Trouble with 327-TRRB

[tgiv]

My SW327NG 357mag blew its barrel OFF at the range with SOP FMJ 125gr. Now there's a barrel to be retrieved from inside the firing range whose raw, internal metal mess matches the same on the revolver I am holding my hand.
Range master and store ee's all say S&W Lifetime Warr WILL take care of that.
Phoned S&W, they accepted S/N as original owner, sent it to them via their FedEx label ... 1st sign of cheapness, since FedEx breaks everything but UPS sure-thing costs more.

No word, sent a letter for status that crossed in the mail with FedEx coming back with gun SIGNATURE REQUIRED, then LATE, so NO GOLF nor fun waiting on "the cable guy" SOP.

Sorry, Charlie
letter, gun in pieces, all exactly same as I sent it.

I never liked the S&W triggers anyway so have no desire to buy another N-frame (+ "Performance Center" tuning is a joke) to fit my leftover CT laser grips UGH. Guess eBay will sell them?

 

[slabside2]

Wow! Just wow!

 

[Lou_the_welder]

What are SOP 125gr full metal jacket?

Reloads??

 

[pbramlett]

I will attemp to translate.

OP’s gun has a major come apart using 125gr FMJ.
OP calls smith, receives a label to send it back
OP doesn’t hear anything for a while so sends a letter to inquire.
OP finds out gun is on the way back but the FedEx is delayed so he is further inconvenienced.
OP finds his disintegrated gun returned in the box purportedly with no other option for resolution.

====
Sorry that you have had this trouble. Since smith does not make this model any longer they would not have been able to replace it anyway with the same model. They may consider this a NON warranty issue and you might reach out to the ammo manufacturer to see if they have any relief.

Bad situation all around as I like the model you had.

All the best and hopes you find a way to be made whole without much expense.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

My SW327NG 357mag blew its barrel OFF at the range with SOP FMJ 125gr. Now there's a barrel to be retrieved from inside the firing range ...

How many rounds fired in your revolver?

 

[stansdds]

So glad that I have managed to avoid buying any aluminum/scandium frame revolvers, especially when chambered in 357 Magnum.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

Put a double dose of a fast burning powder and I wonder how many shots a steel frame would take.

My 327 has over 11k rounds in it. And doesn't skip a heartbeat.

Still waiting on what rounds SOP are and how they were made.

 

[pbramlett]

SAAMI operating pressures, perhaps.

 

[75Vette]

Looks like a classic KABOOM to me.

 

[Boost]

Goodness that sucks.

 

[Tom S.]

The term 'blew the barrel off' and the pictures points to a squib followed by a round with a full charge.

 

[steelslaver]

While a squib followed by a full power load would do it, I can not see any damage to the barrel, in the photo of it. Should be a bulge if there was a squib. I would love to inspect it first hand. One thing I would look for is flame cutting on top strap due to continued used after the shield there failed

I think an over charge would more apt to take out the cylinder.

As the scandium N frames have been known to survive a lot of 44 magnum rounds I doubt any normal 357 did this

Another possibility is a flaw in the original piece it was machined from

As of yet nobody can be certain S&W is going to leave the OP hanging. We only know that an irreparable and unreplaceable gun came back. I doubt the letter just said Sorry Charlie and would like to know just what it said before making any judgements without all the facts

 

[Tom S.]

While a squib followed by a full power load would do it, I can not see any damage to the barrel, in the photo of it. Should be a bulge if there was a squib. I would love to inspect it first hand. One thing I would look for is flame cutting on top strap due to continued used after the shield there failed

I think an over charge would more apt to take out the cylinder.

As the scandium N frames have been known to survive a lot of 44 magnum rounds I doubt any normal 357 did this

Another possibility is a flaw in the original piece it was machined from

As of yet nobody can be certain S&W is going to leave the OP hanging. We only know that an irreparable and unreplaceable gun came back. I doubt the letter just said Sorry Charlie and would like to know just what it said before making any judgements without all the facts

That has a sleeved barrel, so you might not see an bulge.

 

[steelslaver]

You would if you looked down it.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I cannot help but think there is more to this story. Even if S&W could not replace this revolver, they usually offer an equivalent replacement.

The OP is not well written and it is almost impossible to figure out what actually happened (e.g. heading refers to Thunder Ranch, but post begins with reference to Night Guard, out of production for a LONG time, and ammo called SOP FMJ 125gr ammo, etc.).

Also, why is yoke screw not screwed down, leaving side plate up? Attempted disassembly, then reassembled incorrectly? Perhaps then recoil forced cylinder past yoke screw and blew front of yoke off because someone failed to reassemble correctly?

And, what is this about "S&W accepted Serial Number as original owner?" Was the OP really the original owner, or not, and why is that important? I have never had S&W express concern about whether a gun was new or used, and usually, if I am not the original owner, I have just told them up front. Never have I had an issue with a repair on that basis.

The OP does offer judgments about UPS versus FedEx, S&W triggers, and other sundry complaints, all from a new member to this forum with 14 posts. It makes no sense that S&W would simply refuse or return this package without explanation.

And, what the hell does this sentence mean: "FedEx coming back with gun SIGNATURE REQUIRED, then LATE, so NO GOLF nor fun waiting on "the cable guy" SOP." ?????

My advice, instead of writing letters and posting complaints on this Forum, which S&W does not monitor, and overusing the military abbreviation for "standard operating procedure," PICK UP THE PHONE, call S&W and speak to a supervisor (nicely) and see what happened at their end.

WOW. The propensity of people to use the relative anonymity of the internet to trash talk is just amazing, all the while complaining with nearly unintelligible writing making it difficult for anyone to offer the OP any meaningful advice.

By the way, a search revealed no revolver ammo called "SOP," so I have no idea what ammo was used, but guessing poorly assembled reloads, perhaps made and sold at the OP's LGS? Maybe they caused the "oopsie" and are not willing to pony up?

Good luck to the OP.

 

[Tom S.]

You would if you looked down it.

Yeah, but I can't turn the picture enough to do that.

 

[45Smashemflat]

JB Weld?

 

[Breakaway500]

I’ve shot my TRR8 quite a bit. It’s always given me a good sense of ruggedness, and reliability regardless of what factory ammo I used.
Anything can blow up if you put your mind to it I suppose.

YouTube’s full of them.

 

[steelslaver]

No picture of the cylinder and the top strap is broke at frame above recoil shield and the barrel junction area. If the cylinder let go that could very well happen.

I would like a look down barrel and to inspect the cylinder before making any call on what happened

The alloy J frame 357s have a lot less material at top strap and bottom of frame and I haven't heard of those coming apart like this.

I have to believe there is more to the story than it broke under normal conditions from recoil impulses

Firing light magnum loads after the blast deflector above barrel could cause serious flame cutting and weakness in an alloy frame

How many rounds had the gun fired prior to this???

 

[steelslaver]

Yeah, but I can't turn the picture enough to do that.

But, I bet you did download it and try enlarging it like I did