I sent my brand new, unfired .500 in for repair on Aug. 15th 2013 for a stripped Yolk screw and after a month they said it was unrepairable and needs to be replaced. Well it's now Jan. 2nd. 2014 and it's still on back order.

I'm not sure how many they make a year, but they said repairs/replacements take priority which I'm starting to doubt is true. It's soured me enough that I'll probably tell the shop that sent it in for me to buy it right then and there when they hand it over. Only thing is I have a bunch of brand new ammo that I'll need to get rid of.

Anyone else send one in for repair/replacement and how long did it take to get it back?

ETA: I just called S&W 10min ago on the status which is still "back ordered".

It depends are were they are in production.

If none are in the production it could take awhile.

I think they're more focused on the M&P line and pop a few of the 500s out a year. It basically feels I gave over a grand to S&W and get to wait for the product when they get around to it. I'll probably just sell it and buy another Shield since they seem to not have a problem pumping them out every day.

I've seen all of the 500's from the 4" to the 10.5" PC pop up on various retail sites during that time period so new ones must be in production. I'd get on the phone and ask them to replace it with something they do have in stock in a similar price range if it were me, especially if you think you might sell it when you get it back anyway.

That's too bad considering that they seem to be readily available from stores. I've been looking to buy a 4" and, even though I don't currently have the funds ready to pull the trigger on one, every store I've been to has either had them in stock or available within 2-3 days from their supplier.

I feel for you. I had a new 686 that I had to send back that had timing issues out of the box. Never a good time having to send back a new gun before even getting to shoot it.

I just asked my dealer about ordering a new s&w N frame and he told me one customer is waiting for months now for a m29-10. The plastic pistols are taking over. But he said they should be caught up soon with the backlog and start running revolvers. I hope he is right. Bill

Well I'll probably wait until the end of January and see if they can send me something else instead. It's just ridiculous to be waiting this long for a warranty replacement unless a bunch of them are there for the same reason which wouldn't be a good sign.

My local shops always have one or two in stock that rotate regularly so I'm not sure what the hold up is on getting me a replacement since it's "priority". I had no problems with a turn around time on an M&PFS9 I sent in twice, but it seems the big X Frames can wait.

I'd have no problem waiting a few months for a revolver. Waiting 4 1/2 months for something I already paid for is annoying to say the least.

Love mine...sad to hear this delay.
I do know they are struggling to keep up on M&P products....
Ask them to upgrade you to PC gun or a Pro Series for the hassle...

Who would I even talk to about something like this? Last time I sent an M&P in, they wouldn't connect me with anyone else saying they are the techs as well as CS. This time they said one single person handles the replacements and to leave a voice mail with him. I talked to him once before about this same issue 2 months ago and told me there was nothing to to but wait until the order is filled.

Should I be asking for some manager or someone higher up on the food chain?

Update: I talked to yet another rep yesterday and after she walked away to do something for 5 minutes, she came back and said she told another person to allocate a new 500 which should ship out next week. I sure hope so because the money from it could be going towards other things right now.

A bitter pill to swallow for sure, but if you still want the gun I would probably keep the new one. If you don't want it, obviously you can sell it new for more than used. I would see the shop will give you full credit if you bought it from them in the first place. I would guess my shop would give full purchase price in shop credit if you originally bought it from their shelf stock, since they are getting a gun they can sell as new and you will be spending ALL the money in the shop. If you ordered it and had a transfer through your LGS, all bets are off.

I'll see what the shop gives me. I just don't want a gun where a simple hollow screw destroys the entire firearm. This means I'm done with currently manufactured S&W revolvers then. It's too bad they took a corner cutting technique simply to avoid fitting a solid screw.

This whole thing is ridiculous.

I know. I got that response from them after an initial 30min wait for a rep to pick up the phone. I think they have one CS rep there a day. It's either that or they have a lot of people calling.

You haven't shot it, barely got a chance to handle it...how exactly did the yoke screw end up being stripped?
While it's frustrating to face such a delay, I'd recommend turning up the heat...emails, letter writing, phone calls...basically become such a nuisance they want you out of their hair...it DOES WORK.

I wouldn't damn the platform for one example...I have quite a few X frames now and none of them have stripped yoke screws despite having been taken apart many times. I would remember why I wanted the M500 in the first place and keep it. BEFORE I owned one I was filled with doubts and questions about it, but having owned and shot every model produced I absolutely would NEVER give up one of my M500's! You didn't specify which barrel you ordered, but if you got the 4" you will LOVE shooting it...and even carrying it! If you got the 6.5" you will LOVE shooting it even more due to the different comp design, and if you got the 8-3/8" you'll LOVE shooting it with the hottest loads you can buy - or build, because the X frame was actually built to handle the cartridge.
Don't let this "bump in the road" change the basic reason you wanted the M500 in the first place...you've ALREADY spent the money so now all you need to do is launch a campaign of "inquiry" that will force S&W to actually PAY ATTENTION to your plight. They ARE making new X frames...going out to dealers all the time, what's happened is YOUR particular situation has gotten "lost" on some dweeb's desk or computer and you haven't yet found the person who can fix it.
I CERTAINLY wouldn't be talking about settling for yet another garden variety "Shield" as a low-budget consolation prize...why?

I bought a Shield a few days ago. As for the platform, I'm not condemning it, but the corner cutting like hollow spring loaded yolk screws.

I had a 8 3/8 barrel so I'd assume they would send the same back to me. They send me something different as replacement, I'd question their CS just a little more.

As for how it broke, I brought it home, cleaned the barrel and cylinder, put it away, brought it out to go to the range, looked it over and noticed the screw was missing. I found the upper half with detent and spring on the floor, with the other half still in the frame.

As for what's going on now, look at my update post here in this thread. I'm going to try and call Monday to see about a refund instead, then ask guys at my LGS if they want to buy some 500 ammo.

Final update, I think: I finally got a hold of Larry and asked him what the status was on the 500. I was told to call today by another rep and Larry told me still no models in stock. I said, how about just a refund then since this has been dragging on too long, which he replied with an enthusiastic "Sure!"

I e-mailed him my receipt for it an hour ago and will call back tomorrow to confirm that everything is okay. He said I should get a check in a few weeks and I hope it happens so this whole fiasco can be finalized.