I was super excited for this past weekend as I would have the chance to finally shoot my brand new, S&W 329PD (scandium .44Mag). I read up on the best ammo to get (Buffalo) for all around general shooting. Well, I was super disappointed in this $1k gun!! I shot my first 6 rounds out of it, opened the cylinder to eject the spent casings, and quickly found out that they were stuck in the cylinder. I had to go back to the cabin and get a small screw driver to stick down the cylinder and literally beat them out! I then changed over to some Winchester brand ammo in .44Mag and the same thing happened again, but this time they came out a little bit easier. In any case, I've called S&W and they want me to send it back. I'm just pissed because this is a $1k gun and SHOULD NOT be leaving the factory with a problem like this. Anyone else had this experience with the 329PD????

Sell it to me or call up the factory and return it free of charge... the choice is your.

At what price is it okay to have shells stuck in the cylinder?

I ask this because I frequently see the same posts on the 1911 forums, "my 2.5k pistol should be perfect out the box, and not (insert problem here)".

I guess I would ask "why did you post this here?" first, but I know the answer.

S&W will cover the cost of shipping via FedEx, (FedEx will pick it up at your front door), and S&W will turn it around pronto. You should include a write up on what the problem is - with details. S&W isn't going to hassle you because you shot somebody's reloads, etc.

Now for us forum creatures, did you clean/lube the pistol before using? How do the cylinders look?

S&W329pd information

I know it is very frustrating to spend a grand or more on a firearm, (I don't know about you, but I will still stoop to pick up a $1000 bill), and have it act up. Probably worse for new revolver owners because they've been fed the line about how "reliable" revolvers are. I know I was pretty frosted with the poor quality of my new 329pd.

But what makes S&W more pleasing is their Customer Service - they really do work hard at making things right.

In days of old you had your local gunsmith who would make things right. Nowadays you have forums like this which empower you with the info required to fix stuff. Times have changed.

Yes, I did call S&W customer service and they promptly said they would send me a return label. I have heard good things about their service, but dang, still wouldn't expect this out of a S&W brand new revolver. I guess I'm a bit jaded as well because I had to send my Taurus Judge back to Taurus for the exact same reason and they finally returned it after 6 weeks, but really didn't do much to correct the problem. I vowed never to buy another Taurus brand firearm....so to have this happen with my new S&W was just a bit over the top for me.
I should be receiving the shipping label soon and will keep everyone posted on what happens.

CANT HELP IT! MAYBE SOMEDAY PRODUCTION SERVICE WILL BE AS GOOD AS CUSTOMER SERVICE THEN I WILL BUY THEIR PRODUCT. I HAD TO SEND BACK MY 329 N. G. FOR THE LONGER FIRING PIN. MAY BE YOUR SUPOSSED TO BUY THE GUN & AUTOMATICALY SEND IT BACK.

Well, I'm also hoping that they will give the gun a "once over" and maybe it will get the extra attention it needs and that it should have had before it left the factory. I've also noticed that the cylinder does not swing out very smoothly and actually drags and stops about 75% of the way out....beyond that you actually have to push the cylinder open the rest of the way. None of my other S&W revolvers act like that...those cylinders basically "fall" open on their own accord with no force necessary.

I bought this 329PD at Cabelas and they only had two of them in the store...I chose this one because the other one was actually already rubbing off the metal when the cylinder closed into the gun frame....even the gun manager at Cabelas was unimpressed when he saw this and remarked that it shouldn't be doing that. Again, if this was a $400 Taurus, I guess it is to be expected. But a $1k S&W??????

Anyway, hopefully they will make it right and it will be better than new when it gets back.

I've been reloading revolver ammo for 43 years now and still remember reading Keith's words on the subject of stuck cases. If they stick, the load's too hot. I know Buffalo ammo is ball's to the wall, but the WW should be fine. I wonder if there was any oil left in the chambers, as this will make even normal loads stick. The 329 I had functioned 100%, including the recoil, which is why someone else has it now. Bob!

Don't expect them to read your mind - write it down. Be very specific about what you dislike. If the DA trigger is rough, tell them. If you are concerned about the narrow &short firing pin - tell them. Nicks in the paint - tell them. Again, be very specific with your writeup and they will take care of you.

Will do! Thanks for the advice.

And yes, the recoil is *impressive*. I even ordered the 500 grips from the S&W store right after I bought the gun....and even with those the recoil has a nasty bite. But this is pure self protection and the ocassional camping trip firearm for me...not a plinker... I also own the 340pd .357 J frame scandium and I don't think the recoil is as bad in that gun as it is the .44 mag.

Even with the X-frame grip, if I shoot more than 75 full-house rounds I'll be bleeding in the web.

But I have other hobbies that make me bleed too, so a little recoil isn't a big deal.

