New 642 is defective

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Actually, in Florida they do. There's a lemon law on cars. This situation is a little different than that though.

However, many companies will replace a defective item as opposed to repairing it, to maintain customer satisfaction. My iPad 3 was replaced instantly when it had a defect the first week, even though they didn't have to. And Apple even gave me the next model up memory wise. Lenovo does that too.

Apples and oranges. It's a lot more cost efficient to give you a new Ipad than trying to figure out and fix the old one. And as far as the lemon law is concerned-they have a right to fix the car first-replacement is the LAST option. You have a right to expect and get a replacement cylinder which will fix the problem. Demanding a whole new gun is unreasonable and probably ain't gonna happen..

 

[Boogsawaste]

there are many instances of small problems on a revolver resulting new revolvers rather than fixes, like when a hammer or trigger stud shears.

I don't want to step on any toes or anything but I'm guessing the reason they swap for new guns with sheared studs is because the gun would need a refinish after hand blending the new stud in. I'm guessing the labor will outweigh the cost of a new gun for them, and also the time involved. Of course this is pure speculation on my side and could be completely wrong!

Also about the OP being concerned about his repaired gun being inferior to a new one. Don't forget that your defective cylinder came on a new gun too. What's to say your new one won't have any problems that you might not be aware of? With your current gun being repaired I'd actually feel more comfortable having that one since it'll have a second look at by the factory.

As others suggested, when you get it back shoot it a bunch until your fears fade. Of course you're free to do whatever you like also. If you must buy a new one because they don't replace yours, that's your choice. Just remember the new one might have an issue too...Good luck and keep us posted with what s&w decides.

 

[MichiganScott]

What paperwork? Let's assume you have a defective gun and take it back to the dealer. There is no "paperwork" problem. Dealer buys the gun back from you, same as if you walked in and wanted to sell it. He gives you full price for it. The gun is entered into his books as a "used gun." It's now his.

You then buy a new gun to replace the defective one. No problem.

My dealer has done it on a couple of occasions when I bought a gun that was defective. Did they "have to?" Probably not, but they did, and the "paperwork" was not a problem...or an excuse.

Entered into his books when he takes it back, removes it from the books when he send it back, all the new paperwork and background check when he sells you a new gun. Bigger shops with all the help they need can do it. At a smaller one man shop, customers are building up and getting irritated because of the wait when all they want is a brick of primers.

S&W will probably just run a finishing reamer in the OP's cylinder and send it back. A new gun's not going to happen.

 

[Stevewins]

What paperwork? Let's assume you have a defective gun and take it back to the dealer. There is no "paperwork" problem. Dealer buys the gun back from you, same as if you walked in and wanted to sell it. He gives you full price for it. The gun is entered into his books as a "used gun." It's now his.

You then buy a new gun to replace the defective one. No problem.

My dealer has done it on a couple of occasions when I bought a gun that was defective. Did they "have to?" Probably not, but they did, and the "paperwork" was not a problem...or an excuse.

That has been my experience too, 4 or 5 times over the last 40 years or so. S&W received the 642 back today, so I'll probably hear something in the next week or two I imagine.

 

[Stevewins]

Apples and oranges. It's a lot more cost efficient to give you a new Ipad than trying to figure out and fix the old one.

iPads are not that hard to fix, mine had a software problem and all it needed was to have the OS reloaded. The Apple store gave me a brand new, more expensive model than the one I bought because that is Apple's business model. That is what they always do when you buy it directly from their store. It has nothing to do with easier to fix, it's all about customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

You have a right to expect and get a replacement cylinder which will fix the problem. Demanding a whole new gun is unreasonable and probably ain't gonna happen..

The buyer has a right to receive a new product, not a refurbished product, when he pays for a new product.

 

[Norton 750]

To me, having a hand fitted replacement cylinder from a guy that does repair work all day is better than a random "new" gun off the line that is assembled by a guy that might be on the job for two weeks.

 

[ken158]

Gun makers used to keep blank frames & restamp your SN on them if it was defective. I don't think they can do that anymore & there's an AR maker in big trouble over un-marked frames. It's the world we live in.

