642-1 already on it's way back to me!!!

[Hossbreed]

Howdy. I'm a new member here but I have owned many, many Smiths for over 40 years and have never had to send one in for warranty work until now.

On 05/24/15 I took my brand new S&W 642-1 .38 Special revolver (serial# CXR6xxx) out for the very first time to a local range and after firing 5 rounds of commercial Federal .38 special hollow-point ammunition (NOT +P) I noticed a problem: When I tried to open the cylinder to unload the firearm I found that the YOKE had become "stuck" within the FRAME. I STOPPED SHOOTING THIS FIREARM IMMEDIATELY!!!

I took the firearm home and cleaned it hoping that the problem might be residue buildup, but that didn't solve the problem. There is an audible "snap" when the yoke/cylinder is pushed back into the frame. Opening the cylinder now requires quite a bit of force to open. It will not easily fall open as it did before.

I contacted S&W and received a shipping label and shipped the firearm back to them on 05/29/15.

Do any of you have any ideas as to what may have happened? Did the aluminum frame "twist" or something?

Feel free to email me at [email protected].

Thanks.

 

[ContinentalOp]

My guess is that the extractor rod loosened.

First, put empty cases or dummy rounds in the chambers. While holding the cylinder with one hand tighten the extractor rod with the other. It's probably a left-hand thread, so lefty-tighty, righty-loosy. If the cylinder opens and closes easily after doing that then it was the extractor rod.

Edit: Oops...I skipped over the part where you said you sent it back to them.

 

[Hossbreed]

My guess is that the extractor rod loosened.

First, put empty cases or dummy rounds in the chambers. While holding the cylinder with one hand tighten the extractor rod with the other. It's probably a left-hand thread, so lefty-tighty, righty-loosy. If the cylinder opens and closes easily after doing that then it was the extractor rod.

Edit: Oops...I skipped over the part where you said you sent it back to them.

Thank you but I removed the cylinder assy from the yoke and placed the yoke back into the frame all by itself. It "snaps" into the frame and force is needed to "snap" it open again. Definitely something wrong.

 

[Old cop]

I had the similar problem (cylinder slid off yoke) w/a new M&P 340 and sent it in. It was back to me in about a week w/very little written explanation, but it worked.

 

[Hossbreed]

I had the similar problem (cylinder slid off yoke) w/a new M&P 340 and sent it in. It was back to me in about a week w/very little written explanation, but it worked.

Thanks Old Cop. I too am an old retired LEO - from Southern Kalifornia. I now live in the gun-free state of Nevada. Boy, a week turn around would be great! I'm usually not so fortunate though - LOL! Thanks for your service brother.

 

[Hossbreed]

Today I received a form email from S&W stating that my 642 had been received. I guess the waiting game starts now, huh?

 

[Hossbreed]

I just received notification from S&W that my 642 is already on it's way back to me. Seriously? They fixed it that quickly?

Has anyone else out there had a gun returned this quickly? I'd like to hear about your experience.

 

[jimmyj]

I have had several Model 642s. Only problem was the finish started to peel off

 

[bigggbbruce]

I just received notification from S&W that my 642 is already on it's way back to me. Seriously? They fixed it that quickly?

Has anyone else out there had a gun returned this quickly? I'd like to hear about your experience.

I've sent a few pistols in this year.

The warranty work was done within' 2-3 days each time.

Work done in the Performance Center is up to 6 weeks just for the estimate..

 

[M&P340]

My daily carry is a 642. I shot some Buffalo Bore +p through it and had the same thing happen. Turn around time was a week. The BB ammo accidentally went though the washer. In hind sight I probably should have tossed it.

 

[Alk8944]

The BB ammo accidentally went though the washer. In hind sight I probably should have tossed it.

So? What is your point? Ammunition that has been through a washer will usually sustain no damage as it is pretty well air tight, let alone water tight. If it suffers any damage the result would a mis-fire, not anything that wild cause harm to the gun! Why do you think you should have tossed it?

 

[Hossbreed]

My daily carry is a 642. I shot some Buffalo Bore +p through it and had the same thing happen. Turn around time was a week. The BB ammo accidentally went though the washer. In hind sight I probably should have tossed it.

So what was the problem that they fixed?

 

[M&P340]

So what was the problem that they fixed?

They didn't say. There wasn't any info when it was returned. I didn't know if water would ruin ammo. All five rounds fired. It's possible my 642 doesn't like BB ammo.

 

[Hossbreed]

They didn't say. There wasn't any info when it was returned. I didn't know if water would ruin ammo. All five rounds fired. It's possible my 642 doesn't like BB ammo.

I'm just trying to get a handle on what caused my 642 problem. Did your cylinder yoke lockup in the frame like mine did? Are the BB cartridges high pressure (+P)? Did they fix your gun or send you a new one? Any more info will be appreciated...

 

[Hossbreed]

...and I don't understand why S&W doesn't send an explanation of the warranty work performed when the gun is returned.