Maybe not, but you want to get as close as humanly possible.
You certainly don't want to be carrying a DAO revolver with a very high probability of locking up on you when you need it.
Brand New Model 442-1 Locking Up...
- Thread starter TTSH
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You certainly don't want to be carrying a DAO revolver with a very high probability of locking up on you when you need it.
fortyshooter
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Fire some rounds through it and send it back!!
I didn't find out about the hand issue until I ran some rounds through it.
I didn't find out about the hand issue until I ran some rounds through it.
100 % never fail...is there such a mechanical thing?
You get my point...if my life depends on a weapon then it has to work...a NIB 442 that has troubles is a big issue in my world. Im sure we all had jams and failures with automatics...thats the reason I went to a wheel gun. how about 99.9% works when I draw the weapon...that .1% was just my time to die deal.
You get my point...if my life depends on a weapon then it has to work...a NIB 442 that has troubles is a big issue in my world. Im sure we all had jams and failures with automatics...thats the reason I went to a wheel gun. how about 99.9% works when I draw the weapon...that .1% was just my time to die deal.
The funny thing is that small frame revolvers (especially DAO revolvers) are supposed to be more reliable as carry guns than semi-autos... their downside being their limited capacity. That's what makes this problem a little bit ironic.
With many excellent semi-auto carry guns already available to me, most of them Smith & Wessons, I thought that one brand new lightweight DAO j-frame would be perfect for those times when speed, simplicity and reliability over capacity made the most sense. 
I think this is just a case of my legendary bad luck... and perhaps a little of my unrealistically high expectations for a relatively cheap revolver. But I have no doubt that the problem will be resolved... one way or another.
ABPOS
Member
If it were me, I'd want to fire and I'd be wondering if it was just some simple burr or something in there too.
However, the converse is that you stated you doubt it's going to have a catastrophic failure. It's either going to fire or it won't. Just a though on this, if it's sticking during the trigger pull, it COULD fire unlocked or not fully locked and not line up properly. That could cause something bad. Damage to the forcing cone. Or worse.
I'm no expert and take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. But if you're saying it's sticking, there may be some wisdom in what I'm saying.
You be the judge.
You could double check that once you CAN pull the trigger if it's actually locking up every time. It's pretty easy to tell. You can hear the hand / bolt drop in. On mine it's pretty evident to hear before the hammer drops. I know you can't see the hammer but you can hear that too.
However, the converse is that you stated you doubt it's going to have a catastrophic failure. It's either going to fire or it won't. Just a though on this, if it's sticking during the trigger pull, it COULD fire unlocked or not fully locked and not line up properly. That could cause something bad. Damage to the forcing cone. Or worse.
I'm no expert and take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. But if you're saying it's sticking, there may be some wisdom in what I'm saying.
You be the judge.
You could double check that once you CAN pull the trigger if it's actually locking up every time. It's pretty easy to tell. You can hear the hand / bolt drop in. On mine it's pretty evident to hear before the hammer drops. I know you can't see the hammer but you can hear that too.
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I do understand what you are saying and all indications (so far) are that the mechanism is working exactly as it should work when the trigger does not lock-up on me. When the trigger does lock-up, nothing happens. There is no discernible partial movement of anything... so I don't think there is much chance that the gun might fire without the cylinder being properly locked into firing position.
I give up...
Okay, gun is packed up and going back to the mothership today. Tried everything I could reasonably try with it and no luck. At times, I could get it to go 30-40-50 dry fire trigger pulls without it locking up... and then right back to locking up on practically every other trigger pull attempt.
Rinse and repeat... over and over again. No further clues as to what is blocking it. It just plain decides not to work at times. 
Time to let the mothership have a crack at it. I told the S&W CS guy that I am very concerned about the sometimes intermittent nature of the problem and that I would prefer that the gun not be sent back to me with a note saying that they couldn't duplicate the problem. I'm thinking about doing a short video just to show them what is happening. 
So in the end, I didn't get a chance to shoot it. Not sure how I feel about that, but it was so damn buggy this morning (locking up constantly) that I decided to nix the range trip and just do the inevitable.
