Discovered Cracked Frame on my 638-2

Dtech

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Well, while the range visit went well yesterday with my new R8, it looks like my 638-2 Airweight didn't fair as well sufferring a cracked frame. Although I had not fired it in a few months, my 638 had always shot to pretty much point of aim with the fixed sights at under 10 yards yet I noticed during this range visit that almost right off the bat, the revolver seemed to be shooting slightly to the right.

I didn't think much of it at first, firing a total of about 50 rounds with it and then moved on to my R8, thinking I was pulling my shots slightly due to being excitied about getting to the R8. But after sitting down to clean my guns today I was shocked to see that the frame of my 638 was cracked along the bottom of the barrel.

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638crack1.jpg


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This is even more surprising because I have only ever used standard pressure, light weight rounds, primarily Remington Green Box 110 Gr JHPs (yes, the non +P variety) and I've only shot a total of about 300 rounds through the gun since purchased new.

Looks like I'll be sending an e-mail over to S&W to see about sending it back to them.

I'm just glad and thank God that I didn't suffer a catastrophic failure while firing it!
 
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Well, while the range visit went well yesterday with my new R8, it looks like my 638-2 Airweight didn't fair as well sufferring a cracked frame. Although I had not fired it in a few months, my 638 had always shot to pretty much point of aim with the fixed sights at under 10 yards yet I noticed during this range visit that almost right off the bat, the revolver seemed to be shooting slightly to the right.

I didn't think much of it at first, firing a total of about 50 rounds with it and then moved on to my R8, thinking I was pulling my shots slightly due to being excitied about getting to the R8. But after sitting down to clean my guns today I was shocked to see that the frame of my 638 was cracked along the bottom of the barrel.

638right.jpg


638left.jpg


638crack1.jpg


638crack2.jpg


638crack3.jpg


This is even more surprising because I have only ever used standard pressure, light weight rounds, primarily Remington Green Box 110 Gr JHPs (yes, the non +P variety) and I've only shot a total of about 300 rounds through the gun since purchased new.

Looks like I'll be sending an e-mail over to S&W to see about sending it back to them.

I'm just glad and thank God that I didn't suffer a catastrophic failure while firing it!
 
That is one ugly crack. I have a 637. I shot 1 box through it when I got it a year or so back. So far, no cracks. These new Airlights are suppose to be able to take lots of +P.
 
Ouch! Thanks for posting that.
Maybe the aluminum frame guns aren't such a good idea after all.
I'm should think you'll get a new gun out of this.
Best of luck with it.
 
Originally posted by texagun:

I'm should think you'll get a new gun out of this.

The sad part is that he had a new gun. Now he'll get another with an internal lock. Not the best trade in the world.
 
Originally posted by rburg:
Originally posted by texagun:

I'm should think you'll get a new gun out of this.

The sad part is that he had a new gun. Now he'll get another with an internal lock. Not the best trade in the world.

I would definitely think that this is irreparable damage. Now that you brought up the issue with having it replaced by one with a lock, I wonder if they would send me one of the no-lock 642's as a replacement
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, but then again, I like having the option of cocking the hammer for an SA shot.

Talk about being between a rock and a hard place! Maybe they have some no-lock 638 frames on the way like some of the others they've released? I'll make sure that I discuss replacement options with them once I hear back from them about sending mine back.
 
I don't think it indicates a design flaw. Many think this type of failure is due to the improper installation of the barrel.

S&W will more than likely replace it with a locker. Bummer!
 
Keep us posted on this story.
It'll be interesting to see how S&W fixes this problem and what they say about your damaged gun.
 
I'll definitely post with updates as I communicate with them and send it back. I just checked and the price of the 642 is identical to the 638 so I would think that it would be a possible alternative for a replacement, espcially if I use the "no-lock" angle.

Still, I'm not sure that I would want to give up the ability to cock the hammer, but it sounds like there are no-lock 442's available as well. The black finish is pretty appealing too. It also is the same price as the 638.

HMMMM....
 
I had the same thing happen on a 642. S&W sent me a label, and I sent them the gun. They said it could not be repaired, and S&W, being the great company that they are, sent me a brand new 642. However, I promptly sold it and bought a NIB 640.
 
