Smiths Returned to Factory

[6ForSure]

I've seen a few threads recently regarding issues from the factory regarding our newer guns. I've never had an issue myself, but believe most that post. Many peeps have viewed and replied to these threads. I'm curious how many of you have had an issue with a new gun that you sent back.

 

[S&W Rover]

Have returned guns to the factory with good success, short turn-around, and no need to re-send.

---A Mdl 65-5 that would turn the cylinder, diagnosed by S&W as "cylinder cramps" and fixed for free. (If I knew then what I know now, I could have removed the ejection rod and sleeve and cleaned it myself).

---A Mdl 642 that had some drop damage on the cylinder and they replaced the cylinder for a modest fee (that was years & years ago).

Other then that, my Mdls 60, 442, 432, 640, 642, and ancient 10-11 have been flawless.

 

[chief38]

Only going by what I read here I'd say WAY TOO MANY have gone back to the Factory - ESPECIALLY PC Guns!

 

[Ranger98]

I had the plunger spring housing break away from the frame on a new PC1911 after approximately 500 rounds.
Sent it back to the factory and it was a two week turn around for the repair.
I have shot another 700 rounds since with no problems.

 

[F75gunslinger]

I would say that more often than not, the guns you remember or that stick out in your mind are the ones people post that have issues. We have all seemed to learn what to look for in buying a new gun from these posts, but how many times do people post a new acquisition to their collection, and people look, say "Nice find !" or " Good looking revolver ! " and then go on with their day ? I think the rate of problem guns is less overall than what it seems on here, only because of how much attention it gets. But I also think that many times, the gun shouldn't have left the factory in the first place. The general production floor, maybe a few get by. The CS guns, there is absolutely no excuse for it.

 

[[email protected]]

I have four S&Ws, though the knife may not count... None have gone back but Two have or had an issue. One had a magazine spring fail the first time I loaded it, bent over on itself, the other has two less than half inch hair width scratches that go partially around the barrel. S&W replaced the magazine spring and I don't know what I can or will do about the scratches, didn't notice them till after the first range trip though I can't imagine how I could have scratched it.

 

[Shark Bait]

I sent my 629-3 in to have the gas ring replaced over a month ago. It is apparently sitting in their "charge" area awaiting an estimate.

 

[Rick_A]

Folks that post issues like "MY S&W BLEW UP, S&W WON'T FIX" get instant attention and the word gets spread across the net while stuff like "Range Report New Gun, Works Great" gets largely ignored.

It is what it is. I think folks just post problems more and it garners the most attention.

If I believed what I heard on the internet I'd own only a double barreled shotgun and a Glock nine without the murderous high cap clip.

 

[colt_saa]

Of the roughly 6,000,000 firearms S&W produced in the last 10 years, I had to return 2 for factory service

 

[RV4driver]

I sent a new 22S back, it returned just like it was when it left. It's a safe queen now. Not worth the aggravation of trying to shoot it.
My BG380 went back, returned just like it was when it left, it's back there for the second time as we speak.
My 686 has been flawless, as has my M&P 22-15. My M&P 22 had some issues when new, but I researched online and did the fix myself.
So, 3 of 5 had issues when new. Not a good record.

I have to say though, my one and only Kimber had issues when new and went back twice. It's finally reliable.

 

[jrs70]

I have never returned any gun so far. But I did buy a used nickle 49 that just had just returned form getting the timing fixed at S&W. It has the best lock up of any of my smiths. Smith did good. As it has been said many times on this forum. It depends on who services you at S&W. Some are better than others. Over all I think S&W does a good job.

 

[Chop]

I have alot of S & W revolvers...85+...mosty all bought used over about the last 30 years.

None have been sent any back for service.

I have sent two revolvers back to be factory re-finished and one to have a cylinder swapped for a non-fluted one.

 

[dwever]

7 purchases, 5 PC's, 2 Regular Production, Zero Returns

Forums will not give an accurate state of affairs because people correctly rely on these venues to do a number of things including resolve issues. How many times have we seen someone's first post on this forum start out, "Just bought gun X, and it won't Y. Please help."

In other words, the increasing frequency on this forum with problems with S&W guns could simply be a function of the similarly increasing inmembership of the forum. If there are twice as many S&W weapons represented by owners on this forum compared to say 2008, and QC at S&W is the same across time, then it would follow that twice as many problems are seen here even if QC has been constant. Interestingly, there were over 8,000 people on here March 9 of this year.

Whether or not QC is a bigger issue today I don't know, and anecdotal evidence will not help you know. But if a company is big enough, and they produce units in to the hundreds of thousands and even millions over time, and you read about a lot of trouble with some of the units at a central location like this forum, it doesn't tell you if that trouble is trending from poor QC; or, if the trouble is just a function of a an increasingly large sample size (N).

Captain Obvious has left the building. Peace

 

[shotgun693]

It's no different than returning your new Pickup to the Dealer because the dome light doesn't work or the tailgate won't open. Given the huge number made there are going to be a few that need a piece fixed.

 

[dougb1946]

It's no different than returning your new Pickup to the Dealer because the dome light doesn't work or the tailgate won't open. Given the huge number made there are going to be a few that need a piece fixed.

Most new car dealers have a shop that inspects and details every new vehicle. You do pay for it somewhere. Then it has a checklist of normal periodic maintenance to follow.
My new SW were in the box wrapped when I took possession. Dealer checked numbers, but we didn't shoot it. Stroker broke on the MP from dry firing. SW replaced the part free and quick.

The 22A worked fine from day 1. Nothing really to write about. The part where I missed the target had little to do with the gun.

 

[Edmo]

My experiences with S&W products over the last 3-4 years. Bad luck on my part or slipping quality control? Your call...

- BG38
-- 1 month old and action locked up. Returned for repair.
-- First range session after repair - misfires. Replaced by S&W.

- 642-1CT - Flawless after many hundreds of rounds.

- Shield 9mm - Flawless after many hundreds of rounds.

- 642-1 (I liked the first one so much I got another one)
-- 6 months old and trigger pivot pin sheared off. Replaced by S&W.

- 640-1 Pro Series
-- New gun shipped directly to my FFL from S&W. Barrel clocked, barrel etchings buggered up, front sight damaged, rear sight fell off while handling the gun during FFL transfer. Returned for repairs...
-- Barrel slowly "reclocked" over 8 months of use. Returned second time, repaired. About a year since the barrel fix and all is still straight.

On the plus side, S&W has great warranty service and pays for shipping both directions. Their repair turn-around times are generally less than 3 weeks door-to-door.

I just wish I didn't know how "good" their warranty service is. I don't want to go through the pain of returning another new gun for repairs, so I'll stick to their vintage revolvers for now.

Edmo