A Cautionary Tale

[Bootheel]

Well, it finally happened, I got burned on gunbroker. After buying several used firearms on the auction site with no problems my most recent purchase has proven disappointing.

I won an auction for an 686+ with a 3 inch barrel. It was priced unusually low (which should have been a warning) but the provided pictures showed no issues I could see. It was listed as used but in good shape and the seller is a Top 100 seller with nothing but good reviews. I was wary that I won without any other bids. What had I missed? I was distracted by her sexy Altamont boot grips and shiny stainless finish.

After I got her home I started cleaning and lubing, eager to take her out to the local range the next day. I loaded the cylinder with snap caps and pulled the trigger. Single action was predictably sweet, but I noticed double action was unusually heavy, felt like 15 lbs. I just figured the lube would lighten it up a bit. Then it happened. I pulled the trigger and immediately noticed it felt gritty and reset about halfway forward and stopped. I slowly pulled the trigger again and noticed both the hammer and cylinder were not moving. Knowing I was way over my head I placed it back into its blue box and sent off for a shipping label, which I received today.

I don't blame the seller although I really want to. They did list it as used and probably pulled the trigger a few times and called it good. I probably got about 10 double action pulls before she went teats up.

Lesson learned.

 

[Ashlander]

Let us when what was wrong with it once you get it back.

 

[riverrat38]

Interesting to see if S&W fixes the revolver under warranty, since you are not the original purchaser.
If they do repair the revolver at no cost, including shipping, I think there is a positive in this. I would feel good about having the factory gunsmiths checking out my new purchase.
As Ashlander said above, please keep us informed.

Best,
Rick

 

[292]

Could be that you get a great gun at a great price in the end.

 

[S&WsRsweet]

Yes keep us updated as to how this goes also I sure hate you are having this issue in the first place good luck.

 

[Bakebfr480]

You didn't pull the sideplate and check it out???

 

[zogger]

Sad story but hope it has a happy ending.

 

[b_san]

That's hardly getting "burned" on GunBroker.

 

[iPac]

That's hardly getting "burned" on GunBroker.

I agree. What happen to the OP is just the normal "gamble" of buying online without a hands on inspection. All you can do is take as many steps as possible to avoid mechanical problem guns, but can't catch everything and you are greatly dependent on the seller for some things. That's why I always say choose the seller wisely, cause even popular ones can be scammers.

No, getting "burned" on GB is buying a $3K/$4K Colt Python from a Top 100 seller with thousands of A+ feedback only to find out it was refinished and mated up with reproduction box and paper.

So there have been many people burned on GB, but I wouldn't consider this as one of them.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Sounds like a little dirt. It is amazing what a little unburnt powder or a tiny shaving of brass can do inside an action. I'm sure S&W will fix her up more than likely free of charge.

 

[AveragEd]

You didn't pull the sideplate and check it out???

That would likely void the factory warranty and any seller return policy.

Ed

 

[Camster]

I agree. What happen to the OP is just the normal "gamble" of buying online without a hands on inspection. All you can do is take as many steps as possible to avoid mechanical problem guns, but can't catch everything and you are greatly dependent on the seller for some things. That's why I always say choose the seller wisely, cause even popular ones can be scammers.

No, getting "burned" on GB is buying a $3K/$4K Colt Python from a Top 100 seller with thousands of A+ feedback only to find out it was refinished and mated up with reproduction box and paper.

So there have been many people burned on GB, but I wouldn't consider this as one of them.

And I agree."Burned" is when the seller doesn't ship the gun,or fabricates an excuse why his stated three day inspection doesn't apply to this particular gun,after you take issue with it..
He very well could have been unknowing of an issue with this one.Dirt,gum,whatever...almost sounds like it bound up from tight B/C gap, once it got warm.

 

[Arquebus357]

That would likely void the factory warranty and any seller return policy.

Ed

Really ? Does S&W use "tattletale" paint markings like Honda or something like that ?

 

[rwsmith]

If they don't specifically say....

If they don't specifically describe how the internals work, I ask. I hope you come out with refurbished gun for a good price.

 

[riverrat38]

That would likely void the factory warranty and any seller return policy.

