Just back from the Indy NRA show

[lhump1961]

I'd have bought a P239 during the armorer class myself if they'd been more reasonable on the LE discount. It was only available for guns ordered during the class, through the reps, and they wanted something like $650 for a standard P239 at that time. SIG's are fine guns and all, even if some of their assorted wire springs require some periodic attention for replacement, but that was a little pricey just for something to supplement my 3913 at the time.

As older 3rd gen's start to pass 10K-12K+ rounds fired, it's not unexpected that they may require a new ejector & extractor. Easy and simple repair for the factory, an armorer or a smith familiar with the guns. Simple parts to keep in stock, too.

Much less common might be a worn hammer or drawbar. Older drawbars (with sharper corner cuts) might crack at either back corner or in the middle (behind the disconnector tab) after enough time & wear.

The 3rd gen's that get the most wear & tear seem to be the .40's (unsurprising).

The TSW's incorporated some features which have seemed to help reduce wear & tear issues and increase service life.

In general, replacing recoil springs helps keep guns running and reduces battering & accelerated wear. Hardly surprising. (Even in my last Glock recert the instructor made the comment that replacing recoil springs assemblies helped keep guns alive.)

Properly keeping the rails lubed helps keep guns in good condition, too (especially alloy frames).

I've have a bunch of repair/spare parts I've collected over the years, but it's not often I have to repair a 3rd gen gun. I remember when newly trained armorers had to wait and take turns for a chance to practice their skills in replacing extractors & ejectors in our aging inventory of original 3rd gen's. It wasn't until the guns were reaching 12-16+ years of service that we started seeing a small of them showing signs of needing new extractors & ejectors.

New recoil & mag springs can help prevent a number of problems when it comes to wear & tear and functioning.

So can PROPER cleaning & lubrication. Excessive solvent & oil can create its own problems ... as can lack of cleaning and lube.

As an armorer I've had to resolve significantly more problems caused by the owner/user level maintenance than by actual gun/parts problems.

FWIW, while armorers are still told to replace recoil & mag springs at the 5 year (left loaded)/5,000 rounds fired interval for the compacts (3913/4513/4013, etc), I still prefer to lean more toward replacing recoil springs at 2,500 - 3,000 rounds, or less, in my own guns of those models. I replace the mag springs closer to the normal recommendation (which may mean at every other earlier recoil spring replacement).

Just some thoughts and observations.

On the subject of recoil springs...what is the proper weight for the 39xx/69xx series for replacement springs? I see them from 15lbs up to 20 lbs.

 

[cpeblue]

This was the conventions first time in Indianapolis and what a great town it was. From the police to all the volunteers, they made everyone feel very welcome. So I hope to see future convention being hosted there.

Indianapolis is a great town, streets are wide enough that traffic moves well. Plenty of restaurants , parking was a might tough but all in all a great place. Before marriage always went to the 500 that was always a fantastic time. I'm a bit skeptical about Nashville next year but then I haven't look to see where there convention center is at yet.

 

[GaryS]

First let me say I am not a Luddite . I do not expect S&W to ever make new 3rd gens for the public . I have more than I could ever wear out so it really isn't a concern. I own a couple of 7 poly guns and have no great distaste for them and I can see why the gun world is speeding in that direction . My main concern was the total washing of the hands attitude that S&W shows in maintaining service parts for the 3rd gens . I'm sure the aftermarket will step up but that will take a while and things will be Expensive

I don't expect that they'll start manufacturing the 3rd gen guns again, but it would be very nice if they would continue to maintain stocks of common parts.

Will the aftermarket step up? Or will S&W step on the aftermarket to keep them from doing so.

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy my 3rd gen guns and find parts when I can.

Thanks also to Fastbolt for his insights.

 

[GaryS]

It was a good venue, better than Houston I think. I'm looking forward to Nashville next year. My wife and I were there last year and I had a great time. So did she, but she wants to go somewhere else this summer. We can go where she wants this summer and I'll get back to Nashville next year.

