Very unhappy R8 owner

jjmIII_Ruger · Oct 10, 2013

Hi guys (and girls),

Just bought a new S&W R8 revolver last week and had way to many light primer strikes. Was bummed, but bought the Cylinder & Slide extended firing pin and headed to my gun smith.

He called today. It fired 5 of 8 with the new pin. The strain screw is full tight also.

$1250 Performance Center paper-weight.

Here is the fun part. My buddy just had to have one too. He bought from a different dealer (Gunbroker) and has the same problem! New gun also.

No matter the out-come now, it will never be in my night-stand.

I'll keep my 100% reliable GP100.

J. W. · Oct 10, 2013

Being a brand new gun, I think I'd have sent it back to S&W instead of buying parts and paying a local gunsmith to work on it.

Sent from my iPhone 4s using Tapatalk

jjmIII_Ruger · Oct 10, 2013

Ya...sure, sure. I read of light strikes on the net and gave it a try.

It's my fault for trying, right? It would be really nice if the gun just worked.

Trust me, It's heading to S&W.

158Grain · Oct 10, 2013

Just out of curiosity, are you using factory ammo or reloads, and of what brand?

Cal44 · Oct 10, 2013

J. W. said:
Being a brand new gun, I think I'd have sent it back to S&W instead of buying parts and paying a local gunsmith to work on it.

I would normally agree with that, but I just called them about some other work and the customer rep I talked to said they were 7 months backlogged.

Don't know if that includes warrantee repairs or only custom work.

Dave

jjmIII_Ruger · Oct 10, 2013

158Grain said:
Just out of curiosity, are you using factory ammo or reloads, and of what brand?

All factory ammo. My buddy and I used Hornady, Federal, and Remington. Not sure what the gunsmith tested with.

Cal44 said:
I would normally agree with that, but I just called them about some other work and the customer rep I talked to said they were 7 months backlogged.

Don't know if that includes warrantee repairs or only custom work.

Dave

Dave, quit scaring me! I haven't called yet. Wish me luck.

05CarbonDRZ · Oct 10, 2013

Unbelievable how many new S&W preformance center guns that I read about on this forum that are junk right out of the box.I know that they are swamped with orders but that is no excuse to send garbage out the door.I will stick with my oldies,Good luck with your gun.I would demand a refund for the exact reason you stated,I bought this for a home defense gun and now I will NEVER trust it no matter how it is fixed.

Doctor7474 · Oct 10, 2013

People only complain about the bad stuff.

I got a factory new 627 Pro Series last month and it's perfect.

gtmtnbiker98 · Oct 10, 2013

Cal44 said:
I would normally agree with that, but I just called them about some other work and the customer rep I talked to said they were 7 months backlogged.

Don't know if that includes warrantee repairs or only custom work.

Dave

That may be correct, but their warranty work is expedited and I bet he'll have it back in 2-weeks or less.

158Grain · Oct 10, 2013

How many cylinders functioned before the new firing pin? The reason I ask is that S&W test fires every other cylinder. Were all the cylinders that fired in sequence or did it skip a cylinder then fire? I'm very curious as to what the outcome is because I have had my eye out for an R8 for about a year now. I'm subscribed to this thread now, so please update when it is resolved. Keep in mind that the new parts you added probably will be replaced with factory parts when S&W works on it.

jjmIII_Ruger · Oct 10, 2013

158Grain said:
How many cylinders functioned before the new firing pin? The reason I ask is that S&W test fires every other cylinder. Were all the cylinders that fired in sequence or did it skip a cylinder then fire? I'm very curious as to what the outcome is because I have had my eye out for an R8 for about a year now. I'm subscribed to this thread now, so please update when it is resolved. Keep in mind that the new parts you added probably will be replaced with factory parts when S&W works on it.

There was no rhyme to the misfires. The gunsmith took the C&S Pin back out right away.

I'll be sure to update.

Rpg · Oct 10, 2013

Buy an old M19.

Less money, much better revolver.

158Grain · Oct 10, 2013

Rpg said:
Buy an old M19.

Less money, much better revolver.

While I agree the 19 is a great handgun, we aren't comparing apples to apples. The R8 is +2 rounds, has a light rail and an alloy frame. I would carry a 19 and have a huge grin while doing so. I would compete with the R8 and have an equally large grin. The two just don't seem interchangeable.

Bajadoc · Oct 10, 2013

You need the extra two rounds to make up for the misfires. Eight in the cylinder=six shots. Get an old 19. They work and go up in value.

K1500 · Oct 10, 2013

Sent a 329pd back to Smith for this problem and they fixed it.

jaymoore · Oct 11, 2013

Had two 625s that would misfire regularly, both about 10-12 years ago. Went round and round with the drama, finally gave up. But the new 625JM hasn't given any trouble at all.

Also had a Colt Diamondback years ago that was about 50% in DA. Never got it sorted either...

The strange thing is that the folk who bought these duds from me never complained. Perfectly happy with 'em! One of life's little mysteries.

Fkimble · Oct 11, 2013

Lots of folks don't seem to even know about double action. They always shoot in single action mode.

ImprovedModel56Fan · Oct 11, 2013

Not sure I fully understand this "send back to S&W" business. If I have a problem with a new gun, I take it back to the LGS I bought it from. He has always taken care of it (mostly by sending it back to S&W). He & I have approximately the same knowledge of the kind of guns I'm interested in, so there is seldom if ever disagreement on what needs to be done.

That said, I may not be the perfect example, because I have almost enough guns, and won't be unarmed while waiting.

Hope it all works out for you.

SgtLumpy · Oct 11, 2013

I are stoopid.

What's an "R8"?

Sgt Lumpy

raymo2u · Oct 11, 2013

i know when i read unhappy with R8 i waz thinking what a lucky *** i wish i had a audi r8

Very unhappy R8 owner

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

SWCA Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Similar threads