New 351PD defective! - FIXED!!

I've run across 2 of these 351pd's in the last month. One at a gun show last weekend with a price of $850 and the other at a LGS with a price of $739. I remember seeing one last Spring (of 2012) at a LGS that was NIB for $589. Moral of the story: You won't see many and the price has gone up a bunch in the last year.
 
Stainz said:
Update:

It was picked up here 1/14 - signed for at S&W 1/15 - in the mailroom headed back 1-22 - in my hands earlier this afternoon (1-25). Not too shabby - considering that the SHOT show was in there, too. Stainz
Click to expand...

That's pretty good... they received my gun on 12/15/12 & I'm still waiting to get it back! Did they let you know that it was being shipped & the tracking#? When I called for status & asked how they'd let me know it was shipping & the tracking# they told me they didn't do either... I just needed to call later (when?) & ask ?? Is this the way they do things?
 
Interesting information on the hammer.

When I got my M317 back from S&W there was a "spare" hammer in the box,
with no explanation, and since they didn't list any work on the hammer
I just put it in my spare parts box without another thought.

One day I'll have to get it out and see if I can
figure out what type of hammer it might be.
 
Yesterday found me CCing the 351PD for the first time. I stuck it in the Mika pocket holster my 642 has ridden in for years - it fit fine - the hammer was protected - retrieval was snag free. Loaded with Hornady Critical Defense and a reload in a Fuji 35mm film cannister ("Whatz dat??"), I forgot it was in my pocket. The entry guy at the Leeds 'Bass Pro Shop' asked me if I had a gun to check at Customer Service - I told him all I had was a CCW. He asked if I had a CCL - and said it was fine. No handgun or rimfire ammo there, save a few boxes of .17. No revolvers, either - only a few pocket knives, too. Sad - I hadn't been in there since last spring.

Loaded, the 351PD weighs over a half pound less than the 642. I noticed my britches didn't sag on that side, either. I predict a lot of carry for that firearm. I was waiting for the 351C, afraid that the hammer might snag on the 351PD. I finally 'settled' for the in stock 351PD - and glad I did. That HiViz front sight is easy to pick up in any light. I'll shoot it for accuracy one day this week, with both the Hornady Critical Defense and some CCI MaxiMags. I'll A-B the DA trigger with my much shot 4" 651 - with spent cases, the 351PD seems smoother - they may have 'eased' it a bit. I'm happy... and I was happier, still, until I looked back at my new 2 1/8" 632 Pro bought 9/11 - it was cheaper than the 351PD, too. It doesn't matter - I'm happy.

Stainz
 
You are correct that the body guard hammer makes it more difficult to cock when firing single action. My 317 came with the body guard hammer and while it is an acceptably smooth (yet) heavy double action pull, cocking it is a bear.
As far as 22lr 8 shots of stingers is noting to sneer at:eek:
 
I saw an ad that some guy posted. He's asking $925 for a used 351pd! I got lucky with Bud's Gun Shop, I just happened to check in when they got a shipment. I paid $613 for a new one. It's in shipping as we speak. But $925 for a used one? No way.......I wouldn't even pay that.
 
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I took the still new 351PD and my 15 mo old ANIB 4" 651 purchase to the PG FOP Range this AM. I was shooting 40gr MaxiMag HPs in both at 12+yd at small (~6") SPC targets. In SA, both revolvers triggers were quite similar in pull and hit 100% of the time - sights were on at 12yd. In DA, the 351PD was as smooth as the 651 but stiffer - more pull required. This was accentuated by the lite weight - I could see my trigger finger 'pulling' my shots slightly left with the 351PD, resulting in berm hits left of the plates. It is very difficult, even knowing this, to correct this fault - the revolver weighs nothing! Correcting for it - aiming at the right side of the plate - improved my stats from 0 or 1 of 7 shots hitting the plates to maybe one miss out of 7. For 3-7yd typical self defense range, it's good enough. Gotta work on my right trigger finger pad pulling straight back...

Now... sad admission time. I couldn't resist a recent deal on a new evil bottom-feeding/rude-case-tossing M&P .45 Compact. A friend ordered it at the range - changed his mind before it arrived - I got it 'right' - first semi-auto here in over ten years! Federal ball ammo never missed the SPC targets at 12yd - verified by a semi-auto guy shooting it with similar results. Nasty segmented trigger - but I once upon a time had a G21, so it was quickly accomodated. Somehow, I feel dirty... but... it was different... and - fun. Gasp, hush my mouth!! New Jeep gun!

Stainz
 
Stainz,

Glad your 351PD is finally fixed and shoots fairly well for you. I have the same gun and over time I've slowly learned to squeeze the trigger in such a way to avoid the left pull problem and my 351's trigger has smoothed/eased out to the point where I can get all 7 shots off pretty quickly and from 5, 7, 10 yards they are in center mass. Bet you experience the same over time. Best ammo for me thus far has been a tie between the new Hornady 45 grain defense load and the old Winchester JHP 40's. But the little Smith shoots just about all 40 or 45 graim WMR ammo pretty much where I aim it. Its really not a target gun but gets the job done at "combat" ranges. I also carry mine in a Mika pocket holster and that light 10+ oz. sure is easy on me. So you bought a 45! Wow, you have it bad :D
 
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