You get good service, you tell a couple people. You get bad service you tell everyone. That, and the fact that this is the S&W forum, is why you see so much of it here. Where else you gonna go to vent, and try to develop a plan of recourse? So bad apples are going to surface here often. In my opinion, it doesn't mean much, about the average new gun out there. Just carefully inspect it, before taking it home.
As a more exact answer, I'd make a mental list of things to check, like push off, b/c gap, smooth, light trigger pull, canted barrel, etc. Then I'd probably make at least a couple trips, to give me an opportunity to remember something else to check. Maybe take a buddy that knows something about guns. It's a large purchase, for a lifetime product, so I'd be thorough.
I always have a keychain flashlight, for checking the rifling. Always check the action, I'd dry fire it a couple times. Fit & finish is important also. If you're buying, but not taking it home right away, I'd discretely check the serial numbers, while inspecting it. So you're certain that it's the exact gun you've been looking at. I wouldn't put anything past anybody.
I don't look at a lot of new guns, but I've seen some ugly specimens out there. So they're not that rare. But I wouldn't worry about it, if you've missed something. Stuff happens, and you do what you can. In the end, if you missed something S & W.will make it right.
