I sent my new S&W 629-6 4" to my gunsmith because my cylinder gap seemed a bit wide and my barrel was a bit canted. It also seemed that the front sight was not straight.

Today, after working on the weapon he told me that my cylinder gap from the factory was .006 on one side and .009 on the other because the forcing cone was improperly filed.

He then said the the threads on the frame were not 90% to the frame. Great. He also said that the sight was crooked because the slot for the sight was not properly milled. He says he has seen a number of S&W's like this of late.

Inexcusable.

He set the barrel so that the front sight would be square to the rear and set the Cylinder gap at .004.

He cant do anything about the frame barrel mount not being 90 degrees but he said the gun should be a good reliable shooter.

I would think twice about buying another new Smith as some of these things can only be discovered by an expert gunsmith... after he removes the barrel. This fellow was trained by S&W years ago and is known as one of the best in the business.

Unfortunately this is the world we live in. Quality in every aspect of the world is going down hill. Cutting corners and saving a buck is the new trend. It's not just S&W, Sig Sauer are going the same way.

Too bad you got a klunker. I would of sent it back and had it fixed for free. And I'd keep sending it back until it was perfect and I was satisfied. That's what the Lifetime Service Policy is there for. You pay up front, but shouldn't have to expend a single nickel afterwards. (Just time and aggravation!).

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I just bought the new 2.75" 66-8 (to add to my accumulation of S&W revolvers) and find it very well designed and executed, yet I tend to agree that S&W is a bit behind the curve in quality manufacturing. I have recently bought a Kimber K6s and found the design, fit, finish, and trigger excellent well beyond my expectations (and better than any J-frame I have owned). Moreover I have even found recent Taurus and Rossi revolvers to be superb in design and manufacture (they went to the lock-up on the yoke long before S&W with their new 66-8) and the cost is substantially more economical. I have a 5 shot Taurus 85 and a 7 shot Taurus 617SS that I never thought would measure up to S&W - but they did. The Rossi 6 shot snubs 461/462 at 26 ounces with 2" barrels are super for the bucks (about $350).

I am not suggesting anybody abandon S&W -- only to check out what else is out there if you find a good deal.

Too bad you didn't send it back and let the factory fix it for free. By having a gunsmith work on it, the only thing kaput now is the warranty.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Too bad that the only posts about current S&W quality are when someone gets a lemon. Five out of the last six that I've purchased were just fine. The one I sent back came home in perfect condition.

Compare that to the last three cars I bought. I'm still getting recall notices on the newest one that was bought eleven years ago.

Placing this posting it in one section was a legitimate complaint. Putting this post in two different sections becomes trolling.

I've had several issues with new Performance/Pro Series revolvers in the last year. ( I sit here today waiting for the Fedex truck to bring my 986 Pro back from the factory.) I guess what bothers me ( as a consumer, engineer and retired process manager for the Navy) not so much there were manufacturing issues. That stuff happens in any manufacturing process. Whats wrong it's that they can allow easy to spot defects to slip through Quality Assurance process and get out the door without needed rework.
BTW, in my experience, I'm not sure the issues you found would be considered "out of factory spec" for factory repair. You paid for the fix but at least it got done done in one easy trip.

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Dave

This brings back memories of high school. Don't do your home work then complain about your grades. The last time I looked the search function worked fine it will tell you all the problems other people had and what to look for before you make your purchase.

Where's that thread with all the brand new 70s revolvers being sent to back to the factory from police departments due to major issues! You know, the ones that were from the era of great quality

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Let me just expound a bit about threads like this. First the OP maligns all of S&W's current production based on a sample of one. I commiserate with him on getting a lemon, but fail to understand why he felt it necessary to spend money, on top of his initial outlay, to fix things the factory would have done under warranty and then come on here and cry about it.

Then we get those that wail and gnash their teeth over "Quality ain't what it used to be". Funny, they've been saying the same thing for the 55+ years that I've been shooting. Either the guns around prior to my taking up the sport were perfect and had near magical qualities or current production, by comparison, is at such a nadir, that we're lucky the guns shoot at all.

The Internet, and forums such as this one, are a great tool, but they are a two-edged sword. As was pointed out, you seldom read threads about the thousands of guns with which there have been no problems. That perform as expected day in and day out without a hitch. But let someone with a keyboard get one gun of questionable quality and suddenly they are painting with a very broad brush and condemning everything that particular manufacturer does.

Hey, it is a product produced by human beings - they, like the product they produce, are fallible and occasionally one gets by QC - just as has happened forever. Again, I'm sorry this has befallen the OP, but his cry of "S&W quality kaput" is reminiscent of Chicken Little's falling sky.

