Another Disappointment with Modern S&W QC (632-UC)

[Eagle1*]

S&W received my 442UC on April 10th and I called the last 2 weeks and they said it was in the system and in line. Mine too was only sent in for a sight swap and boy did I make a mistake sending it in. Should have just had them send me the sight and went from there. I am NOT happy with this at all but I can't do anything about it though. I had the gun 3 days and never shot it and sent it in right away. Now the wait....


BTW, if you do decide to send it in, take multiple close up pics of the barrel and around the sight and where the pin will be "punched" in that holds the sight on. If I get mine back and it looks bad, It will go back with some of my pics indicating that it did not look that way when I sent it in. Sad that this has become the norm for many things we buy now days...

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

I sent my 442UC back on April 1 due to a timing issue. I received it back today. They replaced the hammer and ejector rod, and repaired the yoke. It went to the range today. Other than shooting a couple of inches high it was great.

 

[jcelect]

632

My 632 came with "the lights out" also, which did not bother me other than not being as advertised! 3 days ago, I held a high intensity LED flashlight about one inch away from the front sight for about 3 mins. I just checked the sight and it is still glowing in the dark!
jcelect

 

[NY-1]

For the sake of an update, I sent the gun back to S&W via my LGS a few days ago. I look forward to seeing what the repair timeline is going to be like compared to the quick turnaround when I sent a GP100 to Ruger last year.

 

[SWFan27]

I just purchased another S&W revolver, a Model 617. I ordered from the online store of my LGS and once they received it from their distributor, I filled out the California paperwork and started my 10-day waiting period before I can take it home. I pick it up tomorrow.

I was very bummed to open the blue S&W case and see horrible coloring job on the MIM trigger. There are a couple black streaks on one side of the silverish trigger and black coloring on about half of the other side. The one side looks like it has a couple oil marks. I tried wiping them off when I first picked it up. The MIM triggers on my other S&W's are all black looking. Just like on the S&W website.

It is basically a thousand dollar 22 target revolver and S&W should have caught that before it left the factory. It just sucks to have to wait to bring it home, and then have to send it to S&W for warranty work to replace the trigger. Lord willing, they will get back to me quickly.

 

[Beju]

Do you have a picture?

My 686 and 642UC triggers have a case hardened look finish. Not an especially attractive finish, by any means, but it was clearly intentional.

 

[SWFan27]

The MIM trigger on my 686+ looks fine. The trigger on the 617 should look just like the 686. The 617 looks like a 686, but it is a K frame and chambered in 22LR. I will post pictures when I finally pick it up tomorrow from my LGS.

 

[SWFan27]

I picked up my new S&W 617 today and went to the range to put the first couple hundred rounds through it. I love the thing already and may just live with the ugly looking trigger, at least for now. I can always send it back to Smith & Wesson for a warranty swap on the trigger if I change my mind. GREAT trigger right out of the box. The more shots I fired, the better it felt.

 

[catcus-jack]

Ask them to send you a new one. It should be a one roll pin removal installation - a 2 minute job.

It is more than a 2 minute job.
You have to drill the roll pin hole in the new sight,it has to be done very carefully or you can ruin the pistol and or the sight.

 

[bipe215]

I replaced the front sight on my sons 632. Would’ve been a 5 minute job if I hadn’t dropped the roll pin. Took a while to find it. I have a new 432 and love it.

 

[NY-1]

After a little over a month turnaround, I have my 632 back. The replaced sight is a major improvement over the one it originally shipped with. It still appears to be slightly off-center in the opposite direction this time, but it glows much better and isn't broken and discolored in the middle. I look forward to getting it out to shoot to ensure it doesn't suffer from light primer strikes. Fingers crossed that S&W can improve its quality control, because this is a pretty slick piece that's deserving of a fair chance to continue to take the market by storm!

 

[Skater4790]

632 problems

I purchased a new 632 UC and didn’t noticed until a few weeks later that the roll pin for the front sight was missing. There wasn’t even a hole. Also 32 H&R stamp was missing from the barrel. I called Smith and Wesson and they had me send the gun in. I received the gun a month later. They did a terrible job on installing the roll pin (pin came out 1/3 of the way after shooting) and the 32 H&R stamp on the barrel looks like ****.

 

[stansdds]

I purchased a new 632 UC and didn’t noticed until a few weeks later that the roll pin for the front sight was missing. There wasn’t even a hole. Also 32 H&R stamp was missing from the barrel. I called Smith and Wesson and they had me send the gun in. I received the gun a month later. They did a terrible job on installing the roll pin (pin came out 1/3 of the way after shooting) and the 32 H&R stamp on the barrel looks like ****.

Given the current state of affairs regarding S&W's quality control, I would not buy a new S&W firearm without giving it a thorough inspection.

