Got my 617 back from warranty work, S&W destroyed the frame

[afultz075]

Ugh, this gun is turning into a nightmare. Bought this 617 awhile back and found tooling marks all through the bore and an off-center crown. Called S&W and sent it back in for repair. Got it back tonight and was delighted to see that they replaced the barrel with one that has an immaculate bore and a perfect crown. My joy was short-lived when I discovered a crack in the frame below the barrel. The frame is trashed. Guess I get to call S&W tomorrow and wait a few more weeks.

You can see the outline of the crack in the picture. It looks faint in the pic but it's definitely a crack.

 

[GF]

Man, that's some tough luck.

They should send you a new revolver... and quickly too.

Let us know how this turns out.

GF

 

[steamloco76]

Well, now that really stinks.

My guess is that the frame cracked after it left the factory. The new barrel stressed the metal, then the cold temperatures encountered in transit opened the stress crack. S&W will have to replace the gun, as the frame is the actual 'firearm' and there is no repairing a crack in that area.

Email them your photos and I'm sure they will step-up to the plate.

 

[phubai8]

This is amazing. You have confirmed my belief that I should only buy the old ones. Please keep us posted.

 

[Engine49guy]

That SUCKS,
Please keep the forum updated on your progress .
Hopefully your gun already has an IL.... If it doesnt it probably will soon.

 

[afultz075]

Yes, it does have an IL already. This is the second brand new S&W revolver i've had to send back for quality issues in the past year. I am going to make sure to clearly state in my letter I send with the revolver to thoroughly inspect the replacement to make sure it doesn't exhibit the same defects that I originally sent this one in for.

I admit i'm starting to like the used Ruger GP100 I picked up locally for cheap more and more after all this BS I have to go through with every newer S&W revolver that passes through my hands. Interestingly enough, all 3 of my M&Ps have been immaculate, but I guess there's a lot less to be screwed up on a polymer framed semi.

 

[mbliss57]

Sorry you are having to deal with all this. This won't help but.. the last 2 new Ruger's I bought had issues too. The SR9C had to be sent back to have trigger reset replaced and extractor fixed. Then a MarkIII had a magazine that came bent up and had to be returned.
So QC on new guns in general is not what it used to be.
But used!

 

[packheat]

Similar luck here

I'm still a Smith fan, but out of my most recently purchased 5 S&W's, 4 were duds. In order of purchase from 2009 to 2011:

M&P15 MOE - perfect, great gun, sub MOA all day long. Runs like a top. Very impressed.

M&P15-22 - jam-o-matic, FTF, FTE etc. Needs to go back.

1911 108282 - constant FTF issues (at least 2 jams per full mag) and poor accuracy. sent back and the slide to frame fit was adjusted as well as the barrel bushing. Now its a shooter but I still have a FTF about every other magazine full, usually first or last round of the mag. Going back for round 2 soon.

625PC - Barrel canted...a lot. Obvious to the naked eye and even untrained eye from any angle. A disgrace to any quality control dept. Rough bore, poor accuracy and poor grip fit too. Sent it back and got a new barrel & grips. I'm happy with it now.

617 4" - Barrel canted a little. I want to send it back because it bugs the **** out of me. I haven't yet because its a great shooter. Still on the fence.

Needless to say my faith in Smith is eroding away due to QC issues.

 

[afultz075]

Well I already typed my letter and packed the gun up to be sent back as it makes me sick every time I look at that crack. Just need to get a shipping label to slap on the box and send it back to S&W where it belongs. It took me two hours from the time I opened the original package until I packed it up again to be sent back. Unbelievable.


I can't say S&W is the only company i've had QC issues with. I had to send the Ruger LCP I used to own back for a deep tooling mark in the chamber and I had a Single Six with an off-center crown. Actually, thinking about all the different makes of handguns I own, about the only two manufacturers i've never had trouble with have been CZ and the 3 Springfield 1911's I own are perfect as well.

 

[jrhoney]

I'm really sorry to hear about this. I was looking to get a 617 but all I have heard about them lately is bad
I'd like to think this wouldn't have been an issue if they still pinned the barrels instead of crush fitting them.

 

[arc2x4]

When you call S&W ask to speak to the manager of the CS area. Tell them you want an action job done on the new 617 they send you for free for your trouble. Do they have any nice grips on their website that you like? ask for a pair of those as well. You have had a lot of time and aggrevation from a very expensive new gun.

 

[SuperMan]

A friend that I was teaching to shoot bought a pre-IL 617 back about 2000 or so. Totally inaccurate and spitting lead. Trigger pull was the worst of any S&W I have ever shot...

I wrote the return letter...."My student Attorney Chris R*** purchased this 617...." They destroyed the gun and I swear the gun they sent him had to have gone through the Performance center it was that nice...

You wonder where S&W QC Inspectors are...at lunch?

Bob

 

[Camster]

A friend that I was teaching to shoot bought a pre-IL 617 back about 2000 or so. Totally inaccurate and spitting lead. Trigger pull was the worst of any S&W I have ever shot...

I wrote the return letter...."My student Attorney Chris R*** purchased this 617...." They destroyed the gun and I swear the gun they sent him had to have gone through the Performance center it was that nice...

You wonder where S&W QC Inspectors are...at lunch?

Bob

Is there really such a job at S&W? QC Inspector? I honestly don't think so,believe it's up to the assembler to deem it ok,then it gets a few rounds down the bore,and into a box,out the door. I love my Smiths,but the percentage that I've returned in the last 14 years, is really too high.

 

[Stu Honea]

I hope they replace your 617 with no problems.They really don't have much choice.
We are seeing more poor or non existant QC right now than we have ever seen.It seems to be ALL gun manufacturers,and most especially with handguns. The best guns I have ever bought have been used older ones. It's not a good state of affairs,but I don't think it will ever be what it once was.
However S&W's CS is pretty good right now,all things considered.I remember the Bangor Punta days when it simply did not exist. Best of luck with that problem revolver.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

My newest S&W is from late 1982. I'm thinking right now that I won't buy anything newer and not because I'm a collector; I'm an accumulator.

ECS

 

[daveyc]

terrible news. keep us updated

 

[Vermilion85]

The thing is, is that all handgun sales have skyrocketed and I'm pretty sure most gun manufacturers have cranked up production and become somewhat lenient on QC to get more guns out the door as quickly as possible. If they were just a little more patient I bet a lot of these problems would be corrected before they ever left the factory. Might lose a little money at the beginning but, you might also gain a customer for a lifetime.

 

[longranger]

S&W has been competing with Taurus for years.

 

[perrazi]

every time i read a story such as this, it further reinforces my decision to not buy new smith guns.until they get rid of the idiot lock and go back to pinning barrels, i am not a customer. think they put all the qc people on production and did away with qc.

 

[afultz075]

Called them tonight. The man I spoke to was very apologetic and is emailing me a label to ship it back.