s&w had there LAST chance with me!

[treerat]

could not stand to look at the model 60 pro with the rear sight not milled straight with the frame any more, even after fixing the clocked barrel myself, so I traded it off and ordered a 649, well guess what crocked sight ( clocked barrel not screwed in tight enough!) and the weird thing is the trigger leans so far to the left that it feels strange when you pick it up and place your finger on the trigger?

thats FOUR new guns in two months that should not have left the factory! I am through with s&w no more of my money! as bad as taurus is there still a better gun than what s&w is currently putting out, and that is pathetic.
I wish others luck and hope all is well with there guns, but I am done with the so called master gunsmiths at S&W! I would be afraid to let these people change the oil on a push mower.

 

[Edmo]

Treerat, sorry to hear about your problems...

I too am having a round of bad luck with a S&W product. Mine is a two month old BG38 Bodyguard 38 revolver (one of the new design snubbies). The gun is on it's second trip back to S&W for repairs in the two months since new. The first time the action locked up and this time light primer strikes were causing misfires. Regardless what they do with the gun, it will have to leave my collection since I will never trust it to function if called on. Two months since new!

I was thinking maybe a "standard" J-model as a replacement for this gun and when I looked at a 642 at my local gun shop I found something odd. I noticed the star extractor was not symetrical! The arms of the star (between the cylinders) were not all the same length!

Is that normal? My other S&W handguns all have very symetrical stars, but this brand new 642 had a couple of the arms which were much longer than the others. I guess it shouldn't affect case ejection, but it made me wonder about their quality control.

I'm beginning to think I need to go to another manufacturer for my "snubbie" needs.

Edmo

 

[geddylee10002000]

I have not bought too many revolvers in the past couple of years. My last revolver purchased was a 686+ 3 inch. Had a issue with the ejector rod backing out. Could have fixed it myself but sent it in. Came back perfect! I have bought several pistols from them in the past couple of years. Couldn't be happier. I have numerous revolvers that I have acquired over 30 years and am very happy. You might want to look at Colt revolvers. They are a step up from Smiths. My only complaint with Colt's is they turn the wrong way! I still want a Python.

 

[geddylee10002000]

I have a 36-1 3" which is a great carry. I didn't want to seem like a smart *** in my last post. I have contemplated a stainless J frame snubby for a carry. I have enough resources now.

 

[sunday bill]

.....You might want to look at Colt revolvers. They are a step up from Smiths.

.......except for Single Action Armies and New Services, SAY WHAAAAT?

 

[snowman]

treerat,

I too am sorry to hear these things. I'm sure I would feel exactly the same as you do.

I'm wondering if you have tried to find any older, used Smiths? I have eight Smith revolvers, all of them older models, and all are excellent guns. Whenever I look to buy a gun, this is the route I take, and I haven't been disappointed.

Best wishes,
Andy

 

[snubbiefan]

Absolutely.....seek and purchase the older Smith's. I don't ever consider purchasing a new gun.

 

[vytoland]

firearm purchasing tip....................buy em old......keep em forever.

 

[DCWilson]

I was thinking maybe a "standard" J-model as a replacement for this gun and when I looked at a 642 at my local gun shop I found something odd. I noticed the star extractor was not symetrical! The arms of the star (between the cylinders) were not all the same length!

Is that normal? My other S&W handguns all have very symetrical stars, but this brand new 642 had a couple of the arms which were much longer than the others. I guess it shouldn't affect case ejection, but it made me wonder about their quality control.

Several years ago S&W changed to a "squared" ejector plate and cylinder recess, presumably to cut a couple of steps out of the manufacturing process. In five shot revolvers the arms of the star can look like they are of random lengths. That's the actual design, not manufacturing slop.

 

[ikor]

Several years ago S&W changed to a "squared" ejector plate and cylinder recess, presumably to cut a couple of steps out of the manufacturing process. In five shot revolvers the arms of the star can look like they are of random lengths. That's the actual design, not manufacturing slop.

Yes...I have a beautiful 640-1 that is as well put together as any S&W post war gun I have seen...including the dozen or so 27-2's I have owned, and it has this 'feature', which is pretty obviously due to the five shot cylinder dimensions. The angles of the cuts on the ends of the arms are also different.

 

[allglock]

I think there should be a seperate forum, just for new misfit guns.....

 

[ken158]

I too am tired of S&W and their lock, poor CS and ill fitted guns. If any consolation to anyone, I dumped all of my S&W stock yesterday (that has been in the negative for so long) and am no longer an "owner". I may pick up an old model in the future but the desire is waning.

 

[Magster]

Brought a new 686+ home two weeks ago, and its perfect. Fit and finish is excellent and action is classic S&W.

 

[Stu Honea]

I think I've commented before on the state of poor QC that seems to be plagueing ALL gun makers right now.
I certainly don't have any answers,but these things simply should not be happening. I most certainly will be sticking with older proven guns until it's a certainty that this has ended.
When that may be is anybody's guess. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw.

 

[notsofast]

Bought new Model 60 (1975) no problems; bought used Model 19-4 (1975/76ish?) no problems. Bought new 627 (late 2010) it has obvious flaws. In 2 weeks I pick up a M29-4 used, I will post my finding after some time with it. I'll have four S&W's and they are the ones that suit my shooting hobby fine. If they have some issues I'll address that and try to keep and be happy with them. My S&W collection will stop at 4, and it's not a quality control issue, it's just that 4 is enough for me.

 

[deanodog]

Sorry about your troubles. Don't give up on them yet.
I have owned 7 new guns with the lock and I have to say they all were all excellent revolvers. The fit and finish and triggers are top notch. Accuracy was as it should be.They are all N frames. I like the new guns and the lock doesn't bother me at all.

 

[DDDWho]

I needed a light weight carry revolver. I bought a Taurus Ultra Lite for about 1/2 of what they wanted for a Smith.
Its not nearly the gun my 26 year old 686 is. The perceived appearance of quality is not there. The first 5 shots I took with the Taurus were inside the 7 ring at 10 yards however. So it'll do as a carry/beater.

 

[perrazi]

these stories are exactly why i won't buy new smiths. they have sent quality control on an extended vacation,never to return.

 

[larry8]

I haven't bought any new Smiths because of the seemingly larger amount of complaints. Just several used guns that are as near a perfect gun as anyone could ask for. I did buy a new Ruger SR9 that wouldnt shoot within a 7" circle at 7yrds, had a gritty trigger that was not consistant - traded it off. I bought a Ruger SP101 revolver and it is every bit as good as a Smith, and all the Ruger revolvers I have seen look very good and they are cheaper than the new Smiths. I think all the problems with Smith revolvers stem from the computer controlled machines that they use now and lack of the old timers in the assembly area. Maybe 10-20 years from now all these problems will have been fixed and we can buy them as "used" guns that we will be satisified with.

 

[GyMac]

I'm sorry for your troubles. I love S&W, but my earliest revolver was manufactured in 1970.