The end of my 340SC saga, AKA my last modern S&W

[waffles]

S&W has had my 340SC since October. I was never contacted by them at any point after they received it, and my calls to S&W CS got either "I don't knows" or being told that I'd be called (wasn't, of course). The frame lug that retains the cylinder wore down through normal use, a known problem on the scandium J frames. Generally though, a replacement frame is used, the gun is replaced, or there's some offer of a discounted revolver voucher or whatnot.

Nope, in this case after months of silence I get an email from fedex that I have a shipment inbound. This shipment missed its delivery date and spent a week in fedex pending hell, but eventually it got there (OK, that last part isnt the fault of S&W but I'm still gonna whine about it!). Opened it up, just form with a short note that it's beyond repair. Overall, extremely disappointed with this experience. These aren't cheap revolvers, Smith continues to build them with major known problems, and now when they break it's not getting made right (had a S&W 642 crack a frame that was replaced quickly a few years back, sad to see that's no longer the procedure).

I've seen tons of threads of issues with recent smiths, and they make me nervous, but I always had "oh S&W will make an issue right" to fall back on, now that I don't I think I'm done with anything Lock or newer and will stick to Ruger when I need a slightly more modern revolver.

Also, found one last downside to the Scandium frames. When they're broken, they don't even make that good of a paperweight!

 

[SAFireman]

Sorry to hear that they sent it back without a resolution. Maybe you could find a way to have a local S&W retailer call and get a supervisor?

 

[ejr10mm]

Well that sucks! I'll be sure to be careful with my M&P 340. I don't want to have the same thing happen to mine.

 

[bulletslap]

So much for “Life Time” warranties.

 

[Old cop]

I’ve had my 340PD for a few years and have put over 100 rounds through it. No problems so far but given this info I don’t plan to shoot it much now. I’ll train w/my Model 60.

 

[shocker]

I blew up a late model revolver due to my own mistake. Smith offered me a replacement at wholesale cost. Very fair deal IMO. They could have offered me nothing, as workmanship or a defect in materials had nothing to do with making a gun come apart.

 

[waffles]

I blew up a late model revolver due to my own mistake. Smith offered me a replacement at wholesale cost. Very fair deal IMO. They could have offered me nothing, as workmanship or a defect in materials had nothing to do with making a gun come apart.

Happy for you, this is a known design flaw and couldn't even get a wholesale offer.

 

[GaryHK]

Please tell me you didn't pay shipping both ways, or even one way. That would be salt in the wound.

 

[Old_Cop]

Waffles I just took a close look at my 342 in the same area. There is minimal engagement of the cylinder in the open position. With vigorous extraction, no doubt the engagement could be overridden. Apparently leisurely reloads are required.

 

[Echo40]

Gee whiz, it seems like reports of unresolved issues with Smith & Wesson brand firearms is all I ever see anymore...

I'd like to think that it's due to the pandemic, but I fear that this is just the way that the company is going. I remember when practically every report of folks dealing with Smith & Wesson was overwhelmingly positive.

Gotta be honest, it's making me question whether or not I want to continue buying their firearms, because heaven forbid that I get a lemon or it breaks and I'm left empty-handed because Smith & Wesson's so-called "Lifetime Warranty" doesn't mean anything anymore.
It stinks because I really like Smith & Wesson and largely considered them to be the best American-Made handguns, so it pains me to see them repeatedly treating their customers this way.

Up until recently, I figured that such reports were nonsense, since they often were posted by fly-by-night new users with absolutely no evidence whatsoever to back them up, but now I keep seeing this stuff coming from long-time users, complete with photographic evidence.

 

[waffles]

Waffles I just took a close look at my 342 in the same area. There is minimal engagement of the cylinder in the open position. With vigorous extraction, no doubt the engagement could be overridden. Apparently leisurely reloads are required.

It'll get worse, even with leisurely reloads. I wasn't doing full palm slaps, though that should be fine on any defensive revolver, just pushing the ejector back with what'd consider standard amounts of force. Eventually it'll pop over (mine first happened with some slightly stickier than normal cases), and it'll get more and more common.

