Range day with the 617, 5-10-25 update, Now I'm impressed.

call Smith, they will email you a FedEx shipping label, I bought a 4", and 6" last year, had to send in the 6" twice, got a great gunsmith the second trip. It is great now, good luck..
 
I emailed them last night, waiting on a response. I'm an experienced shooter and I know what's normal and what's not. I've never had to adjust rear sights to that extreme on multiple Glocks, USP's Beretta 92FS, 1911.
Hell, even my made in 1978 H&R model 999 only needed a few clicks of windage to zero.

I've been researching for months prior to this purchase. I took a leap of faith ordering a 617 without actually being able to look at one. The first one was not a new gun, 2nd one was much better, but now has its own issues. I agree that S&W is not the company it once was, but I will certainly give them the opportunity to make things right.

We 'll see said the Zen master...We'll see.
 
I've been researching for months prior to this purchase. I took a leap of faith ordering a 617 without actually being able to look at one. The first one was not a new gun, 2nd one was much better, but now has its own issues.

Wow, I remember your other thread regarding the initial 617 you ordered; sorry to hear that the replacement one is giving you problems. They could help their reputation by hand selecting several examples to send to your FFL for you to inspect and test fire, then keeping the one that passes muster. But from what I've been reading here even that would not guarantee a good outcome.

Please keep us posted.

Todd
 
Well, I got the two round emails today. First one was a Fed Ex mailing label and the second was instructions on what to do. I just got back from dropping it off at Fed Ex. now the wait begins.... I contacted them thru their web site Sunday evening and 4 business days later I received the emails.
 
New to old S&W is apples & oranges. Same with all the major gun companies. The Bean Counters are in a race to the bottom. Guns can't be made and sold in volume at prices that would cover more human work hours. S&W has managed to stumble around, Colt tripped and fell, High
Standard went down the tubes. In my opinion Ruger is only outfit that has constantly made gains.
What seems stupid to me is changing products that are time tested, bread and butter for a company. They have all done this too.
 
I have a Charter Arms Pathfinder w/4" barrel. Didn't want the kids dropping my 63 no dash(s) on the concrete at the range.

After one cylinder we all decided the gun was cheap junk and nobody wanted to use it again. Every time someone here suggests getting a Charter because S&W "ain't what they used to be" it's like saying get a Yugo over a Chevy.
 
Having been in this game a long time, I will tell you I saw plenty of problems in 1970s and 1980s Smith Guns. Most are fine now just like then but there are always lemons.
 
I bought a 617 a couple of years ago. Shot way left and and high with the sight bottomed out . The barrel was canted badly which I did not notice when purchased .

I returned it to Smith. They changed the complete sight and returned my old one . Fixed the barrel . And I swear the did something to the action. Now one of my best shooting revolvers.

It sucks to get one with issues, but give them a chance to make it right
 
Don't tell anyone but I had to file one side of the rear sight on my Model 34 in order to get it to hit center because I used up all the travel and it still hit to one side.
Guns are appliances and nothing's perfect. Now my 34 will hit a tin can, a dirt clod, a bad man's anatomy, or squirrel within reasonable distance. That's what an appliance should do.
 
Quick update, I mailed it last week 4/3 and it was signed for Monday 4/7 at the MA location.
This morning, I received an email stating they have processed it in for repair and gave it an RMA number for me to reference.

Now we will see how long that takes...So far, I'm impressed with their process.

My new grips and Dawson front Fiber optic sight arrived and I'm holster shopping now.
 
Harv, old buddy, I'm going to split hairs here.
You sent it Fed Ex. Emphasis on sent.
Mailing is the US Postal service.
Fed Ex does a pretty good job.
UPS does a very good job.
Growing up, I was often told that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. So I won't comment on the mail service.

Once you get them ironed out 617s are a joy. Mine is amazingly accurate. I had a 2X Leupold on it for accuracy testing. More than once I got sub 3 inch, 5 shot groups at 100 yards. Hang in there.
 
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Harv, old buddy, I'm going to split hairs here.
You sent it Fed Ex. Emphasis on sent.
Mailing is the US Postal service.
Fed Ex does a pretty good job.
UPS does a very good job.
Growing up, I was often told that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. So I won't comment on the mail service.

Once you get them ironed out 617s are a joy. Mine is amazingly accurate. I had a 2X Leupold on it for accuracy testing. More than once I got sub 3 inch, 5 shot groups at 100 yards. Hang in there.
 
Quick update, just got an email from Fed Ex that my pistol is heading back.
Less then 4 weeks. it looks like 2 day Fed Ex. we will see what they did and report back
 
My
I bought a 617 a couple of years ago. Shot way left and and high with the sight bottomed out . The barrel was canted badly which I did not notice when purchased .

I returned it to Smith. They changed the complete sight and returned my old one . Fixed the barrel . And I swear the did something to the action. Now one of my best shooting revolvers.

It sucks to get one with issues, but give them a chance to make it right
My new 617 had to go back to S&W for warranty repairs last summer. It is now one of my best shooters and a strong contender for being the favorite firearm I own. I never go to the range without it, and it has taught me how to shoot double action. I very rarely shoot single action anymore. I recently put some Altamont Coke Bottle target grips/stocks on it. My 617 is my baby.
 

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