432uc still disappointing!

[Bastogne71]

Yesterday my 632uc came back from its second return to S&W for light strike misfires. They replaced the firing pin - again. This morning I took it to the range to see if it had been fixed. Twelve rounds of Magtech 32 long wadcutter with two misfires. Next I tried my reloads, also in 32 long with Titegroup powder, 90 grain Hornady SWC, and CCI-500 primers. Five misfires out of twelve attempts!

Before you blame the reloads, consider that I have 5 other S&W revolvers chambered in 32 Mag and have never had a problem shooting reloads in any of them. As I have said before, I think a new firearm should function with any factory ammunition or with good quality reloads and not be restricted to certain brands of ammo or primers. Am I being unreasonable to expect this?

I give up on S&W service. I’m about to order an Apex firing pin and see if that helps solve my problem. Any other suggestions will be most welcome.

 

[Ggunb]

Just curious. Could you open the cylinder, pull back on the thumb piece and dry fire the gun. Then measure or otherwise compare firing pin protrusion to your other .32's?

 

[Model 15-4ever]

Light strikes... that's a new one to add to the Litany of Lamentations with the Ultimate Carry.

I broke down and bought a 432UC a few months ago. No light strikes, but the barrel shroud was not centered, and the trigger pull was just awful. S&W put some too-light hammer spring in there to appeal to pistol gunsumers, and the action is just unstable. I repaired both myself rather than endure the horror of S&W QC (they probably would have found it to be "in factory spec" )

After repairing the above (I'm a S&W factory trained armorer), modifying a holster to fit the gun with it's unusual sights, replacing the obnoxious VZ grips, and deciding to ignore the hideous frame/yoke gap... I'll probably keep it. Mine shoots very well now that the trigger action and sights are correct (can you get more basic than expecting to have those two things right from the factory?).

 

[Mercury]

Ugh!
If the firing pin turns out to be the correct length (it probably is by now) then I think that Model 15-4ever is right, the hammer spring is too light. You can get a replacement from Wolff for under $20 with shipping.They are easy to change with the right screwdriver and a paperclip.

If you don't want to mess with it yourself, I would suggest that you ask the factory to replace the gun for you and see what happens. If they won't, maybe they will have a qualified tech go over it for you rather than someone who is just a parts-changer, reading from a tutorial.

There seems to be many reported problems with S&W's quality lately.
In another thread on this forum, someone posted that maybe CZ will buy S&W and improve upon the quality, just like they're doing with Colt.
.........One can hope.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

Correct factory standard spring:

Smith & Wesson J-Frame Mainspring: MGW

 

[bipe215]

My son sent his 632UC back twice for light strikes and shooting left. The factory replaced it and the new gun is perfect. My 432 has been flawless

 

[WaldoGuns]

Light strikes... that's a new one to add to the Litany of Lamentations with the Ultimate Carry.

I broke down and bought a 432UC a few months ago. No light strikes, but the barrel shroud was not centered, and the trigger pull was just awful. S&W put some too-light hammer spring in there to appeal to pistol gunsumers, and the action is just unstable. I repaired both myself rather than endure the horror of S&W QC (they probably would have found it to be "in factory spec" )

After repairing the above (I'm a S&W factory trained armorer), modifying a holster to fit the gun with it's unusual sights, replacing the obnoxious VZ grips, and deciding to ignore the hideous frame/yoke gap... I'll probably keep it. Mine shoots very well now that the trigger action and sights are correct (can you get more basic than expecting to have those two things right from the factory?).

Mine was rife with deficiencies, fortunately repaired by one of the few remaining gunsmiths who have decades of experience working on J frames. I'm new to revolvers-- those stocks you replaced the VZs with look much better. What are they called?

 

[Model 15-4ever]

Mine was rife with deficiencies, fortunately repaired by one of the few remaining gunsmiths who have decades of experience working on J frames. I'm new to revolvers-- those stocks you replaced the VZs with look much better. What are they called?

Those are the old standard "Magna" service stocks. No longer sold by S&W or anyone else, they are frequently offered for sale on Ebay (sometimes at ridiculously high prices).

Altamont makes a copy they call the "Service Grip". I haven't handled it in person, but if a typical Altamont product, they probably are not identical to the original. They also make what they call the "Classic Panel", which is similar but has a square-cut bottom.

Altamont Round Butt J Frame

 

[Bastogne71]

An extended firing pin kit should be in today’s mail. When it gets here, I’ll install it in the 432 but it will be the first of next week before it gets range tested. If that doesn’t fix the problem, I’ll put in a new hammer spring and try that. I will post the results when I’ve finished with these tests.

