Talk about Lightning Striking Twice

[Ralph G. Briscoe]

Yikes! As the owner of a 442,642,632,327ng and 327pc your experience concerns me. Please let us know what Smith says. Glad you're OK and sorry about the discourteous reply you received. That's rare here.

 

[686Magnum]

The friggin gun blew up..Thats it. No other definitions needed. I am glad you were not seriously injured.

 

[Cruiser RN]

I will let everyone know how things turn out.A return label is in the mail and I will include a letter with my wish for a Blued Model 36 replacement gun.For the gun that replaced a gun that blew up to blow up is very scary and it will take a very long time for me to carry a S+W revolver again.BTW neither of those guns ever saw a 38+P or 357 Magnum load in thier lives which makes it even wilder......MIke

 

[Malysh]

While there is no question that the barrel shank fractured at the first thread, to characterize this as "Blew up" is exaggeration at best. So far as burns to your hands as a result, there is no reason for this happening any more with this event than when normally shooting any revolver. Again, somewhat of an exaggeration. Why?

There are several other things that cause curiosity. You say you received the gun and just put it away for several years? Where/when/why in that period of time did you polish the gun and paint the front sight of a gun you seem to have had little interest in?

Is there a particular reason you removed the stocks before taking the pictures? It fails logic to understand why this would have been done.

Cruiser RN is a long time friend of mine from this forum and from other firearms forums.
Your attitude about his problem is disappointing to say the least.
To treat him as a troll is out of line.
I wasn't going to comment about this because I've known about it for weeks, in fact we discussed it on the phone but after reading your comments today, I could not refrain any longer.
It is my hope that if you ever have a problem similar to Cruiser RN's with a firearm and start a thread:
A) You don't get hurt
B) You get the same treatment you have so cynically and callously imposed on him. We'll see how much you like it.

I agree with the other posters you owe Cruiser an apology.

 

[Malysh]

According to the Mayo Clinic's website, 1st degree burns do not produce blisters. Blisters start to occur with 2nd degree burns.
Check it out. I don't want to put the link here because Lee really doesn't want a lot of extraneous links in the threads.

 

[RonS]

By any chance do you have or use an ultrasonic gun cleaning tank? I seem to recall some possible connection between certain cleaners (chlorinated perhaps?), ultrasonic cleaners and barrel shank fractures.

 

[da gimp]

Has any other person had access to either of the pistols & the ammunition?

something just has me itching here.......

Glad you are okay, but I had to ask that. Seen too many times that a signifigant other/ex, or others pull things, if you are an ER nurse, you know where I'm coming from, had to ask too many victims for particulars while they were in the ER getting patched up.

 

[M29since14]

I won't get into the choice-of-verbage controversy but I admit I was a little confused about the details of the incident after reading the initial post. I was curious why the gun was fired after the OP had detected something about the gun (I am still not sure what) that gave him pause. But, anyway, the main thing is I'm glad to know you weren't seriously injured!

I happen to see a 640 fracture and eject a barrel just like the second gun - without apparent damage to the frame. It was about a year or so ago (I think?) and the shooter was actually unaware of the failure. We had to go out and stop him from shooting again. Don't ask me what he thought he was using for a front sight!

The question about the ultra-sonic cleaner is a good one, but it seems more likely the guns were defective in either design, manufacturing, or assembly. The gun I saw fail was a used gun that was fired a few times and traded back to the selling dealer within a couple weeks of purchase. It was being test-fired by a prospective customer when it failed. That gun probably was not one likely to have received extraordinary cleaning. S&W, to their credit, repaired the gun at no charge to the dealer.

While I agree that things happen, and sometimes it is best not to make too much of them, I certainly would ask for a different model too! Enough is enough. You know what they say about the third strike!

 

[Cruiser RN]

Ok No ultrasonic cleaner and noone has access to my guns except me.The only thing that gave me pause was that the gun was grouping slightly right to my point of aim where I was pointing dead center.@ 30 feet the Q in the FBI Q target is gone in 5 shots and there was a big group just to the right of it.The gun is out to S+W and I will be waiting for thier response.I requested a Classic Model 36 as a replacement and we will see what happens........Mike

 

[M29since14]

That answers my question. I thought maybe that you were indicating you thought the gun had an alignment problem and that the bullets were striking one side of the forcing cone, or something like that. If your observation just related to a POA-POI divergence, that is not uncommon and not a reason to stop shooting - absent of any other indications of trouble.

I hope you receive a replacement Model 36 and that your trust in S&W products is restored. Lousy to have TWO of these "incidents" happen to the same guy!

 

[GaryS]

Ok No ultrasonic cleaner and noone has access to my guns except me.The only thing that gave me pause was that the gun was grouping slightly right to my point of aim where I was pointing dead center.@ 30 feet the Q in the FBI Q target is gone in 5 shots and there was a big group just to the right of it.The gun is out to S+W and I will be waiting for thier response.I requested a Classic Model 36 as a replacement and we will see what happens........Mike

I'm curious as to why you think a Model 36 will be a better replacement. If I remember correctly, the 640 is a stainless version of the Model 40. The Model 40 is pretty much the same as a 36 only it has a concealed hammer.

