442 issues

[deercop]

I bought a new 442-2 "no lock". After approximately 75 rounds, the locking bolt went MIA, along with the locking bolt pin and spring. I managed to find the bolt itself on the ground at the range, but no joy on the pin or spring. I took it to my local gunsmith, who didn't even charge me to replace the pin and spring. He did, however, comment about how "loose" the hole was for the pin, and applied some loctite to keep it in place.

Thinking I was back in business, I went to the range again. No such luck. Cleaned the revolver when I got home, and I noticed there is a chip in the firing pin bushing. I'm pretty certain S&W would fix it under warranty, but I'm wondering how "urgent" this should be to me. Any problems continuing to firing it with this chip? Or should I get it back to the factory ASAP?

 

[deercop]

I bought a new 442-2 "no lock". After approximately 75 rounds, the locking bolt went MIA, along with the locking bolt pin and spring. I managed to find the bolt itself on the ground at the range, but no joy on the pin or spring. I took it to my local gunsmith, who didn't even charge me to replace the pin and spring. He did, however, comment about how "loose" the hole was for the pin, and applied some loctite to keep it in place.

Thinking I was back in business, I went to the range again. No such luck. Cleaned the revolver when I got home, and I noticed there is a chip in the firing pin bushing. I'm pretty certain S&W would fix it under warranty, but I'm wondering how "urgent" this should be to me. Any problems continuing to firing it with this chip? Or should I get it back to the factory ASAP?

 

[robotoid]

My rule for carry guns is one failure equals repair, two failures equals for sale.

 

[VM]

deercop - I'd be calling S&W for them to send you a shipping label. Besides the chip at 2 o'clock, there is also frame damage at 6 o'clock??

 

[deercop]

Originally posted by VM:
deercop - I'd be calling S&W for them to send you a shipping label. Besides the chip at 2 o'clock, there is also frame damage at 6 o'clock??

Aw, crap. Hadn't even noticed that. Thanks!

 

[jframe]

It's stuff like this that makes me realize how much I'd really rather carry my all steel Model 40-1 after all. I'm lusting one of the new Model 42 lemon squeezers as a companion gun, but now I'm starting to wonder about the new alloys Smith is using these days.....

 

[allglock]

I have been wondering how long till this happened. Every 442 I bought the pin was barely pushed in, and could easily be pushed with my finger. I check mine all the time when I shoot.
I dont know what the heck S&W is thinking about?

You can bend the pin a little to make a tighter fit.

 

[Mickstix]

What "pin" (or locking bolt) are you guys referring to?? (Im not familiar with the 442's other than pictures Ive seen) Just curious.. Thanks!

 

[deercop]

Originally posted by Mickstix:
What "pin" (or locking bolt) are you guys referring to?? (Im not familiar with the 442's other than pictures Ive seen) Just curious.. Thanks!

 

[VM]

deercop - have you called S&W? Are they taking care of you?
Good Luck

 

[deercop]

Tried calling Monday. "Due to high call volume", I was sent to voice mail. Tried emailing, got a response Tuesday that I needed to call. Called Wednesday, got authorization to return. Got my UPS shipping label emailed to me today.

Just noticed, the shipping label is UPS 2nd Day Air. When did they start shipping handguns that way?

 

[VM]

Glad you got your shipping label quick.
Don't know about 2 day air.
Keep us posted on repairs/replacement

 

[Andy Taylor]

Originally posted by deercop:
Tried calling Monday. "Due to high call volume", I was sent to voice mail. Tried emailing, got a response Tuesday that I needed to call. Called Wednesday, got authorization to return. Got my UPS shipping label emailed to me today.

Just noticed, the shipping label is UPS 2nd Day Air. When did they start shipping handguns that way?

I thought handguns had to ship Overnight.

 

[RonJon]

Deercop,

Thanks for the 'heads up' on that pin - I recently bought a new no-lock 442 and have fired 100 rounds through it. So far I found it reliable and accurate enough for carry and have been carrying it lately.

When I saw your post, I got mine out and examined that locking bolt pin and, sure enough, it was coming out off-centered to the right side. I'm sure within another 100 rounds the same thing would have happened to mine as it did to yours!

I took mine down to my shop, and while keeping the cylinder closed (which keeps the locking bolt and spring in place), I tapped out the pin part way with a fine nail set (that centers itself over the rounded pin end and helps to prevent a finish-marking slip) then the rest of the way out with a fine flat punch.

Then I placed the pin onto a steel plate and while holding a larger flat ended pin punch covering the side of the pin near one end I gave it a few whacks with a ball peen hammer to slightly flatten the pin at that end, which will give it a wedging effect when I reinstall it. (Be sure to control the pin when whacking it - it WILL fly unless you take measures to keep it trapped in place!)

Then I coated it with some blue locktite and tapped it back in nice and centered and gave it
a cleaning with a soft clean cloth to wipe off any locktite that seeped out around the pin before it hardened.

It seems now that it's very firmly in the hole and I now don't think it will cause any problems like you experienced. It shows no external evidence of the job I did on it

I didn't think that I needed to send mine back to S&W for what I did, but - since you lost parts - I understand why you did.

I hope this info helps others.

Ron

 

[roar]

is this an uncommon occurrence? I would hate for this to happen to my 442.

RonJon's solution seems like a good one, but I don't know if I would feel comfortable doing that. I feel like I would probably mess up and make things worse or something.

Will definitely be keeping an eye on that small pin from now on

 

[RonJon]

roar,

I's really no big deal - The biggest danger is if you drop the tiny pin and lose it, or send it flying across the room if you lose control of it while whacking it!

The 'whack' on the side of the pin is just to make the cross-section of one near-end area of the pin an oval instead of perfectly round ( instead of 'o', make it '0' to bear hard against the sides of the hole in the barrel lug.

Don't make the VERY end of the pin an oval - Just NEAR the end so that it doesn't show to the outside world.

Ron

 

[Gearhead Jim]

I seem to remember the J-frame armorer course mentioned that a loose pin could be "tightened" by bending it slightly, so it binds in the hole; just like allglock posted above.

 

[jeffrey]

I sent a gun back to Smith about 6 months ago for warranty work with a return label and it was Overnight. Did the same thing three weeks ago and it was 2nd day air. I don't know what changed in the interim as I thought that Overnight was some kind of legal requirement.

Sorry to hear about problems with your new 442s. (Makes me look fondly at my old 640.) But I'm sure that Smith will take care of you.

 

[Derek Enslen]

I just got my 642 back from s&w for a frame replacement due to a broken hammer stud. they sent me an overnight UPS label but returned the weapon to me via 2 day. they'll take care of you, I'm sure.

 

[shurhouse]

Just ck'ed my 442. The pin is coming out the right side also. I have about 250 rounds through it.