Hang in there, I understand, you've been kewl throughout.
Shield 40 Mishap
- Thread starter 2001gmc
- Start date
BrianE
Member
I'd be pissed to and you have every right to be... their CS has definitely gotten sloppy and has been for a little while now. Its too bad, because they did have a lot of exciting things to offer and now not so much. One thing you have to expect though, anytime a new product is offered, never be first in line. Be patient as all new products have bugs to be worked out.. its usually 50/50.
OP
2001gmc
Member
We would like to see a copy of the letter once you receive it from Smith & Wesson. Does Smith & Wesson still have the cartridge casing that was stuck in the gun? We will need to examine this casing to determine if their claim of high pressure is valid. When testing the ammunition we received all rounds tested were within spec, and showed no signs of high pressure.
Federal Cartridge
I'm probabaly just screwed. How will I ever get my hands on the casing that was jammed up in the gun and blew apart. I sent smith a email that they were requesting it.
Federal Cartridge
I'm probabaly just screwed. How will I ever get my hands on the casing that was jammed up in the gun and blew apart. I sent smith a email that they were requesting it.
Smithsrevenge
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Don't you love the finger pointing game. Dealing with that myself. Hang in there buddy.
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jwalts27
Member
Like i said when this thread first started. A friend of mine whom i shoot with had the EXACT same thing happen to his Shield. SW told him too bad, it must have been a bad load....etc. Now we live about 5 min from S&W so he drove there one day in a total rage. Not sure what was said but he walked out of there with a new Shield. I dont know whats going on with these Shields, but the way things look i wouldnt buy one.
Ya know, I've been standing in your shoes more than once... and the bill was a lot higher. I work with high performance cars... souped up turbo cars. When ever the trans goes prematurely... the tranny guy blames the torque convertor guy and he in turn blames the tranny... it's a vicous cycle, but over the years my experience can pretty much tell who screwed up..
Rastoff
US Veteran
This doesn't surprise me and isn't "finger pointing" as someone suggested. Think about it, if you were Federal, wouldn't you want to examine the evidence? This is exactly the same as S&W wanting the gun back.
Unfortunately, I don't think you'll ever see the cartridge case or the gun ever again. But, S&W has already promised some kind of action. Now it's just a question of if they will come through.
Maybe you should talk to a lawyer.
if it's not finger pointing..... what is it... I tend to believe S&W, they pointed the ball towards the ammo's court..
+1
You were lucky to survive that incident, much less walk away with all your parts. I would think that a new pistol would be the very minimum in compensation - heck, forget compensation, in corporate butt-covering.
Get a lawyer. Sue both companies. My guess is that they WILL end up paying your legal expenses plus a bit for your time, trouble, and loss of equipment.
One other thing I've done when I have trouble with customer service is get ahold of a stockholder's report. They're usually published online somewhere and they always have contact info for the company Big Brass. Going directly to the top often brings amazing results.
Doc
BillK01
Member
I actually did that once with Verizon Wireless and contacted the president of that division at the time - Lowell McAdam. Within 24 hours his assistant called me on the phone and my issue was resolved before the end of that business day. I was pretty shocked in all honesty.
Smithsrevenge
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Exactly and the ammo had previously pointed at s&w. Someone messed up. And neither want to admit to it. I'm dealing with the same issue with a distributor and a manufacturer right now. Both blaming each other neither trying to fix the issue
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All either company has to do is offer a goodwill restitution for you. In exchange, they say it was not their product and no fault is being admitted but as a goodwill gesture for a valuable customer, they would offer you a new firearm or reimbursement for the purchase price.
Pretty easy if they bite.
Jeff
Pretty easy if they bite.
Jeff
OP
2001gmc
Member
How do I get a hold of someone higher up? I have no idea how to.
Mike1161
Member
Here are the names of the corporate officers and directors:
Investors - Directors and Officers - Smith & Wesson
Here is the contact info for the General Counsel
Robert J. Cicero
Vice President, General Counsel,
Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary
Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.
Phone: 413-747-3443
Investors - Directors and Officers - Smith & Wesson
Here is the contact info for the General Counsel
Robert J. Cicero
Vice President, General Counsel,
Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary
Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.
Phone: 413-747-3443
OP
2001gmc
Member
Thanks Alot!!!!
Mike1161
Member
Start calm.... and stay calm. Theses types don't like to fight with customers, but they don't want a problem either.
Good luck and keep us informed.
Good luck and keep us informed.
Sorry for your troubles but I appreciate you keeping up the fight some people wouldn't believe it or not.
OP
2001gmc
Member
Well I sent Robert a nice email and I also forwarded him the email that has been sent back and forth since the get go. I let him know how its been handled and everything that has went on. I sent him the 3 pics on this thread also. I was gonna send him a link to this thread but I didn't. Thanks for all you guys input and support its greatly appreciated. I ask him to see that the cartridge gets to Federal as they have to test it also in the email I sent. There not just gonna pay for me a new gun cause Smith said it was a overcharged round. I don't expect them to.
bulldogman
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I've been following this thread to see what the outcome is. I feel bad for you all you want is a working gun and S&W is jerking you around.