Indianapolis is a great town, streets are wide enough that traffic moves well. Plenty of restaurants , parking was a might tough but all in all a great place. Before marriage always went to the 500 that was always a fantastic time. I'm a bit skeptical about Nashville next year but then I haven't look to see where there convention center is at yet.

 

[Fastbolt]

Here's another one , the retaining button for the mag release on the CS9/40/45 is a use once only Item reuse would be unsafe . I don't even want to think about the price of magazines.

The plastic mag catch nut is recommended to be replaced if removed for service (repair). Having fired both my CS45 & CS9 for many years, I've yet to find a reason to remove the mag catch in either. I did order a couple spare assemblies for them (body, nut & spring), but unless I ever wear out the steel mag catch body in either gun, I have no reason to remove the nuts.

I occasionally order a spare mag for each model from the factory, just to have extra ones put back in case of loss, damage, etc.

The .45 followers can wear differently than the 9 followers (bottom edge side window for slide stop tab and raised ridge on top), so I ordered extra .45 followers. I've shot my 3rd gen .45's enough to wear out some followers over the years.

 

[Fastbolt]

On the subject of recoil springs...what is the proper weight for the 39xx/69xx series for replacement springs? I see them from 15lbs up to 20 lbs.

Never asked. The factory recoil spring tension isn't given in armorer classes, as it's presumed armorers will replace recoil springs with standard factory springs. I returned to using factory recoil springs many years ago.

 

[Jhp147]

revolver company?

Someone above said, "From what I saw at the S&W booth they are a revolver company that also makes 1911s and they are trying to get their Poly pistols to be loved by all."
I guess they are a revolver company still. I'm not much for shrouded barrels and parts that look not just MIM, but stamped. When I look at what their newer revolvers look like compared to the Mdl. 57's, 58's, 66's, 28's, and 686's I had 30-35 years ago, I'm not sure. I do want one of those 640 Pros and a 625 of some breeds, but I wish my 642 shot to POA or even close, and wish it didn't cost a king's ransom to get a 3 inch anything, much less a simple Mdl. 12 or 13. Guess I'm just another one of those old guys that pines for the old days...even the Bangor Punta days would be an improvement, even with the occasional cracked 66 frames and lockwork full of shavings I saw.
Economics is what it is, though, and we tend to remember the past as better than it was, always.

 

[BE Mike]

I went on Friday with a group of buddies. It took us an hour to find a parking spot 6 blocks away. Although the facility was packed with people, they were polite. I thought the venue was too small for people to be able to move freely, compared to the last NRA Exhibit Hall I attended in Louisville in '08. The volunteers and vendors were friendly and polite, for the most part. There seemed to be too many people there for the reps to really be able to handle. There really was too much to see in the 4 hours we stayed. I was somewhat surprised to see so many female attendees. More women into guns is a good thing. I wasn't impressed with the quality of revolvers on display at S&W. The cylinder bolt cuts were buggered up from dry firing. Looks like they didn't have many timed right, even those from the Performance Center. I'm disappointed with the quality of S&W in general. I haven't felt that way since the early '80's when their quality control was in free fall. However, I do like some of the newer revolver designs. All-in-all we had a very good time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

 

[Slidemuzik]

I don't recall seeing another thread on this forum so universally critical of S&W. I was there and had the same experiences. They were only there to enhance the company's reputation to pay off in the future. They weren't selling any guns at the show. They should have been focusing on patting the S&W owners on the back for owning any of any of their products. I can only hope somebody at S&W reads about this and makes some changes. Why go if you end up alienating your customer base?

 

[nocents]

another 1 in the column here for the after market to step up to the plate....it works for the auto after market business ....there are a lot of companies that make reproduction parts for all 3 big US makers...from body replacement parts....interior trim...emblems...anything ....one could probably build a 1969 Z-28 from a catalog......except for the factory DZ 302 engine block...