I suppose the only lug-safe way would be to fully support the cylinder with one hand while working the ejector rod, which of course is a bit of a pain, especially with extracting fired .357 brass (yes, even if you thoroughly clean the chambers between shooting .38 and .357). The good news is that the revolver will still function in every other way without issue, so I've got a five for sure then run gun. Wish it was a bit heavier so it'd throw better after the 5th.

 

[ladder13]

Here’s the warranty for those who never read it, the vast majority of folks. It is very specific.

Warranty | Smith & Wesson

 

[Gunhacker]

Since S&W has written it off, I'd be tempted to obtain a cylinder retaining stud for the older revolvers and find a good gunsmith to retro fit it to your frame.

Maybe there's a possibility that the old integrated frame lug can be machined away, the frame drilled for the old style stud and peened into place.

That is how those lugs are installed on the old style frames.

 

[Echo40]

I would seriously call that number and express your dissatisfaction towards their lack of service without any meaningful conclusion. Tell them that if this is how they honor their Lifetime Warranty, then they might as well do away with it entirely and stop marketing it because it's meaningless at best, and could be considered blatant false advertisement.

 

[waffles]

Since S&W has written it off, I'd be tempted to obtain a cylinder retaining stud for the older revolvers and find a good gunsmith to retro fit it to you frame.

Maybe there's a possibility that the old integrated frame lug can be machined away, the frame drilled for the stud of old style lug and peened into place.

That is how those lugs are installed on the old style frames.

I had given this some thought, I've just not found anyone willing to do the work, and I don't really have access to the tools to do it myself (nor the know-how, but would be kinda fun to learn). I may give that a try if I have a workshop in a few years.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I think I'd run this up the food chain a bit before I wrote off the revolver......Hell, I'D BE SCREAMING until I got some satisfaction. That should be covered under the lifetime service part. Problem is that is is not cost effective to litigate this-discovery would be enlightening

 

[slabside2]

Smith and Wesson make some great guns but unfortunately their customer service sucks. When people post on here that they are having a problem with a gun some people say (don’t worry they’ll make it right) which is easy to say when it’s not your gun. I’m a big Smith and Wesson fan I own several of them. Yes all manufactures of firearms make a bad one and sometimes it slips through it’s how they handle it that counts. I’ve had issues with Ruger‘s revolvers in the past I sent it to them pre-paid two weeks I had it back repaired. Ruger has the best customer service in the industry it’s a well-known fact. One LCR I sent them I could not be repaired they sent me a brand new gun. Sorry to hear about your issue. Sounds to me like they lost a customer. Check out Ruger they make some great revolvers too. I’ve had issues with Smith and Wesson revolver‘s over the years and it was always a struggle trying to get in touch with them and months later I received it back and this was well before the Covid which everybody blames for slowing things down. Good luck.

 

[waffles]

If you plan on throwing the gun get a Ruger ‘sp101. That will never break and weights 25 ounces. That will leave a mark!
I’m sorry for your troubles. If anything, it’s a lesson for me. Not to gorilla the cylinda w

As posted in the thread, wasn't acting like a gorilla with the cylinder. This happened through normal use and appears to be a known design flaw.

 

[steelslaver]

I am willing to bet money I can fix it. PM me a price if you want sell it

 

[CA Escapee]

Evidently these Airweights with aluminum frames are viewed as "consumable" with a certain life span. (I have a 442, luckily, the lug is fine.)

A few years ago I sent a 696 back to S&W that had a cylinder kissing the forcing cone. While it was there I wanted a Master Action Package done on the gun. After a couple of months, and no word, I started calling them to see how things were going. People I spoke to could tell where the gun was, (in the Performance Center,) and said I should have gotten a letter telling of their progress and pricing. I had to call back a couple of times in the month after that, even. The person I spoke to didn't know why the PC still hadn't gotten back to me.

I finally got a letter, called the lady back and authorized the repair and trigger job. When I got the gun back the trigger work was great, but the cylinder still kissed the forcing cone. It was better, but parts that were meeting still shouldn't have been. Back to S&W a second time. They finally fixed the occasional lack of a gap between the cylinder and forcing cone, but it took quite a bit of time and effort to get it fixed.

This was years before Covid-19, so that excuse won't fly.