I sent a gun in for repair and my check was cashed by S&W 3 weeks ago. I followed up today on the status and was told that their normal turn around time is 6 months. Seems rather excessive. Have any of you had similar experience?

Smith’s wait time is much better than most first rate gunsmiths.

Many shooters have no experience with gunsmiths and wait time. They can be shocked when told the job will be finished in a year or so.

Six months is quite reasonable.

I got one back that needed a new extractor fitted (old one broke a finger off). Less than one month including shipping. That was maybe six weeks ago.

Varies widely. When I sent my 681 in for the recall four or five years ago, it was a month. I doubt Smith employees all that many gunsmiths, not sure anyone does, so it can be easy to get backed up. Any kind of known gunsmith will typically be a year out, sometimes worse. May also depend on the type or repair, availability of parts, time of the year (holiday plant shutdown).

Thanks much for your replies.

I sent back a 649 thst had a broken slide stud in March of this year. It wasn’t going to be under warranty. Took 3 months for them to appraise the repair. And i authorized it that day. I was told 5-6 months for the return. That’s my experience.Hoping it comes back 100%. Time will tell…

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My Daddy was a pistol..

Some of it depends on what needs to be done?

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Still Running Against the Wind

So, your firearm was received, placed in the queue, evaluated by a gunsmith, an estimate prepared, mailed out, and the check was mailed in and cashed, and now it awaits repair. None of this is unusual, and I am curious as to what repairs are requested.

they must really be making a lot of bad products to be backed up that far.

Or... They've got 170 years worth of stuff that people are breaking.

Is the turnaround time like than for returned defective new guns? I had to send my Kimber revolver back and had it back in one week. Pleased with the repair and speed of service. Not very happy to be the quality control inspector.

Well FWIW if you overestimate the time and you come in under time you’re a hero.

Do the opposite and you’re a zero.

I guess when you've got so many guns going out the door that shouldn't have been shipped in that condition, they need to go back and be repaired. They could drastically cut their repair time by increasing QC! If they go out right in the first place, they would not need to be returned.

I am not aware of ANY other main stream gun company with repair times that long out.

Sig is very quick and they actually do a repair! In the good old days, major gun manufacturers had designated repair shops across the country. One could usually find one, not far away, and take it to the shop and get the gun repaired while you wait! BTW, the designated repair shops weren't busy because the manufacturers actually had good quality control and skilled workers who gave a flip!

Hard to make any comment without knowing what type of gun and repair. If I sent in a MP 9mm for a broken spring I would be a bit put out if they told me 6 months. Older guns and more difficult repairs I might expect 6 months.

Sent a model 15-3 in this time last year for a refinish and minor tune-up (endshake, slow carryup, etc). Gun was back in 4 months. Awesome refinish work. I was told 6-8 months. Very happy with the turn-around time and the work done. Patience, Grasshopper.
Bob

All of it depends on what needs to be done. Some Smiths have no knowledge of revolvers. Others no knowledge of autos. Parts are made in batches. Not always in stock.

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Jim McGhee

Well, as the old saying goes, "Do you want it done right or done fast?"

On the concept of the authorized repair centers. They might have been authorized and hopefully trained once upon a time. The question is are the folks who got trained still doing the work and were they any good in the first place?

As for the manufacturers, their quality varied over time. I once bought a number of 1911 slides direct from Colt. I ended up on the phone with their parts manager outraged at what came out of the factory. Was told I could send the bad ones back, but there wasn't any guarantee I'd get anything better in return.

As Dorothy Sayers had Lord Peter Whimsey say: "The quality guarantees the name, it don't work the other way around."

I know after the pandemic, turnaround times of 3-6+ months became normal. Not sure if that ever changed after, but also keep in mind that they just opened their new Tennessee headquarters last month. Half their staff made the move while the other half stayed in Springfield. Could be that with the transition and changes going on they may be backed up.

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

The problem is with a Model 10-10. I was dry firing it and the gun seized up and I could not pull the trigger or open the cylinder. The firing pin on the hammer was also pointing to the ceiling. I did not want to force anything so I called S&W and they sent me a mailing label. The estimated cost of repair was quoted at $110.

I have experience with only three gunsmiths over the past 60+ years. One was merely excellent. The other was a wizard. The last, and most recent was a WIZARD----and repaired something I absolutely positively KNEW couldn't be done. I NEVER experienced a long wait time with any of them. The wizard often did the deed while I waited. The WIZARD did the deed in three weeks---counting shipping both ways.

Now all three of these were individual entities----one man bands. Lousy service from a corporate entity is a reflection of their operating philosophy. There are only two such philosophies extant among the world's manufacturers.

One is, "We will be successful if we build the best possible product for the price." The other is, "We will be successful if we build our product for the lowest possible cost."

There is no doubt in my mind S&W started off with philosophy #1, and kept right at it until, let's say the mid 1950's---when things started to change. My observation is things have continued to change as time has passed.

Ralph Tremaine

These repair shops were likely FFL holders. Can't say much more without getting "slapped" but we all know why they aren't around anymore...

Back in the day, I only needed an authorized repair center once. That fellow was on the ball.

Got it back today. Total time was 5 months.When I got the gun originally, used from a correctional institution trade in, it was in pretty rough shape and looked like it had been used as a hammer as the frame was bent. It shot nicely, although a bit loose and sloppy, for a while and then seized up which prompted the return to the factory. While it still has its bluing wear it is very tight and firm and shoots like a new gun. I am very happy with the work done.

I have a 952-2 that's been at S&W since July of 2023, last time I checked it was still waiting for repair. I guess that's what I get for buying a cheap gun !

Well my wife's .22 cal Victory broke for the second time right in the same place.

Its that threaded part that holds the barrel on. It breaks off and you cannot get the screw out that locks it all together.

Wife called, the clerk looked it up and noted they had done the gun before. Clerk volunteered that they hoped to have it back in around 21 days, gave my wife a return label on the computer.

Then she called FedX for a pick up and he came 3 hours later.(Feb 27, 2024)

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Long wait times annd shipping cost/hassles are why , if you have the tools and resources, to do some things yourself . Of course sometimes this is beyond the home smith. But, many things such as revolver timing, endshake , trigger jobs and others are within easy reach of the mechanically inclined.in the last 40 years I have amassed a ridiculous amount of gunsmithing tools (brownells) but I enjoy the work and consider it part of the hobby.