Full report when it comes back. Thanks to all who tried to help. I really do appreciate the input.
Okay, gun is packed up and going back to the mothership today. Tried everything I could reasonably try with it and no luck. At times, I could get it to go 30-40-50 dry fire trigger pulls without it locking up... and then right back to locking up on practically every other trigger pull attempt.
Rinse and repeat... over and over again. No further clues as to what is blocking it. It just plain decides not to work at times. Time to let the mothership have a crack at it. I told the S&W CS guy that I am very concerned about the sometimes intermittent nature of the problem and that I would prefer that the gun not be sent back to me with a note saying that they couldn't duplicate the problem.
I'm thinking about doing a short video just to show them what is happening. So in the end, I didn't get a chance to shoot it. Not sure how I feel about that, but it was so damn buggy this morning (locking up constantly) that I decided to nix the range trip and just do the inevitable.
Full report when it comes back. Thanks to all who tried to help. I really do appreciate the input.
ABPOS
Member
I'm sure they'll notice the problem. My guess is you will be taken care of well and happy in the end.
Don't discount it yet. They are fun guns to shoot and carry. I like mine a lot.
Don't discount it yet. They are fun guns to shoot and carry. I like mine a lot.
Well, to be honest, I'll already thinking this 442-1 was a mistake. Knowing what I know now, I probably should have gone for the PC 442 (which I could have inspected right in the shop) or perhaps some other lightweight j-frame alternative that I just haven't thought about or researched enough yet.
The good news is that I didn't overpay so I don't think I'll take much of a hit if I decide later to dump it for lack of confidence and move on. Live and learn. I'm old and... trust me... I've make far more expensive mistakes than this one.
ABPOS
Member
Personally, I think a steel J frame is better. But I don't own one, so.... LOL. I just think the extra weight is good for an already hard to shoot plaftorm. I didn't set out to by an airweight, it was more of a helping someone out thing. But I ended up shooting it well enough to be considered a carry gun and it is very easy to carry.
But my first pick would've been something like a 36/60/649/640. I almost bought an SP101 DAO but something was nagging at me to not. And then a month later My Mom offered me to buy this from her. She was in need of money.
But really from the first range session, I kind of fell in love with it. I definitely don't like hot loads in it. But it's way fun with just normal pressure .38. I say let them fix it and give it a chance.
But my first pick would've been something like a 36/60/649/640. I almost bought an SP101 DAO but something was nagging at me to not. And then a month later My Mom offered me to buy this from her. She was in need of money.
But really from the first range session, I kind of fell in love with it. I definitely don't like hot loads in it. But it's way fun with just normal pressure .38. I say let them fix it and give it a chance.
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Well, that's what I've now done, of course. Dropped it off at FedEx this afternoon. We'll see if it comes back 100% fixed or if I get the "okay, try it now" treatment (or the "couldn't duplicate it" treatment). Can't say that I'm super optimistic about it. I hope the mothership proves me wrong.
For the record, I do own a bunch of older all steel (or all SS) j-frames in the collection... but they are all too heavy and/or too valuable to carry (hence, the airweight 442-1).
ABPOS
Member
You think a steel J frame is too heavy to carry? I guess maybe in the pocket if that's what you mean. But I wouldn't think so in an IWB rig. Or OWB. I carried my Detective Special for quite a while and it's heavier than a steel J frame. And it was not a burden. But IWB.
mauiblue
Member
I've read a few posts about gun owners sending out their firearms to the repair shop and still having problems with the gun. I'm assuming that theses situations are few and far between.
I've also read of owner's that have sent out their guns and the firearms were repaired to their satisfaction. I sent out a Taurus pistol for warranty work years ago and they repaired the issue to my satisfaction.
I have not been able to get out to the range to test my recently repaired Model 638 but I am optomistic the accuracy issues I was having has been resolved. S&W did include a test firing form that indicates it passed inspection.
All the best in getting your gun back in working order.
