s&w warranty isn't bullet proof

[L2R]

I piggybacked on another thread here but need some visibility so I get some feedback.

My shield blew up on the 4th time I shot it in December.
I used factory Federal 40 cal. hydra shock hollow points.
I do not have any reloads of any caliber.

Just received a letter from Smith is saying that the gun is not at fault but willing to sell me another one at cost.

This is the easiest path for them to close the case.

As they are the ones with the gun, the casing, the experts and the opinions, I think they should make my case for me to Federal.

Anyone else ever have to go thru this?

 

[steamloco76]

Please request S&W return the gun and all evidence to you since they are stating it was not a manufacturing defect that cause the failure. In your request, tell them you need the evidence to file a proper legal claim for product defect with ATK/ Federal since S&W is, by default blaming the Shield failure on Federal's ammunition.

S&W will not go after another manufacturer for you, nor should they if their product was not defective.

Be firm and courteous, if they balk play the lawyer card.

 

[Lost Lake]

You have to call Federal.

Hope you have the brass.

How much is cost on the gun???

 

[JNewell]

You have to call Federal.

Hope you have the brass.

How much is cost on the gun???

IME, yes, this ^^^ is how you have to approach it. The ammo maker will pay, in my experience (admittedly, only once, thankfully).

 

[Denversteve]

It will be interesting to see what S&W quotes you for cost. However if you do that you will mitigate your loss/damage. Get your gun, have your brass (and hopefully receipt) and call Federal. Ammo manufacturer's know that there are variances in loads and some will cause damage. They usually take care of customers quickly.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I piggybacked on another thread here but need some visibility so I get some feedback.

My shield blew up on the 4th time I shot it in December.
I used factory Federal 40 cal. hydra shock hollow points.
I do not have any reloads of any caliber.

Just received a letter from Smith is saying that the gun is not at fault but willing to sell me another one at cost.

This is the easiest path for them to close the case.

As they are the ones with the gun, the casing, the experts and the opinions, I think they should make my case for me to Federal.

Anyone else ever have to go thru this?

I have to say that I think the title to your thread unfairly characterizes S&W as not honoring its warranty.

S&W does not warrant against defects by the ammo manufacturer.

Obviously, reading the entire thread sort of clears up what is going on here, but there will be plenty of people who only read the title and assume S&W is somehow not honoring its warranty.

Obviously, we are all sorry your gun blew up and we are glad no one got hurt. I assume that S&W is truthful when they say it was not the fault of the gun.

If Federal is at fault, they should reimburse you for the price of a new pistol. Have you asked S&W if they will put their analysis in a letter for you to show Federal?

Good luck!

 

[kennyb]

I piggybacked on another thread here but need some visibility so I get some feedback.

My shield blew up on the 4th time I shot it in December.
I used factory Federal 40 cal. hydra shock hollow points.
I do not have any reloads of any caliber.

Just received a letter from Smith is saying that the gun is not at fault but willing to sell me another one at cost.

This is the easiest path for them to close the case.

As they are the ones with the gun, the casing, the experts and the opinions, I think they should make my case for me to Federal.

Anyone else ever have to go thru this?

you seem angered,i don't follow...if the ammo caused the problem...why should S&W replace it?

 

[Lost Lake]

Ammo manufacturer's know that there are variances in loads and some will cause damage. They usually take care of customers quickly.

I believe this will be true just so the customer doesn't end up on gun sites with pictures of what their ammo did to his gun....

 

[Alnamvet68]

Change the thread title, and take the good advice offered here. No gun manufacturer warrants/guarantees their guns against ammunition defects. If in fact that is what S&W said, that it was the ammo and not the gun, then have them send you a letter to that effect, along with your handgun, and talk to Federal.

 

[L2R]

Thanks for the replys.

I think the title is appropriate. They are not warranting bullets albeit correct that I am disappointed. I had several old school S&W die hards tell me they would replace it. Maybe I was expecting more than I should.

I do not think they are responsible if it was the ammo. I do wish that since they have the gun, the casing, the lab techs with the opinion it was the bullet that they would contact Federal themselves.
They are leaving this at my doorstep not Federals.


All I have is a letter and heresay. Not much of an argument and I would think they have the contacts and the clout to somehow send me the gun without additional cost.

To those that think I am angry. Yes, a little. I waited 8 months for a shield, paid over MSRP, owned it 3 days and waited 10 weeks to hear back. Maybe it wouldn't be a big deal to you but I was pretty ticked off when it blew up in my hand.

BTW, I didn't go around showing pictures to everyone back in December. I waited until I heard back that I am on the hook for this.
Again, not a s&w hater but it wasn't my fault either. I came to the forums looking for advise as to how to navigate thru this.

If I offended anyone. Sorry but I am not taking back the title. If the owners want, they can delete it.

 

[robkarrob]

L2R reply

I think your thread title is perfect and a play on words. It "isn't bulletproof" is exactly as stated, doesn't cover bullet/cartridge manufacturing issues. Keep us posted as to you results with the price S&W quotes you and how Federal worked with their ammunition issue.

Bob

 

[BillyMagg]

you seem angered,i don't follow...if the ammo caused the problem...why should S&W replace it?

