Lipseys 432UC , Going back :(

[Delta Rose]

It seems to be about par for the course for any new S&W revolver these days.

This is the first new S&W revolver I have purchased since 1992. I too have been leery of the perceived quality and the prevalence of the Hillary hole in the majority of their models.

I am hoping I will be pleasantly surprised….

 

[Beju]

For what it's worth, the 686 that I got last year had a shaving left over in the lock hole, but it's a great shooter. Using some handloads with 125 gr SNS bullets that a good reloader gave me, I shot the best 25 yard group I've shot with any handgun.

My 642 UC is back at S&W to get the dead front sight replaced, but it shoots fine and even sets off hard Argentinian SA primers, which give some stock striker fire guns issues.

As for post-lock S&Ws in general, a lot of people deride MIM, thinking that it replaced superior, hand-fit forged parts. The reality is that S&W replaced forged internals over 65 years ago with parts punched out of soft flat stock that was machined and case hardened. Any hand fitting on those parts potentially reduced the lifespan of the part by making the thin case hardened layer even thinner.

 

[slabside2]

I’ve been buying Smith & Wesson handguns since 1976. But I must say I will never buy another brand new Smith & Wesson handgun. The gun shop that I go to all the time keeps telling me all the stories of the guns he had to send back. did I buy a few in the last few year that worked Yeah but I also had some I’ve had to send back, so I just am not taking the chance anymore. Ruger included.

 

[PittsburghJon67]

Well, after months of wait, I picked up my brand new 432uc last week from my dealer. I drive to the range today, and figured I'd get some practice in.

Loaded it up with 6 rounds of magtech 32 S&W long sjhp, pulled trigger 6 times, no bang. Tried again through the whole cylinder, and 2 went off. I switched to 32 H&R Federal 85 grain personal defence jhp, same issues, same with Hornady critical defence 32 H&R I pulled the trigger likly 40 times to get a dozen to ignite. Revolver guy next to me looked at it, says firing pin barely sticking out. Attaching a picture to show how barely any mark from the firing pin.

So now to send it back.

Well, I have been considering the same revolver; I own and CCW both a 1980's S&W Chief 36 square butt and a 10 year old 642-2. and thought the.32 caliber ballistics looked favorable. Nothing I have researched so far has caused me to stop carrying my older .38SPL Smiths after 50 years, but your experience seems to be typical of what Used To Be considered a quallity firearm manufacturer. Wouldn't trade my older ones ever, but in fact the 642-2 Centennial needed sent back to S&W twice for rework, new in the box & unfired, so this QC problem is not exactly new. Good luck with yours!

 

[PittsburghJon67]

Oops, almost forgot to add, and this is important to understand. When I decided to do what I normally do with my firearms, to get some spare parts to salt away, I decided to go to S&W about a cylinder stop stud screw pt# 052780000 for my old Chief Model 36.. First call was to Customer Service, guy with a really distinctive voice answers and he says "We are out of those, but more are ordered, call me back in a month..." . So four weeks go by, I call again, get the same guy with the distinctive voice answering; I go through the same request and then he says this: "Sorry we have stopped sending out parts for older S&W firearms about ten years ago. If you break something we will honor the warranty but you will need to send it in & wait until we make what is needed...". Now, this is two different responses to the same question about the same part for an early 1980's Model 36 Chief Special in VG condition with no problems ever. Question becomes if, as some would suggest, the newer revolvers are iffy r/t QC issues, and no parts will be available as spares for those who want/need them unless you send the firearm in to S&W with no real idea when/if you might see it again, what real choices does one have regarding S&W in this day and age? As I mentioned in my other post, my Centennial 642-2 is about ten years old and went back to S&W twice for an unfinished forcing cone, and also about a #20 dbl action trigger pull. When it was ready to ship back I called and asked to talk to the tech on my order. He did come to the phone and at some point in the conversation he suggested that the internals for S&W revolvers were "not what you (meaning me) might expect nowadays". He didn't actually use the term MIM, or suggest where the internals come from either. That Centennial has the hated lock, and out of concern I now carry the stupid key on my keychain, just in case, but good luck getting something unstuck should the worst come to the worst at the wrong time.

 

[Petrov]

They used to shoot a full cylinder through before shipment but maybe they see the price of ammo these days so no shooting test....?????

They dont do that anymore. My 686 was impossible to fire to to steel shavings inside the cylinder.

 

[geeollie]

Guy asked his friend who is employed at S&W.
How many people work at S&W? Friend answers, "Less than half".

Are the firing pins of this model molded? Are all part that are MIM produced in a mold?

 

[OldBoldPilot]

Here we are about a year later and guess what! I bought a new 432UC in April, took it to the range, and had the same issues as everyone else, and more. Frequent light primer strikes, and the trigger bound up and required two fingers to pull it back after two or three shots.

I sent it back, and received a notice it had been logged in a week after FedEx said they delivered it. I have a couple of weeks more waiting to do. I love my M&P 340, but as it was getting a bit “feisty” on these 81-year-old wrists I’ve pinned a lot of hope on this .32. Hope it comes back all fixed.

 

[Telecaster]

Mine had light strikes, but I thought it was my reloads, maybe the primers were seated too deep. But that issue went away on its own.