I never believe the QC compliants I read online because people with problems will always complain so it is to my dismay that I am "that guy" now. Picked up my new 686 4 inch a few days ago and went to range. While the trigger is heavy it got real heavy(sticky) for 2 out of the six shots. So I just assumed it needed some breaking in. Finished 50 rounds and went to range today and shot another 50 and same heavy stickiness on 2 out every 6 shots. Well brought it back to gun shop and they said the star was causing the problem. They tried to polish a little and nothing changed...so back to factory it goes. They said I should have it back in a few weeks. This should have been picked up in the factory at the first QC level (hey I'm new to this world and just assumed it would work straight out of the box)...guess it is cheaper to throw them out the door and fix the problems after...
After my long CA wait and now this...just needed a place to vent....It did shoot great what little chance I got to use it.

We all feel your pain -- buy enough guns and it will happen at some point.

Must inspect firearms completely before taking them home.

This is true, however MANY new shooters don't have the expertise to examine a weapon with a critical eye. They assume that it should be perfect if it left the factory. That level of quality and pride in the product no longer exists even @ S&W , unfortunately...

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Stuff like he is describing (binding) isnt going to be picked up without something in the cylinder, and unless you go around with snap caps, you would most likely have not picked it up either.

It seems like two of the ratchet teeth were fitted sloppy at the factory and the hand is binding on them.

We don't all carry snap caps everywhere in our pockets in all calibers???

Same problem here, 686 6" back to the factory last week for hand to ratchet binding on all 6 chambers. Also my barrel is not aligned with the frame like many others.

Sounds like S&W needs to step up their QC.

I lucked out. My 686 3" has been fine since I first got it in late Nov. No problems with trigger, lock-up or barrel. Sorry to hear you've had trouble.

My new 686 had a factory QC issue from day one (binding cylinder)...I should have realized it before I took it home but what do I know..I'm new. The store sent it back to S&W on April 17th...How long can I expect to wait to get it back????

Thanks

Hard to say exactly, but a 21-4 I returned to Springfield for warranty work was back in my hands in about 3-1/2 weeks.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I sent my wife's 442 in for work 2 months ago, we had it back almost 2 weeks from the date it was mailed. They replaced the cylinder.

My S&W 500 went back the 20th, and they signed for it on the 24th.

Hopefully only a couple weeks, but other posts here seem to indicate it might be 5 weeks or more..

Please update thread if anything changes.

My M&P 340 (warranty work) was back in about 7 working days.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I sent them my 1911 on the 13th. S&W received my gun on the 16th. I called a couple days ago to check on it and after waiting on hold for 10 Min's. they told me they checked the gun in on 4-21.
So the gun sat in receiving for 6 days. They told me from 2-4 more weeks.

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Watch for motorcycles!!! Skip

Last summer I sent my 29-2 in for a complete overhaul. Seems it got caught in a shipping time loop somehow connected to S&W's summer vacation shutdown.
Lesson learned: If the time seems too long - call.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I worked at an electronics warranty service center for a while, and as a general rule, customers tickets were not looked at until they called to inquire about status. I just worked there, not my plan.

So with that in mind, got worried and just called S&W to check status. It shipped out yesterday, and I will have it tomorrow! Recut forcing cone and replaced cylinder. Awesome service! They only had it 5 business days.

Guys-
Just needed a place for some sympathy. (my wife just doesn't understand)

Bought a new 686 4 inch new from dealer. Took it to range and realized that it was defective out of box. (problem with cylinder). Dealer returned it to S&W. (because of 30 day wait to buy a new handgun in CA I couldn't do a switch out anyway) so didn't worry about the process. Well 8 weeks later and no revolver. Dealer has spoken to S&W and it was supposedly finished almost 3 weeks ago and was sitting in the shipping room and they promised we would get it to us by last Friday...
Well guess what??? No revolver.

I am hitting the age where after 8 weeks I'd probably have forgotten I bought the gun in the first place! You have my sympathy!

Cordially,

Ash

Bummer,

I bet those guys on the Taurus thread have a smirk on their face.

AA+1, to ^^^^^.

That state of California "no trade out" without another 30-day wait is ludicrous, especially if you trade for the same model. You have my double sympathy.

All the best,

Bill

You have my sympathy - and my concern.