Well he's angry for the same reason we all would be, if in fact S&W does have evidence of an overpressure, they should jump at the opportunity to clear the good name this fine little weapon, ROFL, the Shield, and to bill Federal for the replacement cost of 92.30 or whatever, and send the OP a new one and a couple of extra magazines for being a factory ammo testor. They should also issue a warning to Shield owners that Federal ammo lot ----- should be returned to Federal as it is apparently out of spec. The next one could seriosly injure one of their valued customers or worse yet a loved one.

To the OP I am very sorry your weapon failed, we all have a great deal of faith in S&W, and I believe I was one of those who stated that S&W would take care of you, and I believe they will, and I believe they should, had you or your family been injured by this occurence, it is quite likely that they and Federal ammunition would be in Lawyerville together. I am very happy that you were uninjured, and no I am not advocating litigation, I am advocating that S&W take care of their customers, and express their findings and evidence to Federal in order to protect all those who own Shields from possible injury or worse. Billy Magg

 

[L2R]

Lots of great advise here. I appreciate each post. Maybe this site is a littled biased towards M&Ps and I should have gone elsewhere.

Even if I disagree with some that is ok. You all have given me some good
ideas and has helped me to focus as to how to handle my conversation with Smith and then with Federal. So thanks everyone.

The offer was probably their cost and a reasonable one of $334. If they beleive it is the ammo, then I wish they had sent this letter to the ammo manufacturer instead of me.

Not here to bash Federal either. had I left out who, then everyone would have assumed or asked about reloads. I get squips from ammo and never complain. I know that out of billions of rounds, some will fail. This situation was new to me.

I have the box, even with the old, red sticky price tag with the LGS's imprint on it. No chance of it being reloads, it was bought at my local store.

and thanks Billy and Bob for not jumping on the band wagon.

 

[argyle1514]

Find out the cost and buy the replacement, and ask that they also return the damaged gun to you. Since the damaged gun has nothing to do with S&W, they shouldn't balk at sending it back to you. Hopefully, you still have the box that the suspect ammo round was in...maybe you could pull a lot number or other identifier from the box before notifying Federal...maybe they'll reimburse you for the cost of the original gun and something for your troubles.

 

[jag22]

If you are driving down the road and a defective tire blows and you wreck the car, do you call Ford or Goodyear? S&W has no claim or reason to be upset at Federal, you do. The only thing you did wrong was listen to "old school diehards". Some of the stories I have read about "I heard such and such at the lgs" are truly mind blowing. It scares me that someone who believes that **** has access to a firearm. I do wish you well and hope Federal takes care of you if in fact they are the culprit.

 

[Jaymo]

This is all assuming that Smith is being honest and not trying to pass the buck.
I don't trust any company to be honest and not try to pass the buck.

Whichever company's defective product is responsible for the catastrophic failure of your gun should provide you with a new Shield, a couple spare mags, and a CASE of ammo, at no charge to you.
You bought their products in good faith, and one of them, or both, screwed the pooch.
One of them, or both, have cost you your money, time, property, and could have cost you some serious medical bills.
A good company would not offer to sell you another at wholesale.
A good company would take special care of you, to keep you a satisfied customer, and to help ensure that you become a repeat customer.

 

[BTCat]

...A good company would not offer to sell you another at wholesale.
A good company would take special care of you, to keep you a satisfied customer, and to help ensure that you become a repeat customer.

L2R, I've been following your issue since your original post. I like your play on words in your OP title. I do understand your frustration and it reflects what I would feel in the same situation. When everything settles out, hopefully you will receive a satisfactory resolve with a new Shield at NC.

Jaymo, I do have to get some clarification on your statement quoted above. I am assuming, by "A good company", you mean the responsible party – either S&W or Federal? If S&W has done their due diligence and performed a proper failure analysis, their offer seems more than fair to me. If they are correct (and I do mean "if"), I don't see where they owe a nickel. It is a generous offer on their part. If, on the other hand, Federal indeed is found to be at fault, I would expect they would cover all costs.

 

[remat457]

I am sorry that you had a bad experience. It does stink. Not to be offensive but I am not understanding your expectation that S&W cover the ammunition problem or contact Federal. I find your thread title to be misleading.

Request the gun and evaluation back and then send it to Federal. Include replacement cost (at your retailer) and everything you have paid out (shipping, etc). Now if Federal doesn't own up, then there is a problem. To be honest I would have sent the pistol to the ammo company first.

If you buy a set of tires and one is defective causing damage to your car do you take it back to the car dealer and expect them to repair it under warranty?

 

[MichiganScott]

L2R, the people that suggested S&W would replace a pistol destroyed by over-pressure ammo for which the gun was never designed to handle drank too much of the Koolaid.

In the past year there have been several threads detailing perceived problems with S&W firearms that experienced spontaneous dis-assembly caused by over pressure ammunition. S&W replaced none of them. I feel your loss and hope it never happens to me.

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Please request S&W return the gun and all evidence to you since they are stating it was not a manufacturing defect that cause the failure. In your request, tell them you need the evidence to file a proper legal claim for product defect with ATK/ Federal since S&W is, by default blaming the Shield failure on Federal's ammunition.

S&W will not go after another manufacturer for you, nor should they if their product was not defective.

Be firm and courteous, if they balk play the lawyer card.

That's a good bit of advice. I would add to it, by saying you should document everything. I would probably try to correspond via e-mail so I have printable evidence if needed.