Can anyone tell me about this...?

[kilrain20th]

I literally just picked this gun up this morning. It is brand new. It is a S&W Model 20, 4", .357 Magnum. With the hammer cocked in single action, as I begin to apply pressure to the trigger, the hammer skips forward a fraction of an inch and stops. More pressure releases the hammer hammer completely. It does not do this every time it in single action, but far more often than not.

Here is the video: Hammer creep/skip

I'm not a gunsmith but this seem not just wrong, but potentially dangerous.

And for the record I already "registered" the warranty with S&W and sent them an email with the video link.

 

[stansdds]

I'd say it is a poorly machined single action notch in the hammer. Let S&W know of the problem, I'm sure they will send you a shipping label.

 

[cgt4570]

First, a Model 20 isn't a .357. Maybe you mean Model 19, 27 or 28?
The Model 20 was a .38 Special.

Now for your action woes, make sure the mainspring strain screw on the front edge of the grip frame is tight and the tip of the spring hasn't been shortened. That will cause that type of issue.
Beyond that, you'll need a gunsmith. It's possible someone replaced the hammer or trigger with unfitted parts.

 

[kilrain20th]

First, a Model 20 isn't a .357. Maybe you mean Model 19, 27 or 28?
The Model 20 was a .38 Special.

Now for your action woes, make sure the mainspring strain screw on the front edge of the grip frame is tight and the tip of the spring hasn't been shortened. That will cause that type of issue.
Beyond that, you'll need a gunsmith. It's possible someone replaced the hammer or trigger with unfitted parts.

It is, in fact, a Model 20 in .357 Magnum, new production. S&W did a limited run of them as a Davidson's exclusive a year or so ago, with 4" barrels. Many new ones are still around for sale, search GB for 14113 as the stock number.

S&W more recently released a 6" barrel version of the same gun.

 

[kilrain20th]

I'd say it is a poorly machined single action notch in the hammer. Let S&W know of the problem, I'm sure they will send you a shipping label.

Sounds about right. As I continually cycle the hammer, it's becoming less frequent however I can feel at at the end of the hammer travel when I ease it down onto the sear notch. Maybe a burr or something....

 

[chief38]

Sorry for your woes - I truly am! Send it back and hope for the best. Yes, probably a poorly machined hammer notch and just another example of S&W commitment to no quality check. After all the years of this happening it's impossible to make excuses for S&W any longer.

I hope they fix it for you and if they don't, I'd respectfully request a full refund. Your best options are then to either buy a vintage model or a new Colt.

 

[stansdds]

First, a Model 20 isn't a .357. Maybe you mean Model 19, 27 or 28?
The Model 20 was a .38 Special.

Now for your action woes, make sure the mainspring strain screw on the front edge of the grip frame is tight and the tip of the spring hasn't been shortened. That will cause that type of issue.
Beyond that, you'll need a gunsmith. It's possible someone replaced the hammer or trigger with unfitted parts.

The original Model 20 was chambered in 38 Special, specifically it was a fixed sight N-frame designed to handle the 38-44 load. The new production Model 20 is chambered in 357 Magnum.

 

[swagmeister]

Being a brand new gun as you state, I would not mess with it at all and send it back to S&W for warranty repair. Hopefully they will repair it correctly without too much delay and you will have no further issues. Good luck.

 

[cgt4570]

It is, in fact, a Model 20 in .357 Magnum, new production. S&W did a limited run of them as a Davidson's exclusive a year or so ago, with 4" barrels. Many new ones are still around for sale, search GB for 14113 as the stock number.

S&W more recently released a 6" barrel version of the same gun.

My apologies. Had no idea they recycled the Model 20 name.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

... I hope they fix it for you and if they don't, I'd respectfully request a full refund. Your best options are then to either buy a vintage model or a new Colt.

... or a new Kimber revolver. I have been pleased with my Kimber K6xs.

 

[scruffy]

Post this with the video in the "S&W Smithing" sub-forum and I'll bet you get an answer as to what is wrong and possibly a fix that could save it a trip back to the factory. Some good knowledge there. Not as busy as the general forums so may take a little longer for a response.

 

[kilrain20th]

Post this with the video in the "S&W Smithing" sub-forum and I'll bet you get an answer as to what is wrong and possibly a fix that could save it a trip back to the factory. Some good knowledge there. Not as busy as the general forums so may take a little longer for a response.

Thank you sir, I'll give it a shot.

 

[kilrain20th]

... or a new Kimber revolver. I have been pleased with my Kimber K6xs.

I don't know much about the Kimber revolvers but the ones I have handled (never shot) seemed very nice. This gun is kind of a modern retro so I was going for a classic "look" but with a modern warranty and not just .38 Special only.

 

[kilrain20th]

My apologies. Had no idea they recycled the Model 20 name.

No apologies necessary, it's hard to keep up with S&W in general much less their limited release type guns.

 

[mogwan]

Sorry for your woes - I truly am! Send it back and hope for the best. Yes, probably a poorly machined hammer notch and just another example of S&W commitment to no quality check. After all the years of this happening it's impossible to make excuses for S&W any longer.

I hope they fix it for you and if they don't, I'd respectfully request a full refund. Your best options are then to either buy a vintage model or a new Colt.

BTW: The Hammers are now made by MIM... there should be no burrs in MIM unless they are at the mold fill holes and are kinda rare as MIM Cast parts actually shrink when they cool. I'm 72 now and just 'smithed my first 'new production' S&W- a "Performance Center' M19. Sad to say the innards weren't quite as nice as my own 1980's model which I have re-sprung, polished the hammer/trigger studs, rebound block, etc.
The MIM Parts in the new ones aren't bad at all but there's no longer QC Gunsmiths with files doing any smoothing. I was surprised the guy paid around a grand for a 4" M19 Performance Center when- if he asked me for purchasing advice, I probably coulda found him a 90%-98% old Production (and done the spring work and parts polish) for less than that. The Performance gun shipped with-to the best of my recollection- a 12+ lb DA / 4-5lb SA pull. Mine is 7.5 DA / <2lb SA and will detonate virtually any brand ammo.