Rant over.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

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NRA Benefactor Member

Do you have an address for him I'm having prob with my 629 performance center pistol

I'm not a semi auto guy so I have " no dog " in this fight . I have seen 2 glocks , brand new right out of the box have problems . These were with experienced shooters . Glock has a reputation for making quality firearms. My point is that it just occasionally happens , with ANY product made . It doesn't mean their quality is gone , just the occasional " lemon " . So get over it , fix it and stop trying to sound like you are the " final word " .
BTW : pertaining to Sig Sauer . Even though I'm not a fan of semi auto's I decided I needed to become familiar with them . In the past 6 yrs I have purchased 3 Sig's , brand new and they have been " Completely " completely trouble free . NO issues what so ever . Very accurate and just as reliable . On one I did the " Xchange Kit " from 9mm to 357sig . Couldn't be happier . So before you start bashing Sig , stop reading all the internet bashers who probably don't even own one and get one for yourself to find out the real truth .

I will join the "why would you not send it back to the factory" crowd. Sorry for your problems but you now have eliminated any possibility for future repair work. S&W quality will not improve until the culture changes those that are sending out defective products are removed from their job.

What about the large New Jersey lawsuit against Sig for quality issues?

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

FWIW - maybe the OP wanted his S&W now and not have to go through the process of calling, waiting for the next available representative, explaining the problem, getting a return number, waiting for pickup, waiting for S&W to repair, waiting for notice of return and on and on. Maybe the OP wanted his "toy" now and not a month (or more) from now and was more then willing to pay for the fix to enjoy his "toy" now and not months from now?

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.:God Bless America:.

You are asking for a production gun to fit into 'master gunsmith' specs. I can appreciate your quest but can't relate to your expectations. You opted to not have S&W service your gun, likely your intent was to have the gun worked over by a master gunsmith anyhow. It may have shot just fine, may have lasted a lifetime just the way it was.

When you get a car engine it is within manufacturing specs (or is it) you take it to an engine builder who blueprints and balances it and now it is as good as it can be but you don't get that in production built anything!

I'm curious, what other 4" 44 Magnums did you consider and why did you not pick one of those..............Likely because the Smith was the better choice and the one your gunsmith said can be best sweetened up to your likings

For those that have become perfectionists, we put trust in ourselves and only a few others to do the work we can't for us. The priviledge is we don't have to start from scratch to have a gun built, we can fine tune a production gun at a reasonable cost.

I don't expect an 'Wilson Combat' for the price of a std production gun but I would love too LOL
Please give us an update on the positive side once your gun is finished on how well it shoots.
Karl

Another reason I will never buy a Smith & Wesson gun that is not at least 30 years old.

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FBINA, 204th Session

While I'd like to see S&W have to pay shipping and perform repairs to all of their defective products, I don't blame hassiman for his decision.
S&W already had a chance to make the gun right. they blew it. Hasssiman wanted it done right and got his wish.

First I would like to apologize for cross posting. Not trolling.... just venting. I won't do it again. It was late and I just forgot to delete my first post that really belonged in the Smithing section.

As to sending the weapon back to S&W.... I did that already. After 2 months with my new 629-6 it came back with only a damaged muzzle crown fixed. They did not address the canted barrel issue which I had detailed. After numerous calls where numerous S&W employees told me " We will put things into factory spec etc. etc. just send it back" I just gave up.

I had no idea that my frame was miss-drilled and threaded so the barrel was not at precisely 90 degrees to the frame... and neither would any of you that are not Gunsmiths and removed your barrel. I had no idea that the barrel's front sight blade slot was milled off center but my Gunsmith caught it.

Had I known what was wrong I would have asked for a new weapon but coulda, woulda, shoulda... I just want a good firearm that works and now I have one... albeit with a barrel that's slightly wonky. but it will be a good shooter.

As far as the lifetime warranty is concerned.... At my age that gun doesn't have to last that long...

I probably will look for a safe Queen 29-2 or 629-3 that was made 15-20 years ago or more when things were still hand fitted by gunsmiths.

The "New Jersey " lawsuit ? Coming from "that " state speaks for itself . Sig is not knew to Law Enforcement business . Their firearms have been in use world wide for decades . Too many satisfied users and for too long around the world and in this country to " hang your hat " solely on New Jersey's problem .

Or it was a bad lot. Either way they've had issues before. Not the first time and not the last.

Their 556 rifles were a disaster. High stress parts that needed to be hardened steel were made of aluminum or plastic , canted rails, canted sights.

