Brand New S & W Model 41 Performance Center DOA!

[AC Man]

I hope I have the right forum. Bought a brand new in the box S & W model 41 Performance Center on Gun Broker from a dealer with great reviews. Picked it up today and took it to my gun bench to run it thru its paces before shooting it. What a disaster! I'm 6' 2 and 290 pounds and it took all of my strength to rack it. Then it would not release. Once I got it to release I couldn't rack it again The safety works sometimes but mostly locked up. Then it would not rack by hand no matter how hard I pulled. The trigger guard you pull down to break it down for cleaning will not budge!

Every single function on this gun will not function. Racking it, the safety, the break down of the trigger guard. I haven't even considered loading it yet. Even the only thing that works is the mag release is crunchy.

How can not one function from the factory not work?

If I had a failure in warranty so be it. This gun doesn't work out of the box at all. I think some one owes me a new gun that works. Rant Over!

 

[Doug M.]

I am sure that the dealer has little or noting to do with this. You might contact them and ask for their help, or just contact the factory and inform them of the problems. This is not even close to acceptable and you have to wonder what kind of pre-shipping inspection it got. This stuff does happen, although it never should. About 17 or so years ago, I ordered a special order Sig that was so badly made and not even close to the specs ordered that the dealer refused it on my behalf.

 

[AC Man]

I have emailed the dealer I bought it from. Gotta wait till Monday for a reply. Something is fishy to me. How can a 41 Performance Center leave the factory with out one single thing working?

 

[Jeppo]

Might be interesting to run a patch down the barrel to see whether it's been test fired.

 

[chief38]

It wouldn't be the first time guns that should have been inspected, corrected and properly tested get packed and shipped. One would think that at least the PC guns would be of much better quality as they are supposedly payed special attention too. Don't think I'm nuts, but it almost seems that the PC guns are actually worse that the standard production is. Makes little sense to me! I can only imagine and cringe as to whom is building, testing and inspecting at the factory these days!

 

[6string]

This is a fairly common type of occurrence with the (non) Performance Center model 41. Of the ones that end up in the hands of Bullseye shooters intent on using them for competition, problems are the norm.
The "death lock" slide can occasionally occur depending on the particular recoil spring and if the "wrong end" goes over the spring guide rod. Somehow, apparently, it can get wedged and prevent the slide from moving. After decades of shooting an old model 41, I'd never heard of this nor experienced it, but it seems to be something about the new ones. Issues can also occur with the takedown function of the trigger guard, to the point where it just won't budge.
Beyond this, malfunctions seem to be widespread, as are problems with consistent trigger weight/release, and accuracy. The barrel crowns are often neglected from the factory.

All this stuff is well documented across several forums, especially where competitive target shooters hang out.


One thing you can try is to remove the grips and then remove the bracket supporting the hammer spring and strut. It's at the bottom rear of the grip frame. That can at least get the hammer down, possibly freeing the slide.

The ultimate solution is to send it to a real gunsmith specializing in bullseye target pistol work. The consensus is the S&W factory is incapable of fixing your issues. If you plan to keep the gun and expect it to go "bang", it's gonna cost you more money. Oh, and your (worthless) factory warranty will be void.
KC Kustom Creations is widely recommended for the model 41 as is Jerry Keefer, and Clark Custom Guns. The latter will likely try to sell you a new barrel. (They are excellent!)
So, despite the relatively high price of a new model 41, that money is just the "general admission ticket" into a bunch more expenses to get a functioning target pistol. (Anybody remember when Colt was the only game in town for a 1911? You got an expensive, inaccurate, unreliable lemon out of the box, and gave it to a gunsmith along with a second mortgage.)
The alternative is to spend $2-3,000 on a nice Pardini, Feinwerkbau, Walther GSP, Caesar Morini Matchgun, etc.