Originally posted by Photoman44:
I don't think it indicates a design flaw. Many think this type of failure is due to the improper installation of the barrel.

S&W will more than likely replace it with a locker. Bummer!

Agreed.
 
I hope you have better luck than me. I had a 442 electroless nickel and it had been factory fired only. It was still NIB never fired by anyone but S/W.

I sent it in and tried my best to get a pre-lock since mine did not have the lock and since it came from the factory with a cracked frame.

It had been stored since it was new. I didn't know it was cracked until I sold it to a forum member here.

With all my begging and even asking for one of the 642s they had with no lock I was told no.

I was sent a new 642 with the lock. Needless to say I came out on the short end of the deal.

I have tried to sell the New 642 at dealer cost and can't.

Good Luck.
 
I had a 637 and it cracked in the same place. Smith replaced the handgun. I was told that the probable cause was that they tightened the bbl. to much when building the gun. Never had a problem with replacement gun.
 
Originally posted by smith41mag:
I hope you have better luck than me. I had a 442 electroless nickel and it had been factory fired only. It was still NIB never fired by anyone but S/W.

I sent it in and tried my best to get a pre-lock since mine did not have the lock and since it came from the factory with a cracked frame.

It had been stored since it was new. I didn't know it was cracked until I sold it to a forum member here.

With all my begging and even asking for one of the 642s they had with no lock I was told no.

I was sent a new 642 with the lock. Needless to say I came out on the short end of the deal.

I have tried to sell the New 642 at dealer cost and can't.

Good Luck.

How recently was yours replaced?

It sounds like I should just be thankful that they will likely replace it with a new 638 with lock, which ultimately would be ok with me (not ideal but still ok none the less).

Then again if there are readily available frames without the lock, I can't understand why they would refuse to send you one. Yes, it is still great that they replaced it, but total customer satisfaction should be the goal when it comes to handling a situation with a defective product.

IMHO any firearm that fails with only 300 rounds or even less through it isn't worth it's weight for the metal it was made from and is certainly defective, whatever the reason (frame defect, barrel installation, etc.).
 
It would be interesting to hear what dash versions of the guns that you all have had problems with were. For instance mine was a 638-2.

I wonder if there was a certain time period or version of manufacture that was more prone to the failures.
 
Photoman,

I think you are probably right... the barrel was very likely torqued too tight when it was installed...

As I think about it, I don't ever recall seeing such a crack on a pinned barrel... but have seen it on several non pinned guns.

FWIW

Chuck

Originally posted by Photoman44:
I don't think it indicates a design flaw. Many think this type of failure is due to the improper installation of the barrel.

S&W will more than likely replace it with a locker. Bummer!
 
They finally sent the new one about 2 weeks ago.
I was told they had no pre-lock frames left.



Originally posted by Dtech:
Originally posted by smith41mag:
I hope you have better luck than me. I had a 442 electroless nickel and it had been factory fired only. It was still NIB never fired by anyone but S/W.

I sent it in and tried my best to get a pre-lock since mine did not have the lock and since it came from the factory with a cracked frame.

It had been stored since it was new. I didn't know it was cracked until I sold it to a forum member here.

With all my begging and even asking for one of the 642s they had with no lock I was told no.

I was sent a new 642 with the lock. Needless to say I came out on the short end of the deal.

I have tried to sell the New 642 at dealer cost and can't.

Good Luck.

How recently was yours replaced?

It sounds like I should just be thankful that they will likely replace it with a new 638 with lock, which ultimately would be ok with me (not ideal but still ok none the less).

Then again if there are readily available frames without the lock, I can't understand why they would refuse to send you one. Yes, it is still great that they replaced it, but total customer satisfaction should be the goal when it comes to handling a situation with a defective product.

IMHO any firearm that fails with only 300 rounds or even less through it isn't worth it's weight for the metal it was made from and is certainly defective, whatever the reason (frame defect, barrel installation, etc.).
 
I would ask them if they are going to replace it to purchase one off gunbroker and re condition it. Tell them you don't want a lock.
Or send you your money back and you could purchase another directly from a used gun dealer.
 
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