Reply from a few weeks: My M&P 40 Blew UP!!

[Rastoff]

As andyo5, said in post #28, "I see a crack in the frame which appears to have originated at a corner of the trigger cutout. I didn't see a 'blow up'. Did I miss something?"

This from your Original Post!

"This M&P was a lemon! It jammed from day one, never functioned properly. was told to clean and oil it good as it could have dried out on display at the store. Had my gunsmith go through it, clean and oil it and for about 2 magazines it worked. This is with FACTORY ammo! Finally when my grandson was firing it, the damn thing blew up in his face, the slide flew back and hit a friend of his in the forehead cutting him, and parts went everywhere."

No evidence in your pictures of a catastrophic Blow-up and slide disengagement with parts going everywhere. All I see is a crack in the polymer frame behind the trigger cutout. You did not post pictures of the frame slide rails or any other parts of the pistol that came apart.
You made no mention of "shooting reloads" in your original post. I still have reservations as to what actually took place!

mb

I'm sorry for your troubles jcs152112, but martybee is right, the picture you posted doesn't match the story you first told us. There is no way that crack supports the story that the slide flew off and hit anyone in the forehead.

I know you don't want to hear this, but I think your grandson is not telling you the whole truth. Because you weren't there when this happened, it's highly likely that this was caused by a reloaded round. Further, that round may not have been one of your reloads. We don't know what your grandson's friend brought to the situation.

Look, I'm not attacking you. There's just a lot we don't know and many possibilities. None of them support your grandson's story of the slide flying off. I really am sorry this happened. No one wants to believe their family is anything but honest with them, but it does happen.

 

[Muss Muggins]

After all the remarks and the troll statements about my experience. I am going to try to post pictures and show the reply I got from Smith & Wesson. I sent the ammo that was involved, but did not receive it back because I was told they were not ammo manufacturers so they could not ship it back. They did not test the ammo because "we do not test ammo", but I was required to send it back. I had an M&P 40 that exploded with Winchester white box 40 cal ammo. I sent the gun and the ammo to Smith & Wesson. I am posting hopefully the letter I received. Anyway, to those of you who said there were no pictures, and pretty much called me every name in the book. Here is your proof. I am screwed, I have nothing to show for this but a $779.95 pistol that did not function. Don't tell me I paid too much. I have already talked to the dealer I bought the pistol from and they were afraid to pursue the problem because of their relationship with Smith & Wesson.

So the slide flew off and hit your grandson in the head, and the only damage is a crack in the frame? Who put it back together?

I'm not disputing that the frame is cracked, but it looks to me like somebody dropped in out the window of the car and ran over it. If it's an ammo problem, that's not where the damage occurs. As for the slide flying off backwards, the number of parts that have to disintegrate for that to happen is more than ten.

I call that which makes grass green, which I think I did in the original post. . .

 

[Cbollo]

Yeah, how the heck would the slide come off and then fly backwards? Sorry, sounds like your grandson and his friend owe you a new gun

 

[jcs152112]

I never said it happened after shooting reloads. I simply said that it had shot reloads fine in the past. There were no reloads in reference to the situation. I have found the original box in my grandson's hunting bag and have filed a complaint with Winchester with the lot # of the box in question. I find it hard to believe that people who shoot these firearms regularly would twist the English language so. I shoot reloads. They are cheaper to plink. But I only shoot them with ME! He shot White box Winchester 40 S&W AMMO lot # XXXXXX(that is only for them to see). I have already contacted Winchester and of course I have the ongoing dispute with Smith & Wesson. I love my other Smith's...just not this one. I NEVER LOAD RELOADS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE MAX. RELOADS ARE ONLY FOR PLINKING AND SCREWING AROUND. KIND OF LIKE 22 SHORTS!!

 

[alleycat7002]

Like my MP.....dont like 40...why i choose 9

 

[Geo. T.]

My 2 Cents!

It was painful to me reading these posts. I really did and do not see any overt S&W bashing in your posts. You know there were several that like me appreciated your effort to warn and teach!

From my perspective there are two main points that make going after you pretty dumb!

First the information about potential problems with the 40 S&W in some handgun designs is so well published that suggesting that it doesn't exist indicates a shooter in denial!

Second anyone that doesn't believe that every large company occasisnally drops the ball where customer service is involved has led a very charmed life. I have very few right the first time experiences these days. I have learned from these posts to never admit to shooting reloads and don't send more than a small sample of anything they ask for.

I would spend some time searching for the CEO's name and address as well as others in the chain of command. Put a package together and mail it to them all along with a distribution list in each. My guess is that there will be a shift in their attitude once there is a name and a face on both ends of the communications. Corporations get a lot of mileage from the fact that an hourly worker with little to gain by going the extra mile is your contact.

I for one hope that you try everything and that the end results will restore your and our faith in S&W because I really like their AR's and revolvers! Good Luck! Geo. T.

 

[Rastoff]

I never said it happened after shooting reloads.

Yes you did. You said...

straight out of the box...nothing changed. Shot Federal fine, shot reloads fine, then problems.

See post #5. So, we're just responding to what you've told us. No embellishment, just trying to guide you toward the answers you seek.

I NEVER LOAD RELOADS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE MAX. RELOADS ARE ONLY FOR PLINKING AND SCREWING AROUND. KIND OF LIKE 22 SHORTS!!

Even so, people make mistakes. Besides, you weren't there. How do you know reloads weren't being used? Is it possible your grandson got a hold of some of yours without you knowing? Could he or his friend have brought some to shoot?

THERE MAY NOT BE 10 PARTS TOTAL IN A POLYMER FRAME PISTOL.

There are at least 30 parts in a S&W M&P.

i APOLOGIZE FOR BEING STUPID ENOUGH TO ANSWER TO SOMETHING SO REDICULOUS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I AM SORRY FOR POSTING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I DON'T WANT YOUR M&P'S TO BLOW UP, BUT IT WON'T BOTHER ME IF THEY DO. GOOD NIGHT...GOD BLESS YOU...GOD BLESS AMERICA...I AM OUTA HERE.
.

Why are you so upset? We are just trying to get to the bottom of this. It may help you prevent a repeat.

 

[ditrina]

Thank you all for your input..

We are done here

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

This from your Original Post!

"This M&P was a lemon! It jammed from day one, never functioned properly. was told to clean and oil it good as it could have dried out on display at the store. Had my gunsmith go through it, clean and oil it and for about 2 magazines it worked. This is with FACTORY ammo! Finally when my grandson was firing it, the damn thing blew up in his face, the slide flew back and hit a friend of his in the forehead cutting him, and parts went everywhere."

If I had a gun that was a "lemon", jammed from day one and had a history of never functioning properly, the last thing I would do is hand it to my grandchild to shoot.

Good luck.