Ed

I removed the side plate of my new M66-8 snub. I added lube and wiped things down. The revolver was spitting back in my face so I shipped it back to S&W for warranty work. They repaired the problem, and returned the gun to me at no cost. I think you would be OK as long as no modifications were made. Grinding off the IL might be a problem!

Best,
Rick

 

[Ashlander]

That would likely void the factory warranty and any seller return policy.

Ed

My 686-6 had a odd feeling trigger pull, so I took the side plate off and discovered the hammer stud was broken. With the stud broken I couldn't even get the side plate back on with the hammer in it. So, after calling customer service, I put the gun and hammer separately in a box and sent it in. They fixed it for free almost two years ago. They paid for shipping both ways. Took 7 days total.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Nothing over the internet.

 

[k22fan]

[...] I loaded the cylinder with snap caps and pulled the trigger. Single action was predictably sweet, but I noticed double action was unusually heavy, felt like 15 lbs. I just figured the lube would lighten it up a bit. Then it happened. I pulled the trigger and immediately noticed it felt gritty and reset about halfway forward and stopped. I slowly pulled the trigger again and noticed both the hammer and cylinder were not moving. Knowing I was way over my head I placed it back into its blue box and sent off for a shipping label, which I received today. [...]

It is normal for "the hammer and cylinder [...] not moving" if the trigger is pulled again double action after the trigger only reset "halfway forward." Usually failure to reset is the result of over shortening the rebound spring or replacing it with one that is too weak for the specific action. The lightest springs in a (for example) Wolff rebound spring kit will not return an action with a heavy, gritty factory trigger pull. At first glance it appears that the original poster panicked. He may have lucked into getting his 686 at the "unusually low" starting bid only because the potential competition were watching a home run or had already spent their budget. A new rebound spring from S&W is about $10. While he is replacing it he can wipe off all the internal parts and clean out any crud. There are more than enough instructions 500 Magnum Nut's Frequently Asked Questions sticky thread in S&Wsmithing: FAQ's This does not take a mechanic. Man up and save your bargain!

By the way, prior replies demonstrate how poorly many of us often read posts. The original poster did not write whether he got a return shipping label from S&W or the Gun Broker seller. A few replies assumed it was from S&W's customer service. Also, one member attributed the trigger not resetting to heat expansion from firing but the original poster wrote he only loaded it with snap caps. However, this is like a kettle calling the pot black. I've done worse.

 

[SeamasterSig]

Something similar happened to me in person buying a used Kahr P9 "as is". I didn't find out it had extraction issues until I took it to the range. You would think that the shop's gunsmith would have caught the issue in a thorough inspection, but if he only fired a couple rounds, maybe not. I called the manufacturer and explained what was happening and they said to 'send it in'. Kahr repaired it for free and even polished the feed ramp and chamber area as a bonus. For good measure I had them install tritium sights while they were at it, so they did make a little money off me, but other than that I only paid shipping one way.

They could have refused to repair it under warranty because I was not the original owner as per their stated policy, but the customer service rep I spoke to was very nice and responsive. Having to send in a new-to-me gun for repair in the first place was annoying, but in the end I got a better gun so it all worked out.

For the record, the gun shop asked me to call the manufacturer first before bringing it back to them and said that if Kahr wouldn't repair it for free, they would cover the cost, explaining that if they made the call it would cost much more given that they were a licensed dealer and not a private owner.

 

[hemiram]

I've never had a bad gun from a Gunbroker seller. The only moment of "Oh no!" I've had was on one of the dozen or so Dan Wesson 15-2's I've bought since 2006. I pulled the trigger and it fired normally, but the trigger was stuck back and I had to use a butter knife with tape on it to pry it back. I opened it up and somehow the trigger spring was put in wrong, and the gun was loaded up with crud, some of it was probably factory lube, and some was some sort of wheel bearing grease. It was loaded with giant unburned powder particles too. I was going to take it all apart anyway, and I ended up replacing the hand spring and the trigger spring just in case as they both appeared to have been "pliered" and had marks on them that I've seen turn into breakage points over time. In 15 minutes it was good to go. It's hard to mess up the amazingly simple DW mechanism, but someone managed to do it.