Sent from my coconut frond hut using Tapatalk
I've also read of owner's that have sent out their guns and the firearms were repaired to their satisfaction. I sent out a Taurus pistol for warranty work years ago and they repaired the issue to my satisfaction.
I have not been able to get out to the range to test my recently repaired Model 638 but I am optomistic the accuracy issues I was having has been resolved. S&W did include a test firing form that indicates it passed inspection.
All the best in getting your gun back in working order.
Sent from my coconut frond hut using Tapatalk
You guessed it. I am a pocket carrier!
And when you are used to a Bodyguard .380, LCP II or CM9 in your pocket... then yes, my trusty old Model 49 feels like a brick! Keeping my fingers crossed for sure, but also trying to be realistic and not get my hopes up too high. It's the random intermittent nature of the problem that bothers me. I can just see someone at S&W CS pulling the trigger a dozen times and having it work... and then I get one of those "couldn't duplicate problem" notes back.
It is going to take some serious patience and testing to assure they actually get it to 100%. Unless it is something really obvious to them when they open it up, I see this being a multi-return visits possibility.
You guessed it. I am a pocket carrier!
I'm with you on that. I'm primarily a pocket carrier, especially in the summer. I have a M36 I love, but it's a bit heavy in the pocket - great OWB though. My M38 (and now 442) carries super nice in the pocket. A few ounces makes a huge difference in the course of a day.
In the winter time I carry a 9mm GLOCK IWB.
Tell your Taurus loving friend that I bought a new M85 revolver from my LGS that had the bbl misaligned in the frame(didn't know until after I shot it) that had to go back for repair and after two and a half months was returned with a new replacement bbl and the finish did not match the frame.
I love the gun and it is my concealed carry weapon even though the bbl is blued and the frame is a mat finish. YA 2.5 months!!
I bought a New S&W 360J about 2 months ago from my LGS (To replace the Taurus while it was away)and after a number of times opening and closing the cylinder when I got it home,I noticed the cylinder was dragging (badly) on the forcing cone. Sent it back to the Mothership(unfired) and got it back in 2 weeks(Fed-Ex to Fed-Ex. One week at Smith). They replaced the BOLT. Worked like a charm.
Being without a carry piece I got a new Colt Cobra to replace both the Taurus and the Smith. It worked perfectly!
Be SAFE and Shoot often!
I love the gun and it is my concealed carry weapon even though the bbl is blued and the frame is a mat finish. YA 2.5 months!!
I bought a New S&W 360J about 2 months ago from my LGS (To replace the Taurus while it was away)and after a number of times opening and closing the cylinder when I got it home,I noticed the cylinder was dragging (badly) on the forcing cone. Sent it back to the Mothership(unfired) and got it back in 2 weeks(Fed-Ex to Fed-Ex. One week at Smith). They replaced the BOLT. Worked like a charm.
Being without a carry piece I got a new Colt Cobra to replace both the Taurus and the Smith. It worked perfectly!
Be SAFE and Shoot often!
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RMFnLA
Member
These threads make me crazy; I'd love to open that sucker up and see what's going on in there...
Yes,I agree. But if he is not comfortable taking the side plate off,it's best to send it to the Mothership.
Some 20 years ago I bought a new model 629 -44mag. In taking off the side plate(standard procedure for my new revolvers) I found an extra trigger spring floating around in the works.
Ya. I didn't know Smith sent extra parts with their guns!
So I suggested a good oiling with Rem Oil,shoot it,and if the problem persist to send it off. SEE post #24.
Be SAFE and Shoot often!
Some 20 years ago I bought a new model 629 -44mag. In taking off the side plate(standard procedure for my new revolvers) I found an extra trigger spring floating around in the works.
Ya. I didn't know Smith sent extra parts with their guns!
So I suggested a good oiling with Rem Oil,shoot it,and if the problem persist to send it off. SEE post #24.
Be SAFE and Shoot often!
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RMFnLA
Member
I assume you were responding to me.
I wasn't suggesting he take off the sideplate, I was saying I want to.
My OCD wants to fix...