Or is there some other difference that I'm blanking on?

As to S&W customer service, I just received a 642-2 to replace an early production 442 that had a frame crack. Their customer service was good. They gave me the choice of a 442 in blue or a 642 in matte silver. They also gave me the option of waiting a couple of weeks for a no lock version.

Overall, I'd say that they are very customer oriented.

 

[Malysh]

Gary, I'm glad they took care of you. I've found S&W and Colt's customer service to be very good.

 

[Cruiser RN]

The #1 Thing is IT IS NOT A 640.To have two of them become barrel launchers in my hand makes me become extremely concerned there will be a third time and my Guardian Angel might be off that day and someone will get seriously hurt.The Blued Model 36 is the same price point as a Model 640 and shoots the same 38 special ammo.Maybe if it behaves well I might start to be able to trust S+W revolvers again.Also the model 36 is the Classic Chief's Special with a exposed hammer.I am also hopimg it has a pinned barrel.If the 640 had a pinned barrel I dom't believe this catastrophic failure would have happened because even if overtorqued barrel the pin would have prevented it from snapping out of the frame.

 

[Malysh]

The #1 Thing is IT IS NOT A 640.To have two of them become barrel launchers in my hand makes me become extremely concerned there will be a third time and my Guardian Angel might be off that day and someone will get seriously hurt.The Blued Model 36 is the same price point as a Model 640 and shoots the same 38 special ammo.Maybe if it behaves well I might start to be able to trust S+W revolvers again.

What about a Mod 638, similar to the old Mod 38s and Mod 49s? Not everyone likes their humpback profile but they are also great for not snagging clothing like the old Centennials and the current Mod 640 is.

I have several Centennials and Bodyguards. I like them both, but we all have different tastes.

 

[Cruiser RN]

My instructor always said"Shoot what you carry and carry what you shoot"I fired a Airweight once and let us just say the pain doesn't lend itself to shooting it often and gaining the necessary proficency with it to be a carry gun IMHO.I have always like the look of the "Classic Chief's Special" especially with the reproduction Diamond Grips it is wearing in Blue.I can see it with a Blued Tyler T Grip giving me a warm fuzzy feeling to take it to the range and engage in some serious bonding time.It may be enough to erase the vivid memory of the "640 Barrel Launchers" and get me to trust S+W revolvers again.

 

[Cruiser RN]

The latest to this story.The 640 went back to S+W on Monday.No one called so I called S+W today.Was told by a customer service person that it immeadiately went to warranty repair,they placed on a new barrel,and it is on the way back to me.I was reassured that it was extensively test fired and everything was fine.It was fortunate I am off today because there was ZERO communication on the part of S+W in this matter.I sure do hope that this gun will function in the manner it was designed.Here is hoping.BTW to all those who supported me in this thread I would like to say a heart felt thank you and to ALK 8944 I hope you never have a experience like I did and if you do may everyone give you kindness and support,may you not be hurt,and hopefully you learn not everyone is a liar and a perp. ...Mike

 

[Malysh]

I hope it works out for you, Cruiser. You deserve a break.

 

[Mickey D]

While I didn't read every post thoroughly, I have to ask what you polished the gun with?
Some cleaners have ammonia or other chemicals that can be corrosive or change the integrity of the metal. Perhaps something leached between the barrel and frame to cause the failure.

 

[Cruiser RN]

Mother's Mag Polish applied with finger pressure only and buffing with a clean cloth and a application of Rennisanse Wax.I do not use any ammonia based cleaners.I am awaiting someone from Smith to tell me what caused the failure.The consensus here believes the barrel was overtourqued @ the factory upon initial assembly.The customer service rep tried to blame the ammo when he never saw the pristine nature of the ejected barrel.I told him S+B is factory 158 grain 38 Special Ammo.That being said if the round was higher than SAMMI standards the gun is a 357 Magnum which generates higher pressures and higher muzzle velocities routinely and this gun never saw a 357 round in its 800 round or so lifetime.I bought a 357 Mag in the event I ever got a out of spec 38 special round.We shall wait and see.....Mike

 

[M29since14]

Mike, the ammo-blaming is almost certainly a cheap shot. It doesn't make sense. But there is no sense arguing with them. I believe if I was concerned, as well you might be, I would get the repaired gun back and trade it on something you have more confidence in, whether another S&W or something else. After two of these go-arounds, S&W should have done more to get you back into their camp.

I may be the odd man out here but I have re-read Alk8944's post a couple times. He is a very knowledgeable gunsmith with years of experience with S&W revolvers. Given that background, I took his questions as being more investigative, rather than intending to be insulting to you. Your initial post confused me a bit, too.

Anyway, let us know how this episode is resolved. I can't blame you for not being enthusiastic about S&W's response.