I have a brand new 329pd. After a box and a half of ammo the thing fails to fire due to shallow primer strikes. I called S&W to get a return mailer over 2 weeks ago, still have not received it. Anybody else have this problem with a 329pd? I have looked at several web sites and this seems to be a common problem. Anybody know what it takes to fix the problem? Hunting season is getting real close. Sure would like to take this thing hunting.

Thanks,
W. Hatter

Welcome to the forum!

Others here are far more up on the newer Smith designs (lock, mim etc.), but I believe that they are famous for having too short of a firing pin in them.

Post this question in the gunsmithing forum, and you'll gt a lot of good answers.

Call em again. Sometimes, mouth engages before brain is in gear. Yes, sometimes the 329pd has been known for light pin strikes. Its been said, they put shorter pins in them to pass California drop tests. Mine has a factory replaced frame. No problems whatsoever. But, the IL is not in it either. When there is a chance of a 200-400 lb. hog going up my pants leg, I am not gonna have a weapon that decides not to fire.
If S&W isn't an option, you can get the longer pin from MidwayUSA. Installation isn't hard. But, they should fix it, no questions asked. Make em do what is right. Good Luck!

whatter,
Been there, done that, got that t-shirt... I know the frustration.
I ordered a S&W "extra long firing pin" and installed it myself in 10 minutes. You can order the part from Brownell's, Midway USA or Cylinder&Slide; approx. cost $12 to $15. It is a very easy fix, the only tools you will need are needlenose plies and a small screwdriver.
I also removed the internal lock while I had the gun apart, that took another 15 minutes. I now have 100% confidence in my 329 and have not had any other problems. I really enjoy carrying this handgun in the field and it is a BLAST to shoot.
Good luck hunting!

Today makes 2 weeks and 3 days and still no shipping information from S&W. If I don't hear something soon I will order a firing pin and fix it myself. Thanks for the posts, now I have a better idea of what might be wrong and how to fix it. These forums provide S&W fans a valuable source of information.

Thanks again,
W. Hatter

You can call them and ask them to email you the mailing label - it comes as a link to the UPS website and you can print the label at home.

Having said that, though, I have zero confidence with the 329PD for FTF, IL problems, center pin binding, and just general frustration. I shoot it every once in a while but would NEVER carry this thing where my life depending upon a boom as you're just as likely to get a click.

Since frame replacement, by the factory, mine has be utterly reliable for the last 650 rounds, of warm loaded 240 gr. .44 magnums. Service handguns were proofed at 500 rounds, for duty carry. I have no concern carrying it, when out with the things that bite back.
Just my 2 cents, but, i carried those things that proofed out at 500 rds., for duty, for 30 years. I still have all my appendages, but, I limp alot, and can't sit for long. I guess you could say, I did survive. Isn't that the bottom line, in either confrontations, with 2 or 4 leg adversaries?

I hunt in South Texas. Because we have a power transmission line running through our lease, we have a lot of wetbacks and drug mules passing through our hunting area. So far we haven't had a confrontation, knock on wood.

The Border Patrol warned us that that a small percentage of these people are dangerous but most of these people are just poor undocumented workers trying to slip past the Border Patrol. Until I bought the 329pd I was carrying a Sig 45. I decided to start carrying a 329 because we have hogs on our lease. If the 329 turns out to be unreliable, I will go back to the Sig and pass up hunting hogs.

There is a real live civil war going on south of the border, although it has received little press coverage. My life may actually depend on the pistol I carry. It is a shame all this is lost on S&W. They certainly aren't easy to contact and so far their service does not impress me.

W. Hatter

W Hatter

I fully understand you situation. you should be able to get your 329 to function 100 percent. With speed loaders it will work for personal defense against pigs and 2 legged varmints.

If the 2 legged varmints are a BIG threat in your area, you can always carry you first magazine in your 45 ACP with Buffalo Bore 230gr FP ball, and then a few extra mags with 230gr HP's.

There have been times when I was in big bear/dope growing country when I carried a 44 Mag AND a 1911.


For those of you not near the border, it is common on most deer leases in South Texas to leave your deer lease trailer/ranch house unlocked, with cooking pots and pans, with canned food left out for Illegal Aliens to use on their trek up north.

Usually, if you find the food eaten, you also find the pots and pans washed.

However, not all are friendly, so it is a good idea to be prepared.