I have a Shield and a 9c and wanted to add the FS 9, after hearing about the piss poor CS you received I think I'll go with a Glock 17, who knows maybe I'll go all the way over to the dark side.
I have a Shield and a 9c and wanted to add the FS 9, after hearing about the piss poor CS you received I think I'll go with a Glock 17, who knows maybe I'll go all the way over to the dark side.
OP
2001gmc
Member
Yea and if its truly not the gun that's fine but least they could do is work with Federal and get them the cartridge and hash it out between them. Smith done told me it was either the gun or ammo. I still to this day say the gun had a problem I don't care what they say. 10 FTE in 150 rounds? Last 50 rounds I couldn't hit a pie pan at about 5yds was shooting over under left and right. Then BOOMMMMMMMMM! But I got offered a gun at a discounted price right. But I done paid for the gun once. F%^& me right!
cb619
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I've only ever had one time where I sent a gun back to S&W (not my Shield). I had a beyond exceptional experience. More often than not people find then when guns have to be sent back to the factory, they make up for your trouble.
I had an issue where my M&P 15-22 broke an extractor. About 2 weeks after I sent it in I got it back in the mail along with a note and 2 free magazines. The note stated how the gun was now tuned to Performance Shop standards.
I had an issue where my M&P 15-22 broke an extractor. About 2 weeks after I sent it in I got it back in the mail along with a note and 2 free magazines. The note stated how the gun was now tuned to Performance Shop standards.
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The 9mm Shield is a fine machine. I have a couple of them, with well over 1,000 trouble free rounds down the two combined. Not one FTF, FTE or any other sort of failure.I would ask them to send you a 9mm shield, as you cannot feel safe with a 40. I bet they will happily replace it with a 9.
Glad you are not hurt, this is one reason I am not a fan of 40 S&W..... typically guns "designed" with a 9mm in mind are used for a 40 because they are "strong enough" (insert all 40 lovers telling me they are made for 40 pressures, overbuilt for 9mm, yadda yadda) Of all the Kabooms I have seen, a majority of them is with 40S&W. Think about it... Same gun, thinner barrel/chamber, larger heavier bullet, larger charge, etc...
You cannot drive a stock car like a race car, unless you plan on replacing parts early..... and often
I have 40's but do not acquire them other than by accident/trade etc. I am not impressed.
As for the reloads question, remember folks UMC/winchester,hornady, etc ALL can have a double charge.... ALL of them.....
At the rate ammo is being made now will anyone claim that there is a foolproof way to screen all ammunition? Or even that QC is as good as 5 years ago?
Just being a reload doesn't make it low quality, just as being factory does not make it high quality.
Consider a 9mm over a 40 S&W.
This is exactly why from a business stand point alone S&W should just replace the gun, word gets around and more than a few generations worth of customers could be lost from this one incident. They are treating this as though 1000 other Shield owners are waiting to step forward with a blown up gun and say "hey you replaced his now replace mine", where is the moral ground they seem to be standing on I don't get it the OP was shooting factory ammo and Federal said the rest of the ammo was good.
BillK01
Member
Well I may get lynched for saying this here - but I put money down on a Glock 30SF yesterday at my LGS - even though I had planned all along to get an M & P Compact .45. This thread is part of the reason for that decision.
DocSunShine
Member
OP maybe you should forward a link to this thread as well, seriously. If I ever had a problem like this with a gun manufacturer I'd damn we'll not only never purchase one of their firearms again, but I'd scream what happened to me from the mountain tops. Even Glock's crappy CS is better than this!
For years I have owned both Smith and Glock and love them both so I always take a neutral approach to it but from the time I have spent on Glock forums it has always seemed Glock has always taken care of a customer if there darn gun exploded, I have even seen it when the glock owner used reloads. Even though this is a S&W forum you shouldn't be lynched anyone who knows even a little about handguns knows it does not get much more reliable than Glock and for self defense well it just makes sense but Smith has there own resume as well.
Lots of chatter but you are doing it correctly. S&W will replace your gun. You may have an option of calibers on the replacement. Personally, I would go with a nine.
Federal will be checking run #'s the second they are contacted.
Whatever happened, it is a rarity and not to worry, you should never experience another one. I know it happens but, I work at a range and I have never seen a factory centerfire blow up.
Hard lesson learned, wear glasses every time..........
Keep us informed.
Federal will be checking run #'s the second they are contacted.
Whatever happened, it is a rarity and not to worry, you should never experience another one. I know it happens but, I work at a range and I have never seen a factory centerfire blow up.
Hard lesson learned, wear glasses every time..........
Keep us informed.
OP
2001gmc
Member
Federal knows they done tested the other remaining rounds in the box. They need the blown cartridge from smith now to test it.
I believe S&W has already said that GMC is out of luck. That they feel like there's nothing wrong with his shield and that the gun blowing up was caused by ammo. The ammo company said that their ammo was within specs and it was caused by the gun. Makes me glad I don't have a shield! I would much rather have an XDs in 9mm over a shield any day.