I just sent a 617 back to S&W for warranty repair last week - it arrived in Taxachusetts last Thursday. I'd hate to be on the hook for 8 weeks or more.

Maybe if you stop thinking about it, it will show up - kinda like lost tools.

Good luck,
Bob S.

So,who bothered to read that?
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

Geez, you have my sympathy too but how do you have a 30day waiting period?? Ca is 15 days which is ludicrous enough given that it is supposedly a "cooling off" period.
Had the conversation with my LGS recently, "So I bought the gun, waited 15 days, picked it up and returned it for warranty, waited to get it back, and I'm still not "cooled off"?

At first I understood, then I was frustrated...now I'm mad

686 defective out of box and had dealer send back to S&W for warranty work (not easy to just switch out in CA)

You're not going to believe this one...the 686 has been repaired for 3 weeks and just sitting in the S&W shipping room...and waiting (they can't answer why)..They have said for the past 2 weeks it was being shipped and nothing. We were expecting it today and again nothing...when S&W was contacted again today and pressed to get it out already they said to dealer "oh we can't today because the guy who signs the California shipping papers is off"

I am willing to pay more for best to hopefully get the best product and service (which is why I went S&W as compared to the cheaper brands) but I'm starting to lose faith. Hopefully they did such a fantastic job fixing their manufacturing defect that I will forget about this entire episode and become a fan again.

Wish me luck.

Call again and speak directly to Mrs. Sousa or Kate Fredette...you problem WILL be resolved quickly.

Randy

Wow I had problems with my GP 100 barrel not timed straght up and crown on barrel was not quite right. Ruger sent a prepaid shipping label to my house and picked it up!Turnaround time was 9 days! You should have got your pistol back by may 15th! New Jersey is commie like Kali ! I hope you get her back soon. I was thinking about buying a new 586 never mind that I will by the old gold 586!

As noted, my 500 did come back in short order.
But new problems soon discovered.
Top of frame is slightly twisted to the right, making scope rail mount and zero scope impossible.
So far, they have had it two weeks this time..

Thanks Randy...will give it a shot

With my stuff that has been sent in all have been turned around in a month or less. Luckily. However when calling S&W I was always on hold for between 20-30minutes before being able to talk to someone. I will admit that everytime I called the issue was taken care of. Overall I didnt mind being on hold.

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Disabled Combat Veteran OIF

I won't buy a new Smith either anymore. I just keep buying the old ones. I guess they just don't need my business, for a variety of things they are doing lately.

OK this is strange. So I finally call myself to see if the dealer is making this stuff up after 9 weeks. My dealer is an S&W authorized dealer so I thought it would be faster and smoother if they handle the warranty shipping etc. with my defective out of box 686..Well according to S&W the hold up is becuase it is going to a dealer in CA and they need an internal "letter" (whatever that means) and said they will finally resolve. I then asked if I had shipped it back myself as an individual would I have had this issue and he said "no".

I think I feel better but not sure why??

I feel bad for you too.
My model 57 41 mag had a 44 cylinder installed (never thought to check that before I bought it). Waiting on week number 3 to get it back. It supposedly shipped yesterday. We'll see.

But you would expect that the S&W dealer would check it for defects before he sells it!!! I know if it was my shop I would inspect every new pistol for defects from the factory!I dont think they get 100 686 pistol at one time for sale.He the dealer is last in line for S&W QC.

But in this case - there was no "problem to see" until it was shot. Are you suggesting the gun shop go shoot every NEW gun that comes in? Gun are fired at the factory to test them, that's where this should have been found.

Short of a major functioning or cosmetic problem - new guns come out of the box, checked to see if the action can be manipulated as expected and sent out the door.

Like all man-made items, they can be less than perfect - that's why they have a warranty.

Take care,
Bob S.

The dealer spoke to Mrs Sousa today...and she is suppose to be on it. Trigger finger is crossed

Here here! My advice to anyone: Until S&W works out their quality control issues on revolvers, NEVER buy one online, because dealers and distributors are throwing them out there hoping no one will notice the flaws. I have just gone through a 686P and a 60Pro with canted barrels and warped cylinders.

I know this is an older post, but it comes up first. S&W is able to sell every firearm they can produce right now and quality control is out the window.