442 not so impressed

[bmcgilvray]

The older, classic Smith & Wesson products that we know and love are still out there. A good used "traditional" Smith & Wesson gives freedom from worry and avoids having to bail out to the Ruger LCR.

It's liberating to come to the conclusion that the acquisition of good used Smith & Wesson revolvers will be seeing me through the rest of my life.

 

[Ross3914]

My SIL has a Ruger LCR and I've shot it. His was a pretty nice shooting gun. I liked the trigger on it. I own a 642, wich I bought a couple years before he got the Ruger, and if I were to choose today, I'd seriously consider the LCR. As it is, I see no reason to switch either. The trigger on my 642 is heavy, but not binding anywhere.

While I understand the sentiment of holding S&W's feet to the fire and keep sending it back, there's something to be said for the easy road. There's a point where you simply don't want to deal with other people's mistakes over and over and selling and buying the LCR, or paying for a gunsmith to give the 442 a fantastic trigger are valid options.

I'd be interested in the factory Master Action Job. How good are they, and wouldn't they likely fix the problem during the work? That may be a way to go there.

 

[CA Escapee]

Is the bullet in the fifth round creeping forward? I know S&W recommends that people test their carry ammo in their Scandium framed guns by measuring the length of the "last round." (fifth or sixth round depending on frame size)

In your case, measure the length of the fifth round, fire the first four, extract the fifth and measure it again. If the bullet creeps forward from the recoil you'll see it.

Smith's recommendation, test different ammo from different manufacturers to find a load that won't creep forward from recoil.

If it's a bent extractor rod the problem should repeat even with no rounds in the gun.

I've got a 442 and I've fired 130 gr. WWB, Remington 125 gr. +P SPHP, Buffalo Bore 158 gr. +P SWHP, and 135 gr. +P Gold Dot SB's without a hitch.

Bill

 

[VonFatman]

Some really fantastic suggestions. I really do appreciate everyone's help. I will pull the gun out tomorrow and try the four rounds. I have an early M-36, a Terrier (with the later j-frame), an early pre-40, a Body Guard m-49... Etc....
I really do shoot j-frames and understand they are unique in their peculiarities. But this 442 has me befuddled. It's not like any of the others in pull, in the way it 'loads' as you pull and how it becomes so difficult to pull as you work through the cylinder.

I've not had any Smith act this way.

I'm not giving up.

Bob

 

[Rpg]

This is miserable performance by both S&W quality control and customer service.

You want a revolver that your daugher can rely on. S&W seems to be unwilling to take the time to understand the purpose of their product and meet reasonable function requirements or they simply want to pump out as many products as possible to maximize profits - hoping you and other consumers will either not discover the defects or will pass them on to less savy consumers.

Send it back, ask for a refund and then buy a used gun of an earlier era that you know will function.

As you know, earlier production S&W revolvers worked. Current production seems much too unreliable to trust to someone you love.

 

[Boge]

So, you have not marked the chamber in question yet somehow it only happens on the fifth (last) round or am I misunderstanding you? What ammo are you using? Have you checked the last round before shooting it for bullet crimp jump?

Whatever you do, do NOT install an aftermarket mainspring on a CCW. They are not 100% reliable with defensive ammo in all guns & J Frames have little leeway internally for altered geometry. You can however use a lower rebound spring, however check for reliability.

Again, what ammo are you shooting?

 

[CA Escapee]

So, you have not marked the chamber in question yet somehow it only happens on the fifth (last) round or am I misunderstanding you?

That's the problem I had with my 625 described in post #25 above.

VonFatman, try seeing if it's binding on the same charge hole every time by dry firing it. (The nice thing about a mechanical issue, if it can be called nice, is you don't have to fire any ammo.)

Plus, by dry firing it you can divide the problem in two. Either it's the ammo or it's the gun.

Bill

 

[kaaskop49]

CA Escapee...

CA Escapee made me recall a pre-10 'Frankenstein'/parts gun I was issued by a security firm years ago. Someone had hung all generations of parts on a re-blued over-the-pitting barrel/frame. Fast DA, it shot well, but the cylinder would drag across the top rear of the barrel at one point. Apparently, the crane/cylinder assembly was not mated (at all) to the frame. Could this be the problem on this 442, an inadequate b/c gap? Just thinking.

 

[VPNAVY]

VonFatman - don't leave me (and other's hanging) - did you try other rounds?

 

[VonFatman]

I ended up sending it off for trigger work. It was not a bit better after sending it back to S&W

I've not received it yet so I hope to try it soon....then give it to my daughter.

Bob

 

[VPNAVY]

Thanks for the update Bob. I completely understand your frustration with S&W. I would bet the S&W repair specialist didn't read your problem description and just did a clean and lubricate. Let us know how the trigger mod works - should be real nice.

 

[kaaskop49]

VonFatman: If it's that bad, ditch it and get something else. It's a carry/defense gun, it's gotta work. You wrote it malfunctioned in your daughter's hands; she will not trust the gun. I wouldn't either. Get her something that will work 100% of the time. Too many ifs and doubts here.

 

[Rick_A]

That's too bad. I love mine and it is perfect as is.

 

[b_san]

I would have kept sending it back to S&W on their dime until they either had it right or offered you a replacement. No offense intended but sending it off to a 3rd party gunsmith is now letting S&W off the hook and they won't have to do anything to make it right.

 

[Mister_Smith]

What's going on at S+W? I just keep reading thread after thread about bad guns. From 642 to proformence center guns.

I too have new S&W guns that have issues ranging from minor to less minor.

I also just bought a Mossberg, it too has an issue and I had them replace the barrel which is WORSE than the original. At a gun shop I looked at a few Mossbergs, their quality is slipping.

So is the quality of Ruger, Remington, Glock, etc. etc. I'm sure if you do a simple google search you'll see it's an industry wide problem not relegated to Smith alone.

It is frustrating, though. The good news, Smith & Wesson has one of the best customer service policies with their lifetime warranty, I gotta give 'em credit for that!

 

[joonbis]

I have a 340pd and just bought a 442 and bidding on another revolver now. I like the trigger and have had only good experiences with these. Good luck on yours

 

[ladder13]

I'll take a 442 or 642 over a Ruger any day.

 

[b_san]

I'll take any S&W over a Ruger any day.

fixed...

 

[Maximumbob54]

I've had to send back multiple S&W's at this point one with a cracked frame. My brand new Remlin I have nearly beat against a tree to put it out of my misery. I've never had to send in a Taurus and I own several. I always tell people to try a M85 or M605. Just inspect it first like you should any and all firearms purchase. I've also never had to send back a Ruger but I admit you may want to watch a video or two and polish up some internals which is really easy to do. Or just go buy the LCR you wanted in the first place. I hate to talk so bad about S&W but this last few years I've not had the best of luck with the latest being a M327 R8 with the PC stamp on the side that so far I wish I had avoided.