This might be of general interest:

Smith & Wesson 41 common repairs

 

[AveragEd]

I bought a new 7" standard Model 41 direct from Smith & Wesson six months ago after waiting five months for it to be produced. I didn't care for the rail on the barrel of the PC version and I prefer the longer barrel, which isn't available with the PC version. The slide was hard to rack but I wrote that off to my arthritic hands. The gun wouldn't eject fired cases with match ammo or CCI Standard Velocity ammunition, which is what S&W suggested I try as it is what they use to test-fire new guns. Like yours, the trigger guard was also very hard to move downward - it was so stiff I was afraid it would break but after a few cycles it loosed up.

I sent it back for the FTE condition and it was returned in right around a month which I felt was decent turnaround time but the same condition remained. I took the gun to my local gunsmith who laid a narrow straightedge along the slide's rails and found them to have high spots. He leveled them out by cycling the slide back and forth for several minutes and now the gun functions perfectly even with match ammo.

Quality like this is what drives companies to robotic assembly but with handguns, that would be difficult. Compare the body fit of a 1970s car to a new one. Back then, we frequently had to realign doors, hoods and trunk lids on new vehicles during new vehicle inspection. Today, it's extremely rare.

Ed

 

[Hair Trigger]

.... Jerry Keefer...
This might be of general interest:

Smith & Wesson 41 common repairs

My 7" M41 is a mid-1990's production and runs pretty well, but after reading the link above and looking at his pics, I'm about ready to pack it up and send it to Mr. Keefer. That's some impressive machine work.

 

[Narragansett]

Well, I am sorry for your troubles, and your Performance Center observation and complaint is not unique. I have long thought that the concept of the Performance Center was over rated. Regardless of dealer participation, I bet it will have to go back to the factory. Unless it is really a lemon, I suspect you will not get a new replacement.

 

[AC Man]

Well, I spoke to the dealer and S & W. They were shocked at the failures. I heard back from Smith and the dealer and they couldn't be more helpfull and apologetic. They are going above and beyond to make this right. The fact they replied to me on a Sunday morning speaks volumes. This gun fits my hand like a glove and I want it to work out.

I know it is picky on ammo, that doesn,t bother me.

 

[Larks]

Well, I spoke to the dealer and S & W. They were shocked at the failures. I heard back from Smith and the dealer and they couldn't be more helpfull and apologetic. They are going above and beyond to make this right. The fact they replied to me on a Sunday morning speaks volumes. This gun fits my hand like a glove and I want it to work out.

I know it is picky on ammo, that doesn,t bother me.

Good to hear that they are being responsive - please keep us informed on progress, S&W (and Ruger for that matter) production standards seem to continue to fall well below reasonable expectations.....

 

[Rick H.]

To the OP, do you have a local gunsmith or gun shop or even a fellow shooter you know that is familiar with Model 41 pistols? If so I would take the pistol to one of them and get an opinion on it before you send it off to the Mothership. Are you familiar with the Model 41? They can be very finicky pistols when new and require some TLC initially. If you aren't familiar with the pistol take it to someone who is and ask for their help in getting the gun apart. My new PC M41 was really stiff at first and difficult to get apart but it has become easier the more I shoot it. If assistance proves futile then send it in. Good luck and don't believe all the bad you hear about these pistols, there are many who report nothing but good about them too.

Rick H.

 

[Jim Watson]

I'm about ready to pack it up and send it to Mr. Keefer.

Sad to say, Mr Keefer is since deceased.

There was a board that he posted on, also defunct, and his willingness to go the extra mile to find accuracy was fascinating.

 

[Stewboy]

I feel your pain. I bought a new model 41 (non performance center) back in June, and after two field strips, the trigger guard got stuck in the open position--wouldn't budge. Sent it back to S&W, and got it back 7 weeks later--problem solved.



While it was at S&W, I bought a 1979 with a 7 inch barrel in near immaculate condition for a good price. It's run flawlessly from the first shot, and I've got 300 rounds or so through it.



If you can stand the wait, you might send it back to S&W first. I've found the service people to be pretty responsive both by phone and e-mail. As others have said, though, I can't see how it makes business sense to let so many pistols out the door with those kinds of problems.