I had my gunsmith install Meculik springs and tune the action on my 329, installed Meprolite tritium sights front and rear - I carry it all the time in the field, the finish on the edges is worn off and I've scratched up the grips - the more it gets beat, the more I like it - no problem shooting hot 44 special or mild 44 mag hard cast lead loads; pulled up on a bunch of hogs resting on the side of a lease road, shot 4 with 6 shots resting over the top of my truck cab. Work out the bugs - its a great carry beater gun.

Thanks for the information. Talked to S&W service about an hour ago and they assured me the Fedex mailer should be here this week. Understand it has been three weeks and three phone calls as of today. Hopefully they will fix the problem.

The last time I shot a hog with my Sig 45 he just oinked and ran away. I believe when the hogs get past about 200 lbs you need a little more penetration. That is the reason I bought the 329.

As for the people problems, I believe the sight of an armed person might be enough of a deterrence. I just hope the pistol is reliable, I am beginning to have my doubts after reading the messages posted on this board. Maybe I should have bought a 629 mountain. However you can believe I will run a couple of boxes of mag loads through the pistol before I take this thing to the field. Good thing we don't have bears in Texas, I would rather get shot than eaten.

W. Hatter

All you need is the "extra long firing pin"....
You can buy a 629 someday in the future if you are not satisfied with the 329.

I am always surprised when I read negative posts about the 329. I also become quite concerned. While I have shot lots of different loads in my 329, Buffalo Bore, Speer, Black Hills, Remington, Winchester, Federal and hand loads, I have never had a 'Fail to fire', misfire, or other problem, with one exception. I have had 'Crimp jump' a few times with my reloads. Usually it has occured on the 5th, or 6th shot in those cases.

Since my reloards are done to replicate the velocity of a bullet weight in one of the name brand loads I've shot in my 329, I've not been concerned about 'Crimp jump', as that only occurs at the range. In the field I carry the chosen name brand, usually a mix of Speer, and Buffalo Bore.

However, with the growing list of problems that surface on the web, I become increasingly concerned with relying upon the 329.

Has anyone that has limited their shooting to use of .44 Special loads ever experienced any of these problems ? I'm not beyond reserving the .44 magnum rounds for my 629 ?

__________________
Hook686

Since the pistol is under warranty, I am going to give S&W the first shot at fixing my problem. If they drop the ball, I will install a longer firing pin myself. It would probably be easier and cheaper to just install a new firing pin, however I suspect S&W would use that as an excuse to void the warranty.

I shot both 44 mag and 44 special ammo in the pistol. It actually failed more often using 44 special ammunition.

There are those who hate newer S&W's, so they magnify every problem. For a while every FTF was blamed on the IL even though it clearly wasn't involved. You couldn't reason with the true believers, however. These days FTF's are the big deal, even though they don't occur very often, and it's a problem that's easily taken care of. For some reason problems with older revolvers are rarely an issue, even though hundreds of gunsmiths make a steady living fixing them when they break. Go figure. I had a 329PD and liked it. Finally sold it because it didn't fit the mix in my self-limited stable of a dozen revolvers. Shot handloads, 240swc's at 950fps, and enjoyed it. Like all my newer S&W's I replaced the firing pin and disabled the IL before I even shot it, not because I expected them to fail but because I don't want them to. I also replaced the grips and springs, as I do with virtually all of my purchases. SOP, for me at least. Anyway, I think the 329PD is a fine revolver, no less reliable than any other S&W.

The C&S long pin will do the trick. I have S&W email the free shipping labels to me. Call Customer Service and have one emailed.

I really haven't meant to trash the 329pd, it is a great pistol. I just hope it is reliable when it finally gets fixed. However I am becoming increasing frustrated with S&W service.

I have owned several S&W pistols in various calibers. I believe S&W makes good revolvers. Maybe the scandium concept just isn't worth the risk in really heavy magnum calibers. That said, the 329pd will be a pleasure to carry even if it is painful to shoot. I plan to carry it alot and shoot it very little. Hopefully only at critters (ie hogs, snakes, skunks, etc). We are allowed to carry pistols in Texas during Archery Season provided you have a concealed carry permit.

I've had a revolver at S&W for a while now, so I called to check on it. Turns out vacation time was the first two weeks of August. They close the factory, and everybody takes off. Happens every year. I had forgotten they do it.

Finally got the Fedex label from S&W today, it took 3 weeks and 6 days.

I took the pistol straight to Fedex and it is on the way to S&W. Now lets see how long they take to repair it. Hopefully just a couple of weeks. I hear that they are pretty good about turning repairs around.