Don't confuse Sig German/Swiss with Sig USA. Essentially Theo different companies



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Personally, I like buying vintage Smith's that are in "as new" or as close to that as possible and examining them up close and personal. When I've done that I have never had any issues.

I have purchased a few online and I did reserve the right for a 3 day return if they were not up to my expectations. Again, maybe I've been lucky but no issues.

Personally as much as I like the vintage (pre 1994) guns, the new production guns offer me nothing to like. Of course I DREAM that S&W will one day get back to their roots but I know in reality that will NEVER happen.

Where do you purchase your pre-1994 guns?

To each his own but I will not pay for repairs covered under warranty.
It's a good thing lemons are not found often in the peach bins. I don't care what people think, old guns even back in the old so called quality days had a few lemons in the boxes. Funny how people talk about how great the old guns were but then talk about how some old models didn't hold up to what they were built for. I find nothing about my new 627-5 lacking in quality.

Unfortunately four of the last six I purchased had to go back for something. One had to go back twice until I was satisfied.

SIG already came out saying they were surprised by this lawsuit as they have been working with NJ to fix the problem. They found that when using some of the guns in question with the TRAINING AMMO they were getting these problems but with their DUTY ammo weren't.

Sig Sauer Responds To New Jersey State Police Lawsuit - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog


As for S&W NONE and I repeat non of the Guns( M&P 45, M&P Shield, 686, 29-10 and an older 28-2) from S&W I have purchased in the the present and past have had issues.

And then there was the " fiasco " with the first Ruger Redhawks . The barrels literally fell off when they were fired . Who remembers the Chevy Corvairs ? The last production unit had to be pushed off the assembly line cause it wouldn't start . Sometimes we have to take a car back to the dealer several times to fix a problem . I have had to return a revolver to Smith twice only one time . I have purchased over a half dozen new Smiths in the last 10 yrs , revolvers and a couple of semi auto's . I have had NO issues with any . I stand by S&W , Sig Sauer , Ruger for building quality products . If any of you are not happy with their products/ work , buy some where else . It's just that simple .

a long time gone

hassiman:

We have a LGS not too far away that only deals in trade-in revolvers to make Auto loader sales. They have no interest in the old wheel guns and they blow them out as fast as possible. The average price for a K frame is usually under $400 regardless of what the condition is. I have bought NIB guns for $375 (inc. the box and tools) and they will have another gun of the same model next to it beat up, no box, nothing ... for the same price! CRAZY isn't it!? They just want hem out the door and since they usually never pay the seller anymore than $50 - $75 for the gun (regardless of condition) they simply do not care.

I hope they never start getting into the old Smiths...........

Hassimen, I have two pre 94' model 29s, one was purchased at a gun show, and the 2nd gen from the 70's I recently bought from my neighborhood gun store (and paid full price!).

This is endemic of manufacturing in this country as talented, well trained people leave the workforce, and what I affectionately call "button pushers" take their place running automated, cnc controlled machines that spit out parts that are all the same, right or wrong. Just because a company is ISO-9000/9001 certified doesn't make the products coming out the door, quality products.
Now I don't know anything about the Smith and Wesson facilities, or their employees. I do know what I have observed in the past 37 years in industry in general, and the trend isn't good.

Isn't this the truth. Retired tool maker here. I remember when new Colt Python went for $200.00. My best guess if the Python was still made today the cost would make a Wilson supper grade 1911 look cheap. A long way off from the price of a shield, M&P, or any S&W steel frame revolver made today.

things created by humans are often imperfect...........S&W warranty program fixes those mistakes.....

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There's nowt so queer as folk

Those guys are driving Corvairs.

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Sure you did

My Model 60 that I got a couple of weeks ago had a canted barrel plus the front sight was off, I was considering taking it to a gunsmith but I was like I paid good money for this revolver I chose, which I did about 3 weeks of research on revolver. It was the SW, Taurus and the Ruger, I knew the problem with the canted barrel, Taurus and Ruger had it flaws also. So I myself rolled the dice hoping I'd not get a revolver with a canted barrel, but I did, so I called SW 2 times, the 2nd time got a shipping label and instructions on how to ship it, took it to FEDEX and it was delivered on 18 May, but just got to repair shop today via customer rep, so maybe it will come back straight along with the front sight being straight.

On youtube Iraqveteran8888 recently reviewed a S&W Model 66 Combat Magnum, and his came with a "very, very, nasty burr" on the muzzle. (8:00 on the video)

I'm a perfectionist. I expect a barrel correctly aligned to the frame, not clocked at 10 or 2, and square to the frame. Barrel /cylinder gap is per specification, a reasonable trigger pull, and square front sight.