While I’ve got it opened up, I’ll look for any unusual wear on the hammer that might show dragging and make sure everything is nice and clean before I put it back together. Wish me luck!

 

[kaaskop49]

OP, I truly admire your patience. I'da dumped it long before this point. Too many questions, too few answers. When the work is finished, at the very least 500 rounds of ammunition before it can be relied upon, IMO. Wish you well.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Miami_JBT]

I've been hearing from a number of shops and various social media outlets that the UC line of guns from Big Blue are rife with problems. This sucks because I really want one, but the QC that is coming out of them is just bad.

 

[Bastogne71]

Update:

The extended firing pin arrived last Saturday and I got to the range Tuesday with guarded optimism. A real disaster! 7 out of 12 attempts were misfires. Using another load that I had carefully made to insure it was not an ammunition problem, I got 1 misfire out of 6. Disgusted I packed up and when home.

That night I took the hammer spring and strut out of the 432 and replaced it with one from a 642. 24 rounds fired without a problem the next day. Further testing will be done before I consider it good for carry.

I don’t know what the hammer spring poundage is in the 432UC but I think it’s a reduced power spring to enhance trigger pull. Anyone know for sure? I really like this revolver - when it works - and that’s why I’ve put the effort to getting it running.

 

[Gater]

I was strongly considering purchasing one of those. Instead, I Purchased, a M340 in 357 magnum I have no issue with it shooting left or shooting right shooting low or any Mechanical issues It’s point of aim point of impact at 15 yards. It has a U-notch rear with a ES big dot front nightsite.

 

[Snub Nose Sasquatch]

Hi, Bastogne71

Sorry to hear that you've had several bad experiences with your 432UC. I've been reading here and elsewhere that a few other people have also encountered light primer strikes.

> I don’t know what the hammer spring poundage is in the 432UC but I think it’s a reduced power spring to enhance trigger pull. Anyone know for sure?

I'm sure it is reduced based on peoples' comparisons with the standard j-frames. Wolf Springs lists the "factory standard" at 8.5 pounds. They sell an "extra power" spring that you may want to try.

 

[Buckeye63]

I have read and watched videos of several owners having problems with dragging cylinders against the forcing cone … usually that is a crane fit problem.. I have had that problem with Ruger SP101’s ..

 

[Beju]

I have read and watched videos of several owners having problems with dragging cylinders against the forcing cone … usually that is a crane fit problem.. I have had that problem with Ruger SP101’s ..

There are definitely some bad yokes/cranes out there.

Both my 642UC and my father's 632UC had them replaced by S&W. His was a lot worse than mine.

 

[Bastogne71]

Hopefully this my last report on the 432uc problems. In my last post, I had some success in installing the hammer spring from a 642. I didn’t want to use that spring long term so it went back in the 642. Searching though my box of gun parts, I found a spring labeled 640 Pro that I’d forgotten I had. It was quickly installed in the UC and I got to the range this morning. It worked! The round count is at 40 without any problems. And this was with the hard CCI-500 primers. I’ll have to put more rounds through it before I’m confident enough to use it as my carry piece but it’s looking good so far.

My advice to anyone with a light strike problem in their UC, put in a standard 8 1/2 pound hammer spring. Thanks for all the help & comments on my little problem.

 

[frog4aday]

Success! Glad you got it working properly. How frustrating S&W couldn't test & fix it properly when they had it. I hope it remains reliable for you and turns out to be a good carry piece.

 

[mgriffin]

I ordered a 432UC yesterday and hoping I don't encounter any of these problems. If problems do occur, I'm glad to have all the above information for a starting point to correct them.

 

[Beju]

Hopefully this my last report on the 432uc problems. In my last post, I had some success in installing the hammer spring from a 642. I didn’t want to use that spring long term so it went back in the 642. Searching though my box of gun parts, I found a spring labeled 640 Pro that I’d forgotten I had. It was quickly installed in the UC and I got to the range this morning. It worked! The round count is at 40 without any problems. And this was with the hard CCI-500 primers. I’ll have to put more rounds through it before I’m confident enough to use it as my carry piece but it’s looking good so far.

My advice to anyone with a light strike problem in their UC, put in a standard 8 1/2 pound hammer spring. Thanks for all the help & comments on my little problem.

Not doubting you, but that seems weird given my experiences with my 642UC. I've shot quite a few reloads using hard Argentine Servicios Aventuras primers, with only a couple failing to go bang. However, I've had that happen a few times with the same primers in a completely stock M&P and DA pulls in my stock mainspring Model 10-6. Given that, I chalk it up to occasionally more deeply set primers/primer pockets.