M&P340 Going to S&W

luangtom · #1 01-14-2011, 10:13 PM

I guess that the EDC M&P340 that I have needs to go back to S&W. It has developed "wiggle" or "play" in the barrel. I suspect it is not safe to fire, so I have requested a shipping-label from Warranty-Service and am awaiting that. Anyone else ever have a barrel come loose?

BTW, this revolver has no more than 200-rounds total fired through it. Only 20 of them were .357-mag, with the rest being .38-special +P........

wheelyfun66 · #2 01-15-2011, 07:05 AM

Sorry to hear that!

I'm also sorry that I have no similar experiences to share with you...

But I will be keeping a very close eye out for your follow-up posts regarding this matter..

as I had been planning on getting an M&P340...
(interesting that there is a recent thread here regarding a 442 failing to strike primers hard enough to ignite... Is S&W quality control getting sketchy, or is this an anomoly?)

I'm sure S&W will deal with it promptly, and return it in like new condition, but what a PITA!

Good luck, please do keep us posted.

XTrooper · #3 01-15-2011, 08:12 AM

Sorry to hear of the issue with your M&P 340. It should be some comfort that Smith has a good reputation for making things right. Keep us posted on the progress.

Regarding my own M&P 340, I have fired just shy of 100 rounds through it to date, all .357 Magnum, some "full house," with no apparent ill effects. The only issue I had happened early on when the firing pin broke while I was dry firing it. I had dry fired the gun approximately 2000 times when the firing pin broke. I called Smith and had them send me a replacement firing pin, but I keep that as a spare. I replaced the broken pin with a Cylinder & Slide extended firing pin which is made from hardened steel. So far, so good.

Regarding the 442, I had one (replaced by the M&P 340) which I put hundreds of rounds through and it never missed a beat. Logic tells me that all of these issues are anomalies and not a general problem. Our view is always skewed on these Internet forums when it comes to problems because for every issue that is reported there are likely thousands of examples that have none which we never hear about. It's rare for people to start a thread titled, "I have no issues with my _________ and wanted everyone to know."

luangtom · #4 01-15-2011, 10:45 AM

I will post as soon as the shipping-label appears from S&W and I will update as the work goes on and it is returned.

I had hoped to be one of those that could post and say that I had fired thousands of rounds without a glitch.

This is the third in the line of 340's that I have owned. My son now has my first M&P340 and it has done well with no problems. The other I have is a 340PD and I have had that for five years with no problems. So, I, too, hope this is an anomaly and will be remedied quickly.

MSgt G · #5 01-15-2011, 11:17 AM

I haven't had a problem with my M&P 340, but am glad S&W is ready to correct it if it happens. When I think of all of the others things I've bought over my lifetime that other companies wouldn't help with .....

Thanks, S&W, for being there when and if I need you!

Roadranger · #6 01-15-2011, 12:05 PM

I just bought myself a 340 M&P for my 60th birthday. I have sold a dozen or more 340's with no complaints. It sounds like the barrel is loose. The factory uses a wrench that mates with the rifling to tighten the barrel into the frame and against the shroud. Hopefully your 340 just needs to be retightened. I'm sure S&W will make it right. Bob

luangtom · #7 01-16-2011, 04:12 PM

You just may be correct in that just the barrel is loose. Under close scrutiny, we do not find any cracks in the frame around the barrel. So, I am hoping it is just a loose barrel. I will post updates as I get them.

fran m · #8 01-16-2011, 04:25 PM

Are these two piece barrels? Is this something that would happen if they just stuck with the older design?

XTrooper · #9 01-16-2011, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fran m

Are these two piece barrels?

No, they're not.

luangtom · #10 01-16-2011, 05:15 PM

Well, y'all could say they were two-piece barrels. The barrel with the rifling is steel and the shroud is alloy around the barrel and the barrel turns inside the shroud...........

XTrooper · #11 01-16-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luangtom

Well, y'all could say they were two-piece barrels. The barrel with the rifling is steel and the shroud is alloy around the barrel and the barrel turns inside the shroud...........

Yes, the barrel assembly consists of a barrel shroud and the barrel, but that is not what I would call a two-piece barrel (which is an actual two-piece barrel as once used by Springfield and others).

If that's what they're calling a two-piece barrel these days, my apologizes.

luangtom · #12 01-17-2011, 01:17 AM

Don't mean to contradict y'all. The local 'smith called it that, so I just went with what he said. I will find out when I talk to S&W during the week.

XTrooper · #13 01-17-2011, 06:27 AM

Your local 'smith is probably right. I was just noting that this terminology isn't technically correct.

luangtom · #14 01-17-2011, 04:37 PM

Already received the shipping-label for return from S&W. FedEx now has it and it is enroute to the repair-center. Will keep y'all posted as to its progress.

And, the gent at S&W also called it a "two-piece" barrel.

XTrooper · #15 01-17-2011, 04:51 PM

I've always gotten excellent service from Smith. I'm sure you will too.

Hmebuildr · #16 01-17-2011, 05:28 PM

Smith has had my Bodyguard for a week now and when I just called they said they would not get to it until next week maybe so expect some delay

luangtom · #17 01-20-2011, 11:25 AM

Got the pre-paid label from S&W on Jan. 17th, shipped it to them on the 17th via FedEx and notified the 19th by FedEx that it had been delivered. So, it is in S&W's possession and we wait.........

luangtom · #18 01-24-2011, 10:59 AM

FedEx informed me that S&W received the M&P340 on January 19th. Today, the 24th, S&W tells me it is not logged into their repair-system yet.

I was told there was an average wait of two weeks for repairs to be looked at. So, I am expecting a long wait on this one, being that it is not even logged-in yet. Such is life.......

luangtom · #19 01-28-2011, 10:58 PM

I am in receipt of notification from S&W that my M&P340 is enroute back to its rightful place....on my side. They sent the tracking-number from FedEx. It was put into the FedEx system today, January 28th.

I sent it to them on January 17th, they received it the 19th and it is coming back, being shipped to me, on the 28th. Not too bad, considering the SHOT Show and all of the storms out there in the NE.

Edited to state: IT'S BACK........February 1st.