 

[scooter123]

If you do contact them I would advise that you ask to have it replaced with a plain White dot. Because IMO these tritium sights are worthless. They are too dim to really be effective in the dark and become invisible at a typical indoor range. Meanwhile a simple White dot is visible in near dark conditions and very visible in lighting brighter than near dare. Frankly IMO these tritium sights are just a gimmick so the suckers who buy them can show off to there friends how they are slightly visible in the dark. BTW, keep that gun for 10 years and you will find out pretty quickly how truly useless these sights are.

 

[NY-1]

I purchased a new 632 UC and didn’t noticed until a few weeks later that the roll pin for the front sight was missing. There wasn’t even a hole. Also 32 H&R stamp was missing from the barrel. I called Smith and Wesson and they had me send the gun in. I received the gun a month later. They did a terrible job on installing the roll pin (pin came out 1/3 of the way after shooting) and the 32 H&R stamp on the barrel looks like ****.

Geez, that 32 H&R stamping is horrifically bad. I'd find it hard not to keep contacting the factory or get in touch with Lipsey's to see if they had any sway after a job like that.

 

[Skater4790]

I’m afraid to send it back. Plus I used it for my HR218 qualification and if I sent it back I’ll be without my edc for a month. The gun shoots great and trigger is very smooth. Also I’m used to carrying an ugly gun, I carried a Glock for most of my career.

 

[SWFan27]

I sent my new Model 617-6 back to S&W because it was shaving lead at the forcing cone, but one issue I did not mention to S&W were some factory tooling mark scratches on one side of the barrel of my stainless 617. I was impressed that when I got it back from S&Ws warranty department, the scratches were no longer there.

The work performed list noted two issues. 1. Cut forcing cone. 2. Refinish gun complete. S&W checked it in on 7/3 and I got it back yesterday 8/12. Five weeks is pretty quick turnaround time. Kudos to Smith & Wesson.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

And the beat goes on.... at S&W, "the customer is our final inspector", has given way to ThE cUsTomEr iS oUr oNlY InspEcTor.

I've criticized the nonsense and hoopla around this "Ultimate Carry" J frame, and read and watched while many specimens have come out of the box unfit for service, much less the price paid. I notice they are packaged in the cardboard box - bottom of the line - as opposed to the plastic case reserved for their "better" (sic) guns. So much for Pride of the Ultimate...

In the interests of justice and fairness, my LGS had two of these in stock, and after examining them in the shop - to the extent they will let you examine the - I purchased seemingly least problematical of the two (one had a very large yoke frame gap).

I would post my review of this revolver here, but the fan boy prayer rug crowd would be all over me: will probably post it elsewhere. I like S&W guns and have used them for 40 years, but these things are a marketing gimmick and a QC nightmare. I spent 4 hours fixing mine to get it right. They are far from the "Ultimate".

 

[Zayde]

And the beat goes on.... at S&W, "the customer is our final inspector", has given way to ThE cUsTomEr iS oUr oNlY InspEcTor.

I've criticized the nonsense and hoopla around this "Ultimate Carry" J frame, and read and watched while many specimens have come out of the box unfit for service, much less the price paid. I notice they are packaged in the cardboard box - bottom of the line - as opposed to the plastic case reserved for their "better" (sic) guns. So much for Pride of the Ultimate...

In the interests of justice and fairness, my LGS had two of these in stock, and after examining them in the shop - to the extent they will let you examine the - I purchased seemingly least problematical of the two (one had a very large yoke frame gap).

I would post my review of this revolver here, but the fan boy prayer rug crowd would be all over me: will probably post it elsewhere. I like S&W guns and have used them for 40 years, but these things are a marketing gimmick and a QC nightmare. I spent 4 hours fixing mine to get it right. They are far from the "Ultimate".

Based on my readings here, some are fine and some are not. I have the 432, shot at least 150 rounds and it’s been flawless. In operation and with the sights. Sorry you’re having problems. I do find it odd that you’re painting the entire S & W company poorly for issues with this one revolver.


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[kraynky]

7While my "new phone" seems to take lousy pictures, my new 632 UC seems to be in good order, fortunately. I just picked it up yesterday, and have been firing snap caps in it so far.

It was a bit dry on the inside, and I found a sliver of some green plastic in the innards. I got it out and put a drop of mineral oil on the hammer stud and other moving parts.

The trigger is smoothing out nicely so far. Range day is tomorrow.

I'll be back...........

Edit: Finally got to shoot it, and put about 50 rounds down range. A mixture of some wadcutters and some XTPs loaded a bit warmer.

Seems I'm shooting left about 1" to 1.5" at 10 yards. But that's probably me getting used to the trigger. It was a litte bit "gritty" almost. So I loaded up some snap caps again and drove my wife nuts all evening working the trigger.

Probably going to put in a Wolf trigger return spring eventually. Need to load up some more brass and give it another go before I carry it.

I like it a lot so far.