“Ultimate Carry” QC Issues?

[SuperMan]

Ordered one of the 642UC when they were announced...got it in a few weeks later and was a very nicely put together gun...

In one of the videos they said that they changed the trigger geometry for a better pull...unfortunately that wasn't the case with mine... Locked up WAY too early and a long overtravel after lockup... I've got several Js and they all lock up tight just before the hammer falls...

It has already gone to a new home...replaced by a 80s vintage Model 38...

Bob

 

[Well Armed]

Ordered one of the 642UC when they were announced...got it in a few weeks later and was a very nicely put together gun...

In one of the videos they said that they changed the trigger geometry for a better pull...unfortunately that wasn't the case with mine... Locked up WAY too early and a long overtravel after lockup... I've got several Js and they all lock up tight just before the hammer falls...

It has already gone to a new home...replaced by a 80s vintage Model 38...

Bob

I've never know this to be a problem or something to worry about. As far as I ever known, what matters is that it locks up before the hammer drops and the timing is in order. I've heard one aficionado, I don't recall who but I'm sure I can do some searching to refresh my memory, say the earlier the lock up the better. Educate me to why this and the remaining trigger travel to drop the hammer is supposed to be an issue????

 

[NY-1]

I'm confused. This is the ULTIMATE CARRY revolver. A youtube vid said this was the product of the greatest revolver minds in America. The product manager said this was the best revolver ever made.

Think I'll hold out for a plain-jane Pentultimate Carry version.

The design decisions of the Ultimate Carry guns are solid and sensible. These problems all have to do with S&W's quality control practices during production/assembly as opposed to the guns themselves.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Frailer,

Thank you for posting. It is a reminder that I have been correct to open up every new revolver to clean and re-lube it. I have no complaint against the factory's lube, although it is not the same as mine, but I certainly do not trust cleanliness, although it has almost always been proper.

When the 642 first came out, I bought one, although the sideplate cut was a bit odd (the fitting, however, was perfect). I had it immediately sent back to S&W by the dealer because it had carry-up problems. Not a really great advertisement for S&W's QC, but no Centennials had been made for a few (16?) years, so I did what I had to. They did fix the timing, and I still have it.

Either caveat emptor, or buyer beware; can't decide which.

 

[L-2]

I'm still awaiting a 432UC to ever arrive at my FFL to fulfill me being on the FFL's Lipsey's-wishlist. I got on the wishlist during the "ShotShow" time period, but still waiting.

I was annoyed my FFL hasn't yet been notified of one to ship to them yet, but now I'm glad I didn't get a problem 432UC.
Hopefully, if & when it does arrive, it won't have problems.:

4/29/24 Update. Contacted by my FFL and my 432UC is now enroute and hopefully will arrive sometime next week.

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

I’m waiting on S&W to fix the timing issue on my 442UC. Very disappointed.

 

[SuperMan]

I've never know this to be a problem or something to worry about. As far as I ever known, what matters is that it locks up before the hammer drops and the timing is in order. I've heard one aficionado, I don't recall who but I'm sure I can do some searching to refresh my memory, say the earlier the lock up the better. Educate me to why this and the remaining trigger travel to drop the hammer is supposed to be an issue????

..it was a very heavy trigger pull...it felt like the hand was still trying to rotate the cylinder after lock up.

 

[white cloud]

This is pretty disappointing.

I recently purchased a 686+ and can honestly say it is the best timed S&W I have ever owned and maybe the most accurate. I am 71 and have owned a number of S&W revolvers. This experience led me to believe S&Ws QA issues were behind them. I guess I was confused.

 

[pacecars]

I found a 632 UC in stock online at a gun shop and ordered it immediately. It came in a few days ago and the front sight was also dead. A call to S&W and they are sending me a new front sight

 

[glenncal1]

I just bought a new 648, great shooting gun and very accurate right out of the box. Big problem with FTF's probably 15% in SA and close to 50% DA. Yes the strain screw is tight. Yes I tried multiple brands of ammo.

If I had bought this gun used I would have tried a Wolff mainspring etc. But since it is brand new, off to the mothership it goes for repair. Other than that I love the gun.

 

[Frailer]

..it was a very heavy trigger pull...it felt like the hand was still trying to rotate the cylinder after lock up.

Interesting observation. On the 432 that locked up I noticed the same thing. Occasionally the trigger would hit a “wall” after the cylinder locked, and it took additional pressure to get the hammer to drop.

The gun’s price tag was hanging from a rubber band looped through the trigger guard, so at the time I assumed the problem was caused by the rubber band becoming pinched behind the trigger.

Now I’m not so sure. Some folks claim S&W revised the lock work geometry for this run. If that is indeed true, it might need further revision. Or perhaps de-revision.

 

[waffles]

I've posted before about my experiences with shoddy products from S&W and crummy CS dealing with trying to get them fixed. It is a real shame, I like the technical side of a lot of S&W offerings from the last twenty years, but the very likely outcome of having a lemon and the difficulty of getting it fixed has been able to keep me away after having to learn my lesson a few too many times. It's a shame, I'd really like to be confident in buying one of the UCs.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Color me disappointed. Nobody’s perfect, and we’re talking about an exceedingly small sample size of two, but still.

I am not one of those “they don’t build them like they used to” guys, but this experience didn’t bolster my position.

The current Rebate at S&W had me looking at the PERFORMANCE CENTER® MODEL 19 CARRY COMP® but I had a problem with a Model 637 that was a paperweight at best. My 686 Plus purchase a few years brought my faith back.

I wanted a new revolver and I went with Kimber.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

This is pretty disappointing.

I recently purchased a 686+ and can honestly say it is the best timed S&W I have ever owned and maybe the most accurate. I am 71 and have owned a number of S&W revolvers. This experience led me to believe S&Ws QA issues were behind them. I guess I was confused.

I was rather pleased with my 686+ too.

But others from S&W recently have been duds, no pun intended.