Angry 642UC and 442UC owner

[ladder13]

Yes let's clear this up I did tell the buyer

I, too, stand corrected.

 

[catcus-jack]

I just received my 642 UC a couple of days ago.
I have put about 200 rds through it mostly mixed brands and weights.
The gun has been perfect.Fit,finish and sights are also perfect.

 

[H Richard]

Maybe I have been very lucky. I predominantly buy used guns, maybe 15% new guns. The only S&W I have ever had to send back for any kind of repair was my 686 no dash for the recall, (even though it had no signs of the problem).
Now, I haven't been a buyer of any guns in the last several years, as I have been gradually selling off my collection. As I see it, this problem of QC has only been a problem in the last couple of years?

 

[Well Armed]

Maybe I have been very lucky. I predominantly buy used guns, maybe 15% new guns. The only S&W I have ever had to send back for any kind of repair was my 686 no dash for the recall, (even though it had no signs of the problem).
Now, I haven't been a buyer of any guns in the last several years, as I have been gradually selling off my collection. As I see it, this problem of QC has only been a problem in the last couple of years?

It's been a problem longer than the last 2 years, but I think it has gotten much worse since COVID and them moving some of their operations out of Massachusetts. They're spiting out between 800 to over a million revolvers annual over the past few years. Quantity and stock holder profits over quantity and their customers. Unlike with most retailer products, they know we can return it to them for a full refund after our purchase, so their primary goal is to make the sale and then worry about everything else later.

On the bright side, Colt, Ruger, Kimber, and Taurus/Rossi seem to value their customers more than S&W. They are all stealing more and more of S&W's market shares. Hopefully, S&W will eventually stop being complacent.

 

[steelslaver]

The only new S&W I have ever had any real problem with was the 18-4 I bought maybe 40 years ago. Yhat was the beginning of the no pin guns. Barrel barrel started turning off and hitchy trigger. I took the barreel off and used a small punch to tap around the barrel shoulder. The punch displaces a bit of metal around the spot. That cured that and it never moved until I fit a 4" jet barrel to it. A couple swipes acrross the face of the ratchet to clean off some burrs and it smooth right out. Thousands ad thousands of rounds been through it

I have bough several new alloy J frames, both in 32 and 38 and haven't had a problem with them.

Yhe problem with the OPs gun was most likely tight ratchet teeth and would have cleared up witch a couple hundred dry fires. When you pull the trigger and the trigger and cylinder stick before it fires, what is happening is the hand can't make it by the tooth, then when it does go back the hand being stuck by ratchet holds the trigger from resetting. Or it could be face of cylinder dragging on rear barrel face or even a zero end shake deal. ALL very easily fixed in short order by a knowledgeable person.

I do believe this is another example of S&W current having "assemblers" sticking all the parts in a frame instead of someone who cares and takes pride fitting them to each other. Then no quality control oversight.

,, I also firmly believe that if you want to shoot revolvers you best learn some basic skills, because REVOLVER smiths are a dying breed snf quality isn't ever going to be what it once was

 

[old bear]

The one and only one time I had to send a revolver back to S&W, it was a 686 CS1, I got it back real quick. It was fixed and fixed properly, at no cost to me.

It's a shame that these things happen, but S&W did a good job in a timely fashion for me.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Manufacturers have learned that they will be more profitable if they push some of the quality control off on the consumer. There is an effort to make sure only quality products leave the factory, but not so much that every item works, because we have proven that is all that we are willing to pay for. Sorry you experienced this; but thank you for "taking the hit".

 

[jeffrefrig]

Sorry about your bad luck, but there must be scores of unhappy new S&W, among other brands, owners. I bought two of my girls a 442 Airweight and a lightweight 642, I think. I have no clue what UC stands for, but it seems these are the ones with issues. I feel on these little revolvers you really don't need to spend extra for adjustable sights or light up front sights. They are not target guns. They are great for about 20' save your butt shots. Get a Hellcat if you want to spray and pray.
But, whatever you pay isn't pocket change, so you should get a good product from a reputable company. Keep sending them back until the blind squirrel finds the issue and actually fixes the gun. Good luck.