Sight Elevation issues with new 629

[PaulFowler]

Hello all,

I purchased a new 4” 629 yesterday at a local gun shop and wanted to share my experience.
After the purchase I took the pistol to the range for a sight-in. At 25 yards the pistol was shooting about 10” low. The groups were very nice and windage-wise fine.
So, when I tried to adjust the rear sight for elevation I couldn’t get it to move. I had seen posts about this issue on the forums before but never experienced this with any of my other S&W revolvers.
Long story short, I took the pistol back to the shop and explained the issue. The guys at the shop pulled out two more 629s from the case to compare and the 6” had the same issue! The 629 classic sights worked perfectly (both new pistols as well).
The shop owner graciously (and creatively)remedied the issue and told me he was going to check out the rest of his new S&W revolvers before selling them and he was going to contact S&W about it.
With new S&W revolvers costing around $1000 and up it seems weird to me from a quality control standpoint that they are leaving the factory like this.
Anyway….

 

[505Gibbs]

Just another sad case of current quality! With all the issues listed here in the forum I doubt many would check elevation or windage screws for 'working' before completing the purchase.

 

[stansdds]

One more thing to add to the list of things to check before purchasing a new S&W handgun.

 

[Yendor357]

What was his “creative remedy”?

If I encounter a revolver that shoots that low, I get on MidwayUSA’s site, and order a taller rear sight.

Pics?

 

[daverich4]

Just another sad case of current quality! With all the issues listed here in the forum I doubt many would check elevation or windage screws for 'working' before completing the purchase.

Well, I just bought a 24-3 this week, took it to the range and it has exactly the same problem. The standard S&W screwdriver wouldn’t adjust windage or elevation at all. I’ll have to take it apart to see if I can free the adjustments up.

 

[505Gibbs]

Well, I just bought a 24-3 this week, took it to the range and it has exactly the same problem. The standard S&W screwdriver wouldn’t adjust windage or elevation at all. I’ll have to take it apart to see if I can free the adjustments up.

Not to diminish your issue - I believe the 24-3's were released a fair amount of time gone by. They're nothing current which is the topic of the initial post here.
Hope you have success.

 

[PaulFowler]

What was his “creative remedy”?

If I encounter a revolver that shoots that low, I get on MidwayUSA’s site, and order a taller rear sight.

Pics?

His creative remedy was to swap the working rear sight assembly from the 629 classic to my pistol.
Even with a taller rear sight, adjustable sights, by definition, should be adjustable.