You are correct - serial numbers must be applied when the manufacturing process has been verified as a completed frame.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

I wouldn't be afraid of it after they fixed it. Hell I sent a $1300.00 Performance Center gun back the first week of ownership and they did an excellent job.It is a little too big for a carry gun but I would trust it in that role if need be.

 

[k20350]

Well, the dealer referred me to S&W. They made the call to them this morning, explained the situation, and a sales rep from S&W called me. So, the gun is on its way to Springfield along with a fired Federal case that won't fit in one of the chambers and a persistent letter from me insisting on a new gun.

They wont give it to u. I bought a 317 that was a literal pile of garbage out of the box. Had a multitude of problems. I bleed S&W blue but that thing was a ****. I basically demanded a new gun and they sent me the same frame back with a new barrel, cylinder, and I assume new guts. i never fired it. Sold it off and never looked back. It's the only S&W I EVER had problems with when new. Well i bought a 629 with a cracked grip that i didn't notice till i got home but that very well could have happened at the dealer. S&W sent me a new pair without question.

 

[Clark B]

Some of you guys crack me up. No need for a new gun. Something made small can easily be made a touch larger, and the charge hole is small by just a very few thousands of an inch. Some revolver owners actually send their new revolvers out to have an additional couple thousands honed from the charge holes and to have them uniformed, and then here folks act like that is something bad.

 

[Stevewins]

They wont give it to u. I bought a 317 that was a literal pile of garbage out of the box. Had a multitude of problems. I bleed S&W blue but that thing was a ****. I basically demanded a new gun and they sent me the same frame back with a new barrel, cylinder, and I assume new guts. i never fired it. Sold it off and never looked back. It's the only S&W I EVER had problems with when new. Well i bought a 629 with a cracked grip that i didn't notice till i got home but that very well could have happened at the dealer. S&W sent me a new pair without question.

Yup, I hear you. This is the first time I've ever had a problem with a new S&W revolver or semi and I've probably bought 2 or 3 dozen over the last 4 decades. That's why I was so surprised, and it's such a big, glaring, negligent, almost laughable error.

I've had problems with other brands new out of the box ... Beretta, Taurus, Tanfolglio, Kel-Tec to name a few, but never Smith. Kel-Tec sent me a new gun 3 days later without me even requesting one, and so did Beretta, twice on two different models, but I had to insist with them. Taurus repaired it and it came back with big plier marks on the barrel, and still didn't function right. I sold it to a gunsmith. First and last Taurus I ever bought. Tanfolglio (EAA) gave me my money back after some back and forth discussion. And I've had dealers offer to replace a defective gun a couple of times too.

 

[Stevewins]

Some of you guys crack me up. No need for a new gun. Something made small can easily be made a touch larger, and the charge hole is small by just a very few thousands of an inch. Some revolver owners actually send their new revolvers out to have an additional couple thousands honed from the charge holes and to have them uniformed, and then here folks act like that is something bad.

All true, but it's beside the point.

 

[flagman1776]

Unless I saw something amiss in a detailed inspection, I wouldn't have sold it off without a trip to the range. The gun was disassembled frame was guaged & passed & then hand assembled with all new parts.

I had a Ruger MK2 I sent back for inaccuracy (I had bought 2 at the same time)... when it came back, it would shoot rings around the "good" gun.

They wont give it to u. I bought a 317 that was a literal pile of garbage out of the box. Had a multitude of problems. I bleed S&W blue but that thing was a ****. I basically demanded a new gun and they sent me the same frame back with a new barrel, cylinder, and I assume new guts. i never fired it. Sold it off and never looked back. It's the only S&W I EVER had problems with when new. Well i bought a 629 with a cracked grip that i didn't notice till i got home but that very well could have happened at the dealer. S&W sent me a new pair without question.

 

[Hapworth]

The buyer has a right to receive a new product, not a refurbished product, when he pays for a new product.

Refurbished products have been used; your 642 has not. A new revolver with a problem will still be new when the problem's corrected.

 

[Hapworth]

All true, but it's beside the point.

It's precisely the point: correcting undersized charge holes -- if that turns out to be the 642's issue -- is so simple, minor and common a procedure that the notion it begs complete replacement of the revolver is mistaken.

 

[slabside2]

I for one will never by a new Smith & Wesson revolver again! I got burnt to many times.

