A New or Different S&W Rant

[graydog]

In the past year or two I have read a whole lot of posts on all the problems that people on this forum have had with there new S&W guns.

Well I am here to say that in the last four to five years I have bought 1 model 25 in 45 colt, three model 686's, one 386 hunter, one 610 10mm, two 629 guns, one 460 and one 500.

All these guns were bought new and I have fired thousands of rounds through them (all together) with I might add not one problem so I say way to go Smith & Wesson not everything you make is bad.

I have had to get a couple of the older pre lock model guns that I have purchased used repaired by a gunsmith but to me that is just the cost of shooting.

Just my two cents worth. Keep the stories coming fellows as I love to read them and see how they get taking care of.

Graydog

 

[BobR1]

I am glad to hear that.
I am in the same camp. I have several Smiths, and five Rugers at the moment. I tune on them, and change springs. I have Ron Power make them even better for me. I have not however had a problem with any of them.
My Ruger MK III leaves an empty in the chamber now and again causing a jam. Probably a magazine issue with one of the 8 magazines I own for it. One of these days I will take a few minutes and isolate the problem.

I have no idea how many Smith & Wesson revolvers I have owned over the last 40 years. As far as real repairs, I have had an ejector star locator pin replaced that was missing. It was running fine. Ron Power discovered it was missing when he was going over it.
I did have a problem with an AMT Hardballer back in 1977 or 1978. The barrel locking lugs seperated from the barrel tube. I got it fixed, and sold it. I have only owned Colt 1911's since then with no problems at all.

One problem on the internet ends up looking like a plague.

Bob

 

[getoff]

mine are all good. it seems like one story turns into a rash of complaints. all may be true, but some may rise from the actual customer. you catch more flies with honey than vinegar...

 

[texasjarhead]

I bought my first S&W about 5 years ago. It was an old Victory someone had "re-finished". That started my current OCD of buying just about any S&W I run across, at a good price. Since that first Victory, I've traded/bought for several model 10's, several model 19's, several model 66's, several model 64's, a model 13, and 4 model 686's. Of all of these revolvers, only two had "problems" which were in no way attributable to S&W. A model 64 had the trigger "tuned" by the previous owner so as not to be safe, and my first 686 had literally been "worn out" by it's previous owner (hand and extractor star worn too badly). I attribute these two guns to the chance I take when buying a used gun at the gun show. All my others have been examples of excellent American craftsmanship!

 

[fyimo]

I have a few newer S&W's like my 2 Model 617 do dashs and they fire every time.

 

[geddylee10002000]

I have bought 3 1911's & 3 revolvers and aside from small very fixable by me problems, they shoot every time. I am looking forward to maybe a couple of wants this next year.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I started a thread on my 637 cracking its frame. That doesn't mean I think they are all trash. I would hope it would help someone else out there know where and what to look for though. Not all problems are really complaints dept material. Just as many of them are general FYI material like mine was. Maybe now some unsuspecting buyer or user will have that extra bit of knowledge and may even know what questions to ask to help solve their problem.

 

[willydd]

My 642, 3913, 617 and 63 are all fine, with no issues.

 

[brucev]

I have owned a pile of S&W revolvers... new and old style, 4/3 screw, blue and stainless steel. I had one 624 Mountain Gun that simply would not group well regardless of what ammunition I used including .44 Mag., .44 Special and assorted standard reloads that had always given good result with other .44 revolvers. That is one handgun out of I don't know how many others. Currently I own seven nice S&W revolvers... from .22 LR through .38/.357 to .44 Special and .45 ACP. Without exception each of the revolvers has been superlative in fit, finish, mechanical function and on target accuracy. I have not ever had a single misfire with these or any other S&W revolvers I've owned/used. YMMV.

 

[Ashlander]

It's good to have a positive rant going. It's a nice reminder that the guns with QA issues are a small fraction of total guns going out the door (but, as is human nature, we will talk more about that gun with a defect than the gun that shoots-and-looks-fine-thank-you-very-much).

 

[10-12]

I started a thread on my 637 cracking its frame. That doesn't mean I think they are all trash. I would hope it would help someone else out there know where and what to look for though. Not all problems are really complaints dept material. Just as many of them are general FYI material like mine was. Maybe now some unsuspecting buyer or user will have that extra bit of knowledge and may even know what questions to ask to help solve their problem.

I, too, have had good success with new S&W's but I would not criticize you, rather, I respect and appreciate you. I suspect that I had no problems because men such as you took the trouble to let the company know when they put out a defective product. In short, folks such as you keep the company honest and allow the rest of us to enjoy trouble free shooting from the git go.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Tyrod]

One thing folks have to take into account is there may be "plants" from other gun company's here. I know that serious modern companies take the internet and product forums quit seriously and monitor (at least superficially) the activities of forums, expecially the ones that pertain to their brand. Even if the companies don't "infiltrate" other brands forums, there are always those misguided trolls that are out to dis a brand that isn't their favorite.

The A/V forums are rife with trolls, some of which may me competitor sponsored. So ya gotta take certain threads with a grain of salt.