Hi, Steve here .329PD owner, Been reloading for close to 30 Years. the only time i had cases stick is on my hot loads with 2400 powder .My first Question is there any lines or marks on the out side of the cylinder.The lines would be paralel with the top strap or cyl. holes . This is a sure sign of very high pressure. Second if you shoot reloads out of any gun as light as the 329PD ,you need to shoot only 3 loads and then check for bullet walk or the bullets trying to come out of there cases.

44Steve - Nope, I only shoot off-the-shelf ammo. In the case of the 329, I shot 6 rounds of Buffalo brand, and 6 rounds of Winchester. All 12 spent casings had to be pushed or pounded out from the front of the cylinder. The Buffalo *felt* like it had more recoil than the Winchester...but that's just a gut feel. I just looked at the gun and see no lines or markings at all on the cylinder.

I feel your pain. I too bought an over $1000.00 S&W 329PD. First time firing it, frame warped in 18 rounds of 44 SPECIAL. My old Charter arms Bulldog gobbled up the same rounds. Smith and Wesson came through on Customer Service and replaced the frame and had it back to me super quick. I am very happy with the weapon now but still. I also feel that the weapon should have worked from the start, but admit, I want to get another one!

OK - So the gun came back today...super fast turnaround from Smith. BUT.......the cylinder still does not seem to fit the spent casings I saved. The paperwork from the S&W shop says they replaced the cylinder, but the spent casings I saved from the first 12 rounds ever fired through the gun still don't fit any better than the first cylinder......AND I even sent S&W one of the spent casings so they could have 1st hand view of the problem. So, now what?? Do I send it back again? Is this just going to be the norm? Did I just get a bad box of Buffalo Bore Ammo??

I have to ask: Are you using the extractor/ejector rod to remove the spent rounds? Or are you expecting for them to fall out by themselves? I don't see how you needed a screwdriver unless your shooting rimless cartridges.

You can't go by the spent casings from the old cylinder, the old cylinder could have been bigger in the center of the bore than on the ends. Shoot it and see what the out come is, BE HAPPY - GO SHOOTING .

Get some grips that cover the back strap like Pachmayr (presentation, or gripper) grips.

I can't use the extractor rod because it's not strong enough to push the casings out.....the only way they would come out was through much effort of basically driving them out from the opposite end. I've never owned a revolver that wouldn't eject spent casings just by simply pushing the extractor rod...but this gun wouldn't do it with two different types of ammo...both off the shelf and high quality ammo to boot.

In any case, I will be shooting it on Friday and will let everyone know how it works out.

Smith did replace the hammer as well and it does look better and is now centered in the gun. Before it was rubbing on the frame and chipping.

Again, just frustrated that a $1k S&W firearm left the factory with these issues!! I guess a sign of the times regarding quality workmanship.

Hopefully it works out for you. I have a 329 PD. However I shoot a 240 grain bullet that I cast and enough 2400 to make a moderate 44 Special load. No problems at all, And Mine shoots great. I can hit a brick about every shot off hand at 75 yards with it and have shot a few does with mine, and it really is a joy to carry. After you carry yours a while you will not be so upset about these problems. Tom.

Did you try any other ammo other than the 6 rounds of Buffalo Bore?

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NRA Certified Instructor

Yes, also shot 6 rounds of Winchester 44 mag. Same problem, although not *quite* as hard to remove as the Buffalo Bore casings, but still took significant prodding. All ammo was less than a year old....not that it matters. I did not shoot any 44 special....my philosophy is that I bought and paid for a 44 Mag gun and dang it I'm shooting 44 Mag out of it!

I would see what happens with the new cylinder. If there are other issues that the factory was not made aware of, they will fix those to.

It does not matter if the price of the revolver is $100 or $1000 or even $5,000. No company manufactures 100% perfect products 100% of the time. It is not possible at any price.

While none of us wish to be the owner of the one that got away, it does happen. Fortunately good companies like S&W take care of these issues quickly and painlessly.

Over the decades I have needed to use S&W customer service to resolve an issue or two.

Do not let one firearm condemn an entire company forever. Large companies produce many hundreds of thousands of firearms every year. The few problems that we hear about represents a fairly small percentage.

So did the new cylinder work ?

From 11 years ago?

You might try a PM - he hasn’t posted in several months.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I have seen this same type of problem on numerous posts within the forum. This has to be a problem that Smith is aware of? Have they said anything about this issue after being called about the problem???
-Sam

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Admirer of Vintage Smiths

literally the last post that I read was another problem with a new Smith.

The OP detailed his 329 PD woes nearly 11 years ago, got his gun back from S & W in 13 days (?!) after sending it in for warranty, never reported on shooting it again or commented on whether the problem was solved.

Hope it was. Thread closed.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220