S&W invested in CNC machining centers to produce accurate parts that did not require hand fitting to assemble a functioning revolver. Perhaps the assembly has a couple weak spots.

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S&WHF 366

Mine had a canted barrel because the guy that milled the front sight slot milled it improperly. They probably canted the barrel to make the front sight look better. Mine also had the hole in the frame for the barrel mis-milled so that the barrel isn't exactly 90 degrees to the frame. Only way to tell if yours has that problem is to have a gunsmith remove the barrel.
There is no way that gun should have left the factory. No way they didn't know.

Funny, my 624 is the worst looking revolver I own. Grind marks, wavy metalwork, etc. Yet my 610, 625-4, 657-3, 629-5, 986, and 617-6 are equal if not better in quality than my 70's revolvers, but not quite as good as my pre model number n frames.
I do hate the billboard size caliber marking on my 617 though.

I think it's in a lot of peoples heads that the older 30+ year guns are better. Back then a lot of people looked at guns as just a tool to toss around, use, etc. I'm pretty sure the majority of those who bought revolvers in those days weren't running around with digital calipers looking to see if their barrel was canted .00000000000000444" to the right or left.

Not just that. Also there was no internet to run to so you wouldn't know if there were bad guns out there​.

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Exactly. You can't tell me that back in S&W prime there weren't hundreds and thousands of guns that left QC looking like **** or with something wrong. The only reason people of today are under the assumption that Older guns were way better is because the ones that have lasted this long were probably not the NORM. They were taken care of very well to last all these years looking good.

And I'm not saying older SMITHS were not good. They were GREAT. My beef is when you have new gun owners or new to Revolver owners coming in here and getting FLAK for wanting to purchase new S&W revolvers. Then the old timers come out saying don't waste your money, get -2's etc. etc. Thats simply not right.

The older Smiths were GREAT.
But the problems I have with my 629-6 were not a matter of Thousandths. My muzzle crown had heavily burred lands and a visible semi-circular machine tool cut that had been bead blasted over. The trigger came from the factory with Negative sear engagement and the hammer would push-off. Dangerous. It had a front sight blade whose slot had been cut off-center. It had a barrel that was visibly canted, possibly so that the off-center sight blade would register properly. Just terribly sloppy work that workers on the line must have seen but didn't care. The thousandths came in when my gunsmith... trained by S & W... removed the barrel and found the frame had been mis-drilled for the barrel so it doesn't sit at 90 degrees to the frame as it should. The cylinder gap was .006 on one side and .009 on the other.
I love What Smith was. Not what it has become.

Looking at past posts:
Seems you have had "issues" with the 629 even before you bought it.

Wanting to change the trigger out in 1/2017. Bead blast etc, etc etc.

Perhaps if you had sent the gun back to SW all these quality control issues could have been fixed at no cost.

Having sent several guns back to SW for this that or another thing they have always come through and done so in a short time frame,

629-6: Where to get the best non-MIM hammer and Trigger replacements?

Even Dillon Press's have issues

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Still Running Against the Wind

The issues I had with this new gun are what they are. I sent the gun to S&W for their "Lifetime warranty" work. I detailed all of the faults I was aware of, namely the damaged and poorly finished muzzle crown, the Dangerous negative sear engagement, the canted barrel and the front sight blade. After two months at S&W the weapon came back with the muzzle refinished and the trigger corrected. Nothing was done to correct the barrel or the sight blade. I didn't find out about the barrel mount until my gunsmith took the weapon apart. I am having them corrected by an expert at my expense. My time is to valuable to waste with a gun back at S&W and not able to talk to anyone that knows what's is happening with the repair. C&C is obviously no replacement for craftsmanship and pride of workmanship.

I can second that. My brand new MP2 pistol had broken slide stop that could have been easily spotted before shipping by just dropping the mag and racking a slide. Also broken trigger on my 627 8-shot.

Generally agree that I see way more problems with SW than with any other brand I own. I almost expect something to be wrong when picking up a new SW.

2 out of 3 for me...and I still have some 'concerns' about either of the two after a return, just not enough to part with my toys for another month.

Quick question, why did you bother to accept the Handgun if it was so easy to see its defects?

Perhaps but if they are as bad as you state, I have known SW to replace a gun that was not repairable, How much time did it take your Gunsmith to repair it?. You wanted a new front sight and trigger from the get go.

I guess the only other option would be to buy a Ruger or perhaps a Glock (Glocks are perfect and if not perfect enough, you can replace everything on them including the frame)

Hope your Gunsmith fixed it to your satisfaction.

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Still Running Against the Wind