Sad to say S&W is not my most reliable handgun

[Farmer17]

I've owned about 50 Smith revolvers over the years and never had a problem with any of them. I did buy a used M-28 once where the cylinder would drag on a couple chambers but I think that was from the previous owner doing the "Hollywood Wrist Flip" to open and close the cylinder.

 

[rockquarry]

I'm not sure what my most reliable handgun has been. I have no idea how many I've had in the last fifty+ years. There have been more S&Ws than anything else and I've had minor problems with a very few. No more than thirty Colts; only had one problem with a Colt. Never a problem with a Walther, Ruger, Beretta, or Sig, but I've owned no more than a half-dozen of any single such brand, and the Beretta, only one. It's invalid and maybe unfair to make a reliability judgement based on a small number of one brand. I've had a few of the lesser brands but I've avoided these now for years. May be good guns but their resale value isn't.

Mechanical things fail now and then regardless of quality or price. Hard to single out a brand. I shoot my handguns, many of them a lot and a number were bought new more than forty years ago.

A bit off topic, but since someone's already mentioned Beretta reliability, I'll add a little more... a relative newcomer to my pile, I bought a new Beretta 92F 9mm in 1988, the only Beretta I've ever owned.

Being a cast bullet shooter, I bought at least a dozen moulds, got about that many or more powders, a bunch of lead and set out developing cast bullet loads - for years, many years. A Beretta is a great cast bullet shooter and mine will function flawlessly with .38 Special SWC bullets, something it was never designed to do. I have no idea how many thousands of cast bullets have been fired in my Beretta and I'm still waiting on the first jam/malfunction. It does well with jacketed bullets too, but cast are probably more accurate. Again, a sample of one gun, though incredibly reliable, may not be representative of the model.

The Beretta is a big, heavy, clunky pistol and I've never been a 9mm disciple, much preferring a .38 Special revolver. I doubt there is a safer pistol than the Beretta.

 

[luvsmiths]

I must have offended a witch or gypsy in a past life. All my buddies and family use S&W without an issue. They also use many other brands but don't seem to have my "luck" with guns. It seems I always ending up having an issue down the line.

Three exceptions
- a Model 60 no dash from an estate sale. Knock on wood- very accurate at 10 yards practice and no issues after about 100 rounds mixed weights
- a 66-1 snub - I shot it a few times before my son took it for his carry gun (kid has good taste) so that doesn't count
- 19-5 safe queen - I ran maybe 30 rounds total through it but I have other shooters - my son will get this as a wedding present eventually

I have the same luck with cars
Ford Taurus 2015 AWD with 22,000 miles on
Clean Carfax, one owner who had it undercoated for our winters. In pristine shape and full-service records from the dealer
Always wanted to try a car with heated and cooled seats and my wife said I should drive something nicer than the old 2009 Silverado and my Mitsubishi Lancer - so traded in the Lancer.
in the 11 months I owned the Ford all repaired under warranty
- tie rods twice
- front wheel bearings twice
- all four tires twice - first replacement set were off in their tread causing alignment issues
- four alignments
- steering column failure full replacement
- full rebuild of transmission with a month left to go on factory warranty

So, my wife threatened to buy a car at full sticker (back before this craziness) if I didn't trade it in. I got a great deal on a RAM classic, so we use that for towing and vacations and family.
That RAM in 32,000 miles have had replaced
- tires - expected normal wear
- brakes - expected
- frozen brake caliper smoked like crazy when I got home one day from shopping and had it towed in
- three rear window seals due to leaking issue
- radiator - we literally were on our way to a much-needed vacation on the St Lawrence and 5 miles away from our house a piece of steel kicked up and pierced the radiator. Luckly our dealership is close so got it there just as the last of the fluid gushed out.

I am not looking forward to the future where we are forced to drive electric cars - guarantee I make the news when that goes up in flame or drives off on its own looking for another owner

I hope you don't bother buying lottery tickets.

 

[brucev]

Re: Op. Worthwhile post and thread. Here's my $ .10 worth (ah ... inflation). Have owned revolvers/pistols by S&W, Colt, Ruger, Glock. Have had to replace parts/make repairs to S&W, Colt, Ruger revolvers. To date have never had a repair issue w/ a

 

[Grimjaws]

Yep

I hope you don't bother buying lottery tickets.

Thats why Powerball keeps going as I buy $10 worth every week!

 

[local_dirt]

Have never had a problem with one.

Neither have I.

Not surprised Glock 19 most dependable. Mine have never puked up anything.

 

[Babysitr]

Well, guess I'm lucky at something after all! but I keep them cleaned and maintained best I can...And yes the new Python is a fine revolver (mine is) took delivery 3/22...