Repair Turn-Around Time S&W Perf. Center

[HorizontalMike]

I recently sent a new-to-me 686 No-Dash in to have the "M" modification done on the firing pin & bushing, plus to look at my cylinder sticking.

I sent it on Aug 1st and they acknowledged Aug 8th
I called Aug 30th 2018 and was told to expect a 3-month turn-around.

Has anyone noticed any type of seasonal backlog on S&W Performance Center repairs/service, or is this just a sign of the times?

 

[bigggbbruce]

Technically the gun is out of the warranty they offer. But they will do the "M" mod. Asking for the other check may have moved it to a different category and department which takes more time.

 

[Narragansett]

I am not bashing anybody here, just expressing my opinion. I think 3 months to turn anything around is excessive. Especially when you are a company plagued by slow sales ( 25%) reduction, a 75% reduction in profits, a poor marketing plan, and an overexpanded product line. I read that a 3 month turnaround equates to a lack of qualified smiths, or too much stuff coming back, and they are swamped. Just my .02

 

[Rpg]

In the world of good gunsmiths, a 3 month turn around is quite quick.

Not like Grease Monkey, for sure.

 

[gnystrom]

A guy I work with got his new Mod 66 back in just under 8 months.

 

[shocker]

I got my 66-8 back yesterday. 2 weeks including transit. Replaced extractor, hand, and repaired yoke. I test fired it and all is well.

 

[grinner]

I've had two warranty repairs done on new PC revolvers in the last year, and both came back in 2-3 weeks. I think the difference is that your repair is on an older gun and so is for a repair not a warranty. That probably puts it to the bottom of the queue. My warranty repairs were on brand new guns that failed after only a few rounds. That likely bumped my repair to the top of the queue.

It makes sense that they would want to fix production problems on new guns quicker than repairs on an old one.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

I'm going to say the same thing grinner did, but say that I've had one warranty repair(new gun) this year and one last year(also new gun). Each trip took maybe 3 weeks tops. Both were on new guns. I think that's the difference.
3 months doesn't seem unreasonable. They're paying for the trip back and forth. And they might give it a tune up also? Not bad.


Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Ignatz]

Sent my 586 in on 3/2/2018.....got the notice they received it on 3/7/2018.
Got an estimate dated 5/26/2018 and received it the first week in June.
OK'd the repair and gave them my credit card.
They said that when the credit card hits my account the gun is done and will be sent home.
That was two weeks ago today.
Yup!.....next week is 6 months, they got paid and I don't have a gun.
And yes, I talked to them on Monday and I'm supposed to get my Fed-Ex notice of shipment tomorrow or Monday.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Sign of the Times?

Sent my 586 in on 3/2/2018.....got the notice they received it on 3/7/2018.
Got an estimate dated 5/26/2018 and received it the first week in June.
OK'd the repair and gave them my credit card.
They said that when the credit card hits my account the gun is done and will be sent home.
That was two weeks ago today.
Yup!.....next week is 6 months, they got paid and I don't have a gun.
And yes, I talked to them on Monday and I'm supposed to get my Fed-Ex notice of shipment tomorrow or Monday.

And THAT is what I am/would be concerned with.

I understand that this new-to-me 686 is outside of the Lifetime Service Agreement (1989-Present), but the "M" modification still is a free service on this revolver.

FWIW, I also have a bought new 686 No-Dash that I bought in August 1986, and THAT TOO does not qualify for the Lifetime Service Agreement... At least I had the "M" done in Jan 1987.

Back to the new-to-me 686... I have not even fired this weapon after receiving it off of GB. I just want/wanted everything to be just right/correct before I start using it. BTW, the last two S&Ws I bought new in the past 3yr, each required a trigger job. I DIY'd both and now have then functioning as they should have come from S&W, and one of them is a PC gun (627PC)...!

Time will tell and I am hoping this will turn out well, and not co$t too much... Other than the free "M", the only other issue is a sticky cylinder release...

 

[Blueinterceptor]

My 581 M mod took 2 months turn around. The 13 I sent in the same exact day took 4 months turn around

 

[CA Escapee]

I bought a gently used 696 last year. I think it was gently used because the cylinder would push forward on three of the charge holes and scuff the forcing cone. One of the charge holes was the worst of the three binding the action up after the gun got dirty from firing it.

I sent in in to S&W for repairs and a Master Action Package.

After numerous calls I was finally able to talk to someone who didn't tell me that they were going to contact so-and-so and they'd get back to me. (when they never did) I finally found that they had changed some parts and it was almost done. When I got it back it the action was very smooth with a lighter trigger pull. I went to the range and shot it and it ended up having the same problem. The cylinder would move forward enough to bind up the action when dirty. It took them 4.5 months for that trip.

