for good.
The correct method is to turn the barrel OUT slightly, THEN back in.
Bottom line is, make SURE your local 'smith has the RIGHT tooling, and knows HOW to use it.
In my experience, trusting local gunsmiths with a Colt is a crap shoot....with loaded dice.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thanks for the "heads-up". Looks like my 2 options now are to: 1. Send it back to Colt, paying expensive shipping both ways, plus whatever fee Colt charges for the correction. 2. Use "Kentucky Windage" in the future. I think probably answer behind door number 2 will win out. I had wanted to use the sweet DS as a concealed carry option, but guess when I want to carry a snub my CT equipped S/W J-Frame model 638 will still have that slot. (S/W, blasphemy?)
But I love the DS way too much to chance someone screwing it up.
Best Wishes and Thanks..
JP