New 351PD defective! - FIXED!!

Stainz

Stainz

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Yep, finally happened - I bought a new 351PD - spent a small fortune on it - and it has a defect. The ejector star skips over two chambers, making a small rod or finger nail necessary to get the skipped empties out. No problem with the ejector star in - they miss it entirely and can be pushed out without interference. Shoots fine - but skipped every time - with two different CCI MaxiMag loads and Hornady FTX 45 gr Critical Defense, too. Aggravating - otherwise a neat revolver. Each chamber was fired when I got it - as was the display model - someone should have noticed that - it was $666 inc s/t. Standing and shooting freehand, I put 21 rounds in a row on a 1ft x 2ft cardboard sheet - at 25yd - 40F damp and 10+mph wind. Still skips at room (72F) temp. Guess I'll call S&W for a return label in the AM. %$#@&

Stainz
 
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Stainz,
I know it is really frustrating and shouldn't be necessary, but SW will make it right.
 
And that's the gun I want too. Sorry to hear about this. Can I ask where you were able to find it? I have some great leads but nothing yet. Thanks....
 
Man, what a bummer in what should have been a really nifty gun. Please do us a favor and let us know how things get resolved.
 
Follow-up:

Just talked with Tom, CS, S&W - FEDEX Overnite return label on the way via snail way (don't trust e-mail). Got the box and receipt out - no s/n on receipt - and the box had the store string mounted price tag I removed when I got home Saturday - should have looked - it was $599! Yeah, $629 was a great price. They, gunstores, are all in a feeding frenzy - except they have the 'food'. Every firearm I've bought since 6/11 came from there (Governor, M&P 15, 632 Pro, 4" 651, and 351PD) - and always from the store's owner - previous buys were 'deals' - guess he's just making up for prior 'deals'. Well, they may have to start selling pepper spray and baseball bats, if Pelosi, etc, have their way.

Oh... Tom, CS at S&W, said that they had a few bad extractors a few years back - mine has a shot cartridge date of 9/11 - might be one of them. So, if you have one locked away in a case/safe - check it out. Just load seven .22 WMRs and try to eject them. If any are still chambered - pull them out with a finger nail or push them out with a stick - make sure it's empty. If you have them 'skipped', call S&W CS (1-800-33109852) for a return label.

I'll report back when I get it back. Right now, I'm more upset at my lgs than S&W - it's mechanical - stuff happens. All seven cylinders had a teeny exit ring - so they had been fired... but they will gravity fall free, too. Yeah, think positive... stuff happens... it'll come back 'right' - and quickly.

Stainz
 
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Stainz, are you going to put some Model 60 Pro grips on it so it will match it's brothers?
 
My 351PD failed 4 out of seven rounds per cylinder right out of the box. S&W replaced the firing pin and it has been good to go with anything I put through it.

While they had it I had them install a bodyguard hammer like my 317-2, to make it more snag resistant. Please note with the bodyguard hammer it is more difficult to cock for single action. They do return your original hammer so you could reinstall it if you change your mind.

351pd2copy.jpg
 
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Neat idea! What did that hammer change cost, if you don't mind me asking?

Stainz
 
mag318 said:
Stainz, are you going to put some Model 60 Pro grips on it so it will match it's brothers?
Click to expand...

I don't think so - it and my 642 are my 'pocket protectors' - that hammer may be a problem. Add the bigger grip and it may be a real problem. Oddly, other than weight, my 632 Pro makes a decent pocket gun with those 60 Pro grips... Naw, I am so broke right now... and changes in my wife's tax, SSI, and my med premiums increase starting this month will lower our take-home by most of $300/month - and that's a lot. Nice idea, though...

Stainz
 
mtheo said:
My 351PD failed 4 out of seven rounds per cylinder right out of the box. S&W replaced the firing pin and it has been good to go with anything I put through it.

While they had it I had them install a bodyguard hammer like my 317-2, to make it more snag resistant. Please note with the bodyguard hammer it is more difficult to cock for single action. They do return your original hammer so you could reinstall it if you change your mind.

351pd2copy.jpg
Click to expand...

That Bodyguard hammer looks interesting...can you post different pics showing it from above and from the rear? One question, I didn't think S&W would modify a handgun in such a way as to install a hammer not designed or purposed for other then the original application. :confused:
 
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. Spent rounds extract perfectly - they replaced the cylinder. I'm off to the local club range to function test it - if it doesn't rain. I'm happy thus far!

Stainz
 
My wife arrived home by 4 PM - we headed to the club range in the overcast/mist and shot the 351PD. She liked the fit/feel/noise/flash/no recoil. Hates the DA trigger - shot it mostly SA. She said, "I like it... and you're not getting your 2" 10 back, either!". Hmrmph.

Fast turn around. Obviously, they didn't read my letter asking them to at least clean up the DA trigger. I don't expect it to be as good as my 4" 651, of course... although it is nothing to write home about. I tried a lighter Wolff hammer spring in it and got ftf's, so that likely isn't an option for the 351PD. The trigger return doesn't seem excessive, so the rebound spring will stay as-is, too. Break-in will help - as will som RemOil. I'm happy to have it back. Sad that it cost me a few denaro's more than the last new S&W .22(3) I bought - my M&P 15 Sport ($599 8/11!). Now to find some more short barrel/defensive ammo for it... maybe they'll have a financing plan...

Stainz
 
Yay, Stainz! Thank you for the report - glad it's back and working.

FWIW, I've seen plenty of .22 WMR around here. My .22 Mag handgun has a 4" tube so my ballistics data is probably no good for you, but do make a point of chronoing a bunch of different rounds - I noted profound velocity differences between brands in the short barrel (personally have found the Winchesters to deliver the mail a lot better than any of the ATK .22 Mags from a short barrel - which is unfortunate, because the ATK ones are the ones with the fancy-schmancy defensive bullets).
 
It took a year and half of calls to S&W,
but it's now California legal and I LOVE mine.
The PD was on the roster.
Now the 351C is too.
For in the pocket, you can't beat the 351C.
I ordered the smooth wood grips for mine.
7 shots. No weight. No jam. No recoil.
It's loaded with Hornady Critical Defense.
A close 2nd would be CCI short barrel.
 

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