I sent it back to S&W in late June and they received it on July 5. When I called about a week ago the lady said that the Performance Center works on all of the older guns. It's still there and they've had no word from the Performance Center on the status.

Bill

UPDATE: I received my 696 via FedEx last Friday, just a touch over two months after they received it. I've watched the B/C gap while pulling the trigger back in double action and the cylinder no longer comes close to the forcing cone.

Bill

 

[Ignatz]

When I called early August about my 586, I got a return call from the nice lady that they couldn't get the barrel off my gun because it was seized on. They said the barrel had to be cut off and needed my permission to cut it off. I agreed to have them cut it off, just to get the ball rolling so I can get it back.

The next day or so they called back and said they didn't have a 6" barrel for a 586. Evidently the parts bin in the repair section just cant take parts from the production line for customer repairs.

I was told again, that when my credit card hits the repair charge, the repaired gun would be sent back.

I got a notice from my credit card company asking me if a charge from S&W was OK on August 16th. And I agreed to it. The charge hit my card on Aug 18th.

Hopefully the gun arrives after Labor Day, and shoots good.

The last time I called and got a service representative, I was told that it could take a week to go from the repair section to shipping and receiving. That's when I asked if they still actually had my gun. He said yes....it just takes a while. I'll post whenever I get the 586 back.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Looking at the extractor rod wear on the frame, as the cylinder is opened, it appears that this 686 was used a lot. Sorry I don't have a better image, just the ones I took before sending off to S&W. All I can say is that the wear groove was just as deep all the way out, though I didn't realize it to take a better image.

That said, my best guess is that extractor rod may be bent and creating the binding when trying to open/swing the cylinder.

Just have to sit on my hands and wait. And in the mean time use my original 686 No-Dash 4in as my reloading test gun, along with my 2in K6S for short barrel loads.

 

[moosedog]

As far as I remember, it has always taken 2-3 months, especially during vacation time. I've got one in for service and it's been about 6-8 weeks I think.

 

[moosedog]

A lot depends on the time of the year and if there's a recall going on. I my experience, it usually takes several months and longer if it's vacation season.
Thanks for reminding me, I've got a K-22 in there now.

 

[Pequod]

S&W service time

I called S&W last week, asking about the possibility of sending in a model 64-3 for work on the cylinder swing out sticking. I was told it would have to be done by the PC because of the age (built in 1981), and it would be 14 to 16 weeks before they pick it up and get back to me with an estimate. I decided to go with a local gusmith. It is not serious work really needing the factory, but I thought maybe with an almost 40 year old LE trade in they could go over the whole gun and I wouldn't mind paying a little more for factory expertise. Decided against it based on the time. I have never had a revolver serviced at the factory, and the comments on the forum range from wonderfully satisfied to enraged, though I would not be hesitant to send one in.

Pequod

 

[Ignatz]

Thanks for posting this. I just sent mine in thinking it would take a month or so. I admit that I never looked into the repair timeframe.

 

[RGVshooter]

I am not bashing anybody here, just expressing my opinion. I think 3 months to turn anything around is excessive. Especially when you are a company plagued by slow sales ( 25%) reduction, a 75% reduction in profits, a poor marketing plan, and an overexpanded product line. I read that a 3 month turnaround equates to a lack of qualified smiths, or too much stuff coming back, and they are swamped. Just my .02

Not sure where you get your figures from but 3 month turnaround time for out of warranty work done by one of the largest & most busy gun manufacturers in the world is very reasonable.

To the OP. I have sent a total of 3 pistols back to S&W, two were for non warranty work and one was under warranty. I'm still waiting for the warranty work done however I only sent it out last week. And the other two non warranty jobs it took exactly 3 months from start to finish.....I might add that the quality of work performed was well worth the wait.

 

[Ignatz]

I got my 586 back today, mounted a scope and it shot 1.5" groups at 25 yards. So I'm happy with the work performed. Just be prepared for a 6 month turnaround.

 

[Termite54]

Smith repair time

Sent my smith 63-5 in for misfire in double action. Got it back yesterday,
Replaced main spring, and repaired yoke. Shot it today, 150 rounds good
as new. They had it less than 2 weeks. I cannot say enough good things
about their customer service.

 

[H Richard]

Try to locate a good revolver gunsmith to do the same work and see how long they estimate it may be for the repair. I'd bet an estimate of 3-6 months.

 

[joe44va]

Sent a 686+ in for a repair (clocked barrel) and to get the Master Revolver Action Package. Took five months!
Items I've sent in to have only one thing done I generally have back in 2 to 5 weeks. Normal seems to be 3 weeks,