642 problem
- Thread starter johngalt
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white cloud
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After the 640 Pro firing pin broke I did some research. I asked a very experienced gun smith about my problem. In his opinion dry firing with 640 was not a good idea. I have dry fired my Glock pistol a lot more and it seems fine. I asked the gun smith about that. His thinking was the Glock striker was a lot more robust than the S&W design. Being an old bulls eye national match shooter, I consider dry firing very important.
I really don't care for autoloading pistols much but given the revolver's limitations and issues along with where things seem to be headed crime wise I am really beginning to wonder.
I really don't care for autoloading pistols much but given the revolver's limitations and issues along with where things seem to be headed crime wise I am really beginning to wonder.
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lefty_jake
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I had a 642 where the trigger stud broke. When handling the gun, the problem was not as obvious as you would expect. The end of the stud was still captured by the sideplate, so you could pull the trigger, and it would come about half way back, and then the hammer would drop. So the gun was obviously broken, and it would not fire, but it was not so obvious that the internals were seriously broken.
Well, the end of the trigger stud was captured by the sideplate up until I took the sideplate off to get a look. After that, it was very difficult to get the sideplate back on. I really thought I might have to send it back for warranty service with the sideplate and internals in a ziplock bag.
So while I am glad I opened the gun and got to look at everything, you should be aware that some types of breakage can make reassembly very difficult.
I will also mention that S&W was very helpful with the warranty and sent me a new replacement revolver in a timely fashion.
Also, this 642 had been shot quite a bit. It was one of my main practice guns for a while, and it had been shot much more than most aluminum frame snubbies ever get shot. So this experience has not soured me on the 642. I still like them.
Well, the end of the trigger stud was captured by the sideplate up until I took the sideplate off to get a look. After that, it was very difficult to get the sideplate back on. I really thought I might have to send it back for warranty service with the sideplate and internals in a ziplock bag.
So while I am glad I opened the gun and got to look at everything, you should be aware that some types of breakage can make reassembly very difficult.
I will also mention that S&W was very helpful with the warranty and sent me a new replacement revolver in a timely fashion.
Also, this 642 had been shot quite a bit. It was one of my main practice guns for a while, and it had been shot much more than most aluminum frame snubbies ever get shot. So this experience has not soured me on the 642. I still like them.
max503
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Good chance that gun had a defect. Lucky for the OP he found out during practice.
I dry fire everything except 22's and never had a problem. It's how you practice.
I dry fire everything except 22's and never had a problem. It's how you practice.
OP
I took the grips off but couldn't find my 'correct' screwdriver and didn't want to bugger the screws, so I left it alone.
The mainspring assembly was a little wobbly (not under tension) in the frame, so the hammer is definitely forward (not cocked).
Got the Fedex return label yesterday (1/19), dropped it off this morning. They say it should arrive Monday.
The mainspring assembly was a little wobbly (not under tension) in the frame, so the hammer is definitely forward (not cocked).
Got the Fedex return label yesterday (1/19), dropped it off this morning. They say it should arrive Monday.
OP
Got a letter from S&W 1/27 acknowledging receipt. So now I wait...
S&W just replaced my cracked frame early (non plus P rated) 642 with a 442NL (my request). I have no complaints.
OP
Did they inform you they were replacing it? Did they propose that a different model was possible, or did you bring it up? A no lock 642 would be a pleasant surprise.
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pistolpete10
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S&W has quality problems these days. The last 3 or 4 revolvers I bought had something wrong with them, it's not just S&W.
OP
My 642 arrived back from the mother ship today (2/23), so right around 4 week turn around. Given the current situation, that is quicker than I expected.
The repair order is pretty thin on details. It just says:
Timing issue, repair trigger, repair yoke.
Since those are both steel parts, I guess that being aluminum had nothing to do with it. I'll have to make time this weekend to test it.
In the meantime, since it has been sitting in a FedEx truck in sub zero weather, I won't open it until it warms up. Don't want water condensing in it.
The repair order is pretty thin on details. It just says:
Timing issue, repair trigger, repair yoke.
Since those are both steel parts, I guess that being aluminum had nothing to do with it. I'll have to make time this weekend to test it.
In the meantime, since it has been sitting in a FedEx truck in sub zero weather, I won't open it until it warms up. Don't want water condensing in it.
Glad you got it back safe and sound.
Possibly another "long ratchet" scenario perhaps? All too frequent these days.
My "shoots around corners" Pro Series 442 did exactly the same thing right out of the box. Wouldn't function properly. Ratchets had been pre- cut with the cutting lever, but never finished by hand.
Possibly another "long ratchet" scenario perhaps? All too frequent these days.
My "shoots around corners" Pro Series 442 did exactly the same thing right out of the box. Wouldn't function properly. Ratchets had been pre- cut with the cutting lever, but never finished by hand.
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Before I started regularly using snap caps with both revolvers and semi-auto's I managed to break the tip off the firing pin of a Mod 66. This was a bunch of years ago. Caught the next LE repairs return to S&W with it and had it back in my hands in about a week.
Even .22's can be dry fired if you use fired cases or specific size (#8 3/4") plastic drywall anchors. With both each position is good for a few "pops" before it's necessary to rotate the case/anchor a to a clean spot.
Even .22's can be dry fired if you use fired cases or specific size (#8 3/4") plastic drywall anchors. With both each position is good for a few "pops" before it's necessary to rotate the case/anchor a to a clean spot.
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I missed the reply in post 28 above and to answer Johngalt's question -
Around end of last September I saw a posting about cracked frames on 642s. I had an early one (pre plus P rating) which I had owned since new. It was carried a lot but round count was relatively low and never shot with plus P. The crack was there below the base of the barrel as show in the other posts and in the photo below with tip of my knife pointing to crack. I called S&W customer service who gave me a fedEx shipping label. In just over a months time they notified me they would honor the warranty claim, destroy the gun and replace it with a 642 NL. I asked if I could substitute a 442 NL as I really prefer blued guns and they agreed, but the gun was on back order. I got a shipping notification in January. The gun I received has no finish or quality control issues that I can see and shoots to point of aim. So I'm very satisfied.
Also I like to dry fire with snap caps - prefer the AZoom aluminum ones but I've never broken any guns dry firing without them - revolver or semi auto.
Around end of last September I saw a posting about cracked frames on 642s. I had an early one (pre plus P rating) which I had owned since new. It was carried a lot but round count was relatively low and never shot with plus P. The crack was there below the base of the barrel as show in the other posts and in the photo below with tip of my knife pointing to crack. I called S&W customer service who gave me a fedEx shipping label. In just over a months time they notified me they would honor the warranty claim, destroy the gun and replace it with a 642 NL. I asked if I could substitute a 442 NL as I really prefer blued guns and they agreed, but the gun was on back order. I got a shipping notification in January. The gun I received has no finish or quality control issues that I can see and shoots to point of aim. So I'm very satisfied.
Also I like to dry fire with snap caps - prefer the AZoom aluminum ones but I've never broken any guns dry firing without them - revolver or semi auto.
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OP
There was apparently no frame damage (hammer stud was not broken like I suspected), so I got the same gun back. The IL has never been a problem, so not really a big deal for me. I was never contacted by S&W in any way about the repair. The only contact was an email a couple days ago that a FedEx package was on the way with an estimated delivery date.
It seems to be functioning properly, so all is good again.
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