Question for 945-1 owners *UPDATE post 11*

[missiondude]

Hey All-

I have a problem with my 945-1. The slide stop detent appears to be wearing a divot into the angled stainless steel part that it rides against when an empty magazine presses the stop upward. The thing is, it is wearing the divot in its down position to such an extent that I fear it will not lock the slide on an empty at some point. I sent the gun back to S&W for repair, and it was returned with nothing done, and no explanation. My 945-40 slide stop detent does not even touch the angled part unless it is in the up position. There is space between the detent and angled part at the bottom when the stop is in the down position. Any 945-1 owners care to look at your stops and tell me or post pics of what is hapening on their guns. I plan on calling the pc next week, but I would like to have more info.

The free shipping was nice, but to just return the gun with nothing done and no explanation leaves me puzzled.

Click the pics for a close up view.

Thanks

Dave

 

[TSQUARED]

I believe that you are looking for a problem that does not exist. Instead of paying attention to the cosmetic minutia you shopuld be enjoying shooting your 945. Mechanical items always show wear wih use. Do you expect your auto engine to look the same after 50,000 miles as you did when it was new?

 

[rbert0005]

I have toi say that mine do not have that detent.

Maybr you should ask if it supposed to be there. Something new?

I would just shoot it and if a problem arises then it would go back to the factory. They may just end you another plunger tube if that ones out of spec.

Bob

 

[missiondude]

TSQUARED-

It is not the looks that bother me, it is the fact that for 5000 rounds there was nothing there, then in one day of shooting (approx 150 rounds), that divot shows up. If it gets deep enough, it will prevent the slide from locking back on an empty magazine. That is the reason I sent it in. Would you want a gun that does not lock the slide for shooting sports or home defense?

Any other 945 owners that shoot their guns fairly regularly care to weigh in?

thanks

Dave

 

[paddingtonbear]

945-1

That's not wear that is a defect imo. My 945-1 has about 2000 rounds through it, but don't think that should happen at any count. I would definitely call the PC for an answer and send it back.

 

[Bruce51]

Not right at all!

Missiondude it would appear that you have a real problem with your gun.
My 945 does not exhibit the damage that you have posted in your picture.
Your slide stop is peening the surface and deforming the metal.
I would inspect the slide stop for roughness and smooth if necessary.
Smith should have replaced the part as the metal appears to be too soft.
Your other choice is to smooth out the damaged area and hope the problem is self limiting. Peening can occur with soft metals or hard metals, roughness and lack of lubrication.
What I see in the picture is a problem that
Smith should have repaired under warranty.
Send Smith the pictures and press them for a solution.
If you need a comparison I can photo mine.

Good luck. Bruce

 

[missiondude]

Sad think is, I sent it in, and they sent it back. I was not pleased to say the least. I will be placing a call in to the PC monday and talking to them about it. Like I said, my other 945 slide stop detent does not even touch. I explained this in the letter sent in with the gun, but that did not seem to get the point across. I asked to be contacted prior to the gun being returned so that I could see what they did, and verify that I would be here when it was shipped back. Gun just shows up friday with no warning and nothing done...

Thanks to all who replied, especially those with thousands of rounds through their gun...

Dave

 

[SW CQB 45]

I sold my 945-1 so I dont have one to check for you.

its hard to tell from the images, but is it a dimple with an actual groove into the metal of what I am going to call a SW plunger tube?

have you checked the spring loaded detent in the slide lock lever for extended length or sharpness/jaggedness?

could the SW plunger tube be too long(out of spec) or too soft (out of spec) which would cause that gouging?

You may not get to actually speak to someone in the custom shop and customer service will not transfer.

If they do not let you speak to someone in PC, ask for a return shipping label....and that you will not accept this type of issue or lack of information and request the part be fixed with an explanation of what caused this.

good luck

 

[missiondude]

CQB-

When I sent it in I explained that the detent in the slide stop looked like it was longer than it should be. I figure it wore past its internal stop partially and now presses on the angled stop all the time. I did get an extension # from customer service to the PC shop guy that looked at the gun. I was just wanting to get other owners opinions before I call him on monday. Really wierd that they just sent it back without any explanation...

I was planing on using the gun in a pistol class, but I guess I will just use my wifes M&P. At least the ammo is cheaper.

I will post the outcome of the conversation monday after I get off the phone.

dave

 

[missiondude]

The 945-1 is back on the way to S&W. Luckily I got to speak with someone at the PC that has one with over 75,000 rounds through it. He looked at at the pictures and agreed that something was not right. They sent me another call tag today, so off it went. I will update again when I know more...

 

[missiondude]

On her way back...

Hey all-

My 945 is on the way back thanks to Jimmy Rae at S&W who took an interest based on the pics I sent in trying to describe what was going on. The PC replaced the dimpled part, and Mr Rae sent the defective one in for metalurgical analysis. Turns out my original part was not properly heat treated. Its hardness was 6 or 7 points low (30 to31 vice the 37 to 38 it was supposed to be). Not sure why it only recently became an issue, but I suspect that the outer surface was somewhat harder, but once it was penetrated the wear accelerated. Sent the gun in last wednesday, on its way back one week later. Cant wait to get to shoot it again...

 

[Bruce51]

That's great news missiondude! I just knew that Smith had to make it right. I'm going to keep checking mine for problems just in case.
Keep an eye out for your delivery as you don't want to miss getting your gun back.

Bruce