Help with new 629 V Comp

[BingoFuel]

Hello. This is about my first post on this forum and sadly it is not a positive one.
I just took delivery of a 629 V Comp .44 magnum/special revolver. It is beautiful and a gun that I have planning to purchase for well over a year. It's a bit pricey buying it new as I did so it took a bit of saving and planning.
I live in CA and so I purchased it via GB and had it sent to my FFL where I went through the ten day wait process, tax payment and paperwork and just picked it up today. Since my FFL did not originate the sale, I did not examine the gun that closely since he would not be obliged to handle any issues.
So as soon as I got it home and examined in detail, I found that the front sight was slightly canted to the left and loose in the dovetail as I could move it slightly by hand.
It all still does look NIB as advertised and I am presuming innocence on the part of the seller/dealer in this whole regard.
I am posting to ask for advice as to what to do here. Do I just handle this with S&W and ask for a return ticket? Will they cover shipment both ways as well as repair? Is the seller/dealer obliged to assist? 'How best to handle this problem?' is my question for you folks on the forum
As I said, it it still a brilliant design and my desire to continue ownership is undiminished but this does put a bit of a dark cloud over the whole new owner experience.
Thx,
B
P.S. I'll try to update with a pic or two a bit later.

 

[justintyme]

Sorry to hear it. Contact S&W, I think phone may be best but I know some email. They will send you a shipping label for it, they cover shipping for warranty work. This is usually between you and S&W, although some dealers will help, that's totally up to the dealer and S&W has no control over them in this regard..

 

[daveyc]

Yes, contact S&W and they will take care of it and shipping as well.

 

[junglefighter]

I have never had to use the warranty service,but I do not know of any problems.They seem to be quick and when I have called them with a question,they were polite and knew the answers.I buy at my LGS,they are under retail,but more than GB.I can physically see and check my firearm.This makes my purchase price justified.S&W revolvers are slim inventories here and your wait will be justified.

 

[ridgewalker]

Just my 2 cents but since it seems you are committed to sending it back to Smith, I would shoot it as much as I could to see it any other issues come up before it goes back.

 

[jaymoore]

...Since my FFL did not originate the sale, I did not examine the gun that closely since he would not be obliged to handle any issues.
So as soon as I got it home and examined in detail, I found that the front sight was slightly canted to the left and loose in the dovetail as I could move it slightly by hand...

As I said, it it still a brilliant design and my desire to continue ownership is undiminished but this does put a bit of a dark cloud over the whole new owner experience.
Thx,
B
P.S. I'll try to update with a pic or two a bit later.

I'm almost to the point that if a .44 doesn't have a bit of overturn, then I'm suspicious. So a wee bit of left lean bothers me not at all.

But the looseness of the front sight is unacceptable. S&W will likely have to rebarrel it for you to correct that problem properly. Send it back after giving them a call. But the suggestion to shoot it first isn't a bad one! Then you can decide if you want to have them do an action job, etc. First, however, either remove the front sight if it's loose enough to do so by hand or tape/rubber band it before firing to keep it from going MIA...

Several years back I had a PC 627 purchased new that came with a detactchable compensator which had suffered a milling cutter breakage in one of the slots. Called S&W and they mailed out a shipping label straight away! No functional issue, it was just mildly annoying.

Funnily enough, a Steel Challenge pal of mine just had to have it after trying it out, so that shipping label sits at the house. I got to shoot the thing basically for free, but really it just turned into another PC revolver. Don't let your problem sour you on the concept, S&W puts out some of the best handguns for shooting in the industry, "warts" included.

 

[BingoFuel]

Thank you all. I was delayed in reviewing these responses and I really like the idea of shooting it some to vet any other potential quality issues. Of course I worry a bit that the longer I delay (and the more I use it) the more Smith may claim that it was 'user error' (dropped, mishandled, whatever) rather than manufacturing defect that is to blame for the problem.
I've never used Smith's warranty service so it may not be a worry at all if they take a liberal line in supporting their products.
Oh, and pics still to come.
B