 

[PatriotX]

I have a Smith revolver that will only take certain brands of ammo without sticking. Ejection is near impossible with some brands after firing. Should I ask Smith & Wesson for a new gun?

This is a mid-70s Model 17-3....

 

[Stevewins]

It's precisely the point: correcting undersized charge holes -- if that turns out to be the 642's issue -- is so simple, minor and common a procedure that the notion it begs complete replacement of the revolver is mistaken.

If you read the thread, you'd realize that it is beside the point. The point is that a gun went out with a mistake like that in the first place, not whether or not it is easy to fix.

 

[Stevewins]

Refurbished products have been used; your 642 has not. A new revolver with a problem will still be new when the problem's corrected.

definition

 

[Hapworth]

If you read the thread, you'd realize that it is beside the point. The point is that a gun went out with a mistake like that in the first place, not whether or not it is easy to fix.

If you paid attention to your own thread, and in particular your original post, your "point" wasn't that the revolver left the factory with an issue, it was asking if the issue deserves receiving a complete replacement.

...I took my brand new 642 to the range today for the first time, and discovered that one of the chambers is out of spec and too small...Am I out of line insisting the dealer give me a new gun?

Since it's a factory not a dealer issue, and an easy fix that affects only one component of the revolver that when done will yield the 642 in spec, functioning, and still in every way new, the answer is no, this doesn't warrant "insisting on a new gun" from anyone.

Get the point?

 

[RV4driver]

Heck, read the threads here. If the barrel isn't canted, consider yourself ahead of the game!

 

[NJM15]

Different story in NJ

I buy all my guns through Buds Gun Shop, when the transfer takes place its your gun and would have to be returned to S&W
If upon examination before transfer takes place you find a problem Buds will accept it back for a replacement with no additional charges. Luckily all mine were in perfect shape

 

[S&W Rover]

I for one will never by a new Smith & Wesson revolver again! I got burnt to many times.

I have a 65-5 3" bought from Gil Hebard's in the 1980's. How fortunate I was, and how good that gun has turned out to be.

I've also bought a number of S&W revolvers in recent years -- Models 60, 640, 642, 442, 432. All have been excellent, with very good fit and finish. And I bought most of them sight unseen, from Bud's Guns, so didn't get to check them for cosmetic or more serious flaws (As noted by NJM15, under Bud's policies, you can refuse to accept a gun if there is a flaw, but only BEFORE IT IS TRANSFERRED by the FFL to you. Once it is transferred, Bud's tells you that your recourse to a problem is to contact the manufacturer). Fortunately, no flaws were found in any of them that I can think of right now (I can think of another major brand revolver I bought that had a problem eerily like the OP's, but in that case two charge holes that would not release the brass, not discovered until I shot it). All my S&Ws have been accurate and reliable, and aesthetically almost up to the standard set by that 65-5 (which has aftermarket wooden grips now and sits in the dresser drawer as the primary defensive weapon protecting hearth and home, with one speedloader, a Streamlight, and a set of ear plugs next to it).

So, while I understand your comment (which apparently springs from some bad experiences) I would advise anyone interested in buying a S&W revolver today that it is a good bet you'll get a fine revolver when you buy a S&W... and S&W will take care of you if you have a problem, which unfortunately can happen.

My Mdl 65-5:

 

[DUNTOV]

I wonder how that got past test-firing. Or, are they still test-firing?

They only test 2 or 3 chambers , usually every other, not adjacent

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

They only test 2 or 3 chambers , usually every other, not adjacent

Well if they test 3 chambers in a 5 shot J frame two of them are gonna be adjacent

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

They only test 2 or 3 chambers , usually every other, not adjacent

Well if they test 3 chambers in a 5 shot J frame two of them are gonna be adjacent. I learned that in Geometry

 

[Edmo]

Well if they test 3 chambers in a 5 shot J frame two of them are gonna be adjacent. I learned that in Geometry

I had to fight my OCD to not make this same comment!

Edmo

 

[OldLawman]

This story illustrates one of the problems buying from online dealers (which I do all the time) - you can't inspect the gun at the store before buying it. Not suggesting you don't do it ever again. Just pointing this out.