My Lock locked up

It is so crazy they install a piece that can make your gun useless in a self defense situation and they charge you. Did you take it out again when you got it back or is it just a target gun?
 
I was very upset when S&W started putting those locks on their wheel guns. I had started to hear rumors about them locking up after firing heavy loads, so I just ground the flag down on mine so it would never lock up.
 
Grind the nub down, and I'm sure there are several members who will send you the unground part for free if you ever need to drop it back in......heck I think I have 2 or 3 of them laying around.
 
So I thought I would call Smith and Wesson today. He sent me a return label. The funny part is the guy on the phone sad this has never happened to anyone else he knows of. I said really I am the only one out of all the people out there. What a JOKE and a LIE. I have decided I am going to get a non lock 442 because I really like the gun and sell of the lock one. After this that will probably be my last Smith and Wesson I get. I obviously have a very negative feeling about them right now.
 
... I obviously have a very negative feeling about them right now.

Yes, so it appears - but why? You bought a gun that apparently worked fine, then you tampered with it, and then when it didn't work, you blamed S&W. Hmmm??? :rolleyes:

You knew the gun had the lock when you bought it and apparently you don't like the lock. Why buy it? :rolleyes:

I don't understand these scenarios... :)
 
You all realize that the lock does not engage while shooting!! That is a myth, never happens!! Just ask the factory. A bunch of small, delicate parts set in intricate little beds always work correctly, don't cha know. :-)
 
It is so crazy they install a piece that can make your gun useless in a self defense situation and they charge you. Did you take it out again when you got it back or is it just a target gun?

IT IS SIMPLY A TARGET GUN, SO I LEFT IT IN. SINCE ITS CHAMBERED IN .22 LR. I DON'T ANTICIPATE IT BEING A PROBLEM. THERE IS VERY LITTLE RECOIL WHEN FIRING THE RELATIVELY HEAVY 617. I REMOVED IT FOR COSMETIC REASONS---I HATE THE LOOK ! ! ! ITS THE ONLY ONE OF MY MANY S&W REVOLVERS THAT HAS THE IL. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIND A CLEAN USED 4", 10 SHOT, 617. FINALLY, I JUST ORDERED A NEW ONE…..

I AM NOT IN THE HABIT OF BUYING CURRENT PRODUCTION S&Ws. BESIDES THE PRESENCE OF THE IL, QUALITY CONTROL HAS SUNK TO A LEVEL THAT I CONSIDER UNACCEPTABLE--WHETHER IT BE PC, REGULAR LINE OR REPAIRED FIREARMS.THE ONLY OTHER ONE THAT I HAVE PURCHASED RECENTLY IS A 642-1, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THE UGLY IL…..
 
I hear you this whole lock thing is so stupid and the Customer Service people are rude from what I have experienced. Honestly when I called today they shouldn't have lied about the lock issue saying I am the only person on the planet that had one fail. I am sure this is what they are told to say in there Customer Service Meetings. What they should do I they were reputable is exchanged it for a non lock version legal in my state. Lets be honest they know these things fail.

I have a order in for a 442 without lock and I am going to sell the 442 with lock I want the same gun because I have grips and holsters for it, otherwise they way I feel I would buy a ruger right now. I am going to lose some money but it will give me piece of mind. I want to get one more small revolver but unless they eliminate these locks and change their attitude and increase the quality the next one will be the Ruger LCR.
 
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I'm betting that you didn't install the flag correctly. Mind you, I'm a hobbyist as well, so maybe I'm way off base here.

If you look at the Smithing sub-forum, you'll that the small delicate spring on the backside of the flag is hard to see - and I bet it's easy to miss when putting the flag back in.

In this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/427920-internal-lock-reinstall.html - you stated that you just set the flag back in. I'm guessing you didn't hook the little spring onto the frame. Might be worth looking into.
 
I saw that little spring because the video makes a point of it and I made sure it was under the frame. the lock worked fine with the key and while dry firing. What really makes me more upset than my gun doing this is that Smith won't admit it being a problem. The gun range guys that say they see this happen have nothing to gain, they can't get a unlocked version to get me. We all know this happens and they won't admit it.
 
Well well well.... Very interesting thread.... Inspiring.....
That was the best video I have ever seen in regards to the IL.
I'm TAKING MINE OUT ... tonight.....
Now, if anyone has a way to make that hole disapear, even better.
Oh, also, has anyone replaced the hammer with firing pin in hammer? Can that be done? 686-6 3"
 
I saw that little spring because the video makes a point of it and I made sure it was under the frame.
Ah - OK, wanted to be sure you saw that. That was the only thing I could think of.
 
I'm TAKING MINE OUT ... tonight.....
Now, if anyone has a way to make that hole disapear, even better.
Oh, also, has anyone replaced the hammer with firing pin in hammer? Can that be done? 686-6 3"

I took mine out (438). Love the gun, hate the lock. I started this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/427664-lock-plug-alternatives.html - looking for ways to cover/fill the hole now that "the plug" seems to be unavailable. I really wish people would stop with the "sell it, buy one without it" stuff though.
 
I get your point just take the lock out and don't sell it but somehow it just makes me feel like I don't have a complete gun or I am not getting what I paid for type thing. I just don't want to feel slightly angry every time I shoot it. I feel like I want one without the lock and just try to forget the whole thing.
 
S&W will void the warranty if you remove the IL.

From a previous thread:






This my or may not be true. I called S&W CS they said that each gun is evaluated on an individual basis. Theoretically just changing a spring would also void the warranty. They said if a gun comes in and has not been "butchered" and didn't have the IL it would still be covered under the warranty.
 
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