Finally wore my 342 out!!!

[RightWinger]

I have carried a 342 in my pocket for about 7 years and have put close to 5000 rounds of practice ammo through it and close to 1000 rounds of duty ammo. Here is what has happened....the other day after shooting it I went to eject the spent casings and the entire cylinder nearly came off....it actually slid past the notch on the frame that keeps it from sliding off the reciever. I called Smith&Wesson and they are sending me a box to mail it back to them, but the man I spoke with on the phone kinda acted like he had never heard of this happening before and seemed perplexed. Luckily the gun does have a lock so I'm not worried if I get a new gun with a lock, I have 2 other pre lock 342's that I keep in good shape! So has anyone ever heard of this happening before?

 

[whitecoyote]

I'd like to see some pictures of that 342.

 

[mnrivrat]

Friends .32 Magnum did this after a couple hundred rounds through it. It was sent back to S&W for repair. Same thing - cylinder bypassed the stop.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

If the lug is worn off, I'd think your going to get a new frame.

 

[WR Moore]

The frame lug isn't a separate part anymore?

 

[s&wchad]

Read this thread.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/91195-340-sc-help.html

 

[RightWinger]

Does anyone have any idea what S&W will do? The frame of the gun is damaged, and it would need to be replaced, however they don't make a 342 anymore. Do you think they have some old ones still in stock they will use to replace mine? will they destroy my old one and put the same serial number on the new one? I have had a gun repaired at S&W but never had one replaced.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Does anyone have any idea what S&W will do? The frame of the gun is damaged, and it would need to be replaced, however they don't make a 342 anymore. Do you think they have some old ones still in stock they will use to replace mine? will they destroy my old one and put the same serial number on the new one? I have had a gun repaired at S&W but never had one replaced.

I feel they will give you another gun, or replace the frame, providing you are the original owner.

What did smith tell you?

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I hope Smith is reading this and perhaps makes the integral stop a bit thicker.
BTW does anyone have any reports of this happening on steel frame gune wither with the old style or the new style??

 

[Spotteddog]

THANKS!
Now I know what to keep an eye out for on mine!
I'm at about the same ratio and round count.
This place is great!

 

[orionengnr]

I have owned about a half-dozen Scandium revolvers. My impression/opinion:
The cylinder is harder than the frame. Repeated cylinder spinning while open will wear the frame lug. When this occurs, the frame is a throw-away. It is an unfortunate design flaw. They should have made the frame of the same material as the cylinder.

I've only seen this once. S&W will take care of it. Fear not.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

.............You killed it!!!

 

[RightWinger]

Yes, I guess I did "Kill" it! When I get a new one (fingers crossed) I'm going to treat it the same way I did my last one, and by that I mean shoot it till it breaks. I never slapped the cylinder shut on this gun or abused it in anyway other than carrying it and shooting it religiously. This gun has been good to me, it has been there for me everyday while at work, it has saved me from getting carjacked while on a road trip once, and even prevented several use of force issues while I was off duty.....I love this gun and it has truly been a workhorse. I look forward to wearing out a new one!

 

[RightWinger]

I just talked to Smith & Wesson on the phone today and they said something is being shipped back to me, they never called me before to discuss the repairs or replacement and this does bother me a little bit. I had custom springs in the old gun, and a XS night sight on it....if they did replace the gun I'll be happy but would like to get my parts out of the old gun at least. apparently no one can seem to tell me if the gun was repaired or replaced.....they told me I'll just have to wait and see. I'll wait to see what is done before I get too upset I reckon.

 

[RightWinger]

Just got my 342 back from Smith...

They did not replace the gun, infact I can't hardly tell they did anything. The letter with the gun said they adjusted the end shake, and the cylinder doesn't readily slide off the frame quite as easily, but if you give it even the slightest nudge it will. I'm not at all satisfied with the repair. I feel like S&W is trying to avoid replacing the frame because of cost but realisticly thats the only way the problem will truly be solved. Back to S&W the gun shall go.......


Eric

 

[45Wheelgun]

Replace the sight and springs with OEM parts before you ship it back this time. That way if they replace the gun, you don't have to chase after the parts.

 

[DCWilson]

I have wondered about the integral cylinder stop on modern alloy frames for a while; that just seems like a weak element to the design.

What is to prevent a competent gunsmith from polishing off the entire dogleg/teardrop/whatchamacallit (which I think is unattractive anyway), then drilling for and inserting a steel plug that would recreate the old style detente system?

 

[Babalooie]

I have wondered about the integral cylinder stop on modern alloy frames for a while; that just seems like a weak element to the design.

What is to prevent a competent gunsmith from polishing off the entire dogleg/teardrop/whatchamacallit (which I think is unattractive anyway), then drilling for and inserting a steel plug that would recreate the old style detente system?

I'm guessing that would violate the warranty.

 

[RightWinger]

the aluminum one would work great if they just had a little more mass to it, its hardly a notch, its more like just a barely visable raised portion.....if it was a thick meaty notch it would be fine because the only thing that would cause it to wear down is the cylinder jumping over it to begin with, if this never happened in the first place it would not wear down.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Who paid the shipping on it? You or S&W?