Unfavorable opinion of Smith and Wessons

[hfl73]

I am somewhat new to handguns and over the past year I purchased a 3913 and 5926 and have enjoyed shooting them regularly. I completed a Defensive Pistol Seminar today at my local gun club and at the end of class the instructor was commenting on the quality of handguns many of the students had (mostly Glocks). He said that Smith and Wesson semiautos were not very good because they fell apart and weren't well made. Then praised how great Glocks were. I am kind of taken back by this because during the firing phase of the course my 3913 performed as well as any of the Glocks on the firing line. I am not sure I would take another class offered by this instructor based on this unfavorable opinion of my handgun. Did I make a mistake in buying Smiths? Has anyone else had problems with Smiths due to poor quality?

 

[hfl73]

I am somewhat new to handguns and over the past year I purchased a 3913 and 5926 and have enjoyed shooting them regularly. I completed a Defensive Pistol Seminar today at my local gun club and at the end of class the instructor was commenting on the quality of handguns many of the students had (mostly Glocks). He said that Smith and Wesson semiautos were not very good because they fell apart and weren't well made. Then praised how great Glocks were. I am kind of taken back by this because during the firing phase of the course my 3913 performed as well as any of the Glocks on the firing line. I am not sure I would take another class offered by this instructor based on this unfavorable opinion of my handgun. Did I make a mistake in buying Smiths? Has anyone else had problems with Smiths due to poor quality?

 

[Tslepebull]

I think you answered your own question. Your Smith shot as well as the Glocks. What else do you need to know.

 

[bad_man_ one]

That's a very old mindset.
The first generation's had allot of quality issues and somewhere back when Bangor Punta owned them, there were allot of bad decisions being made about quality also, could have been during that same time period.
Bangor Punta bought the company from the Wesson family in 1965. In Jan 1984 the Lear Siegler Corp. purchased Bangor Punta (along with S&W). In Dec 1986 Lear Siegler was sold to Forstmann Little. Forstmann split off S&W and sold it shortly thereafter to Thompkins. From http://www.smith-wesson.com/we...1504&sectionId=10002
I am an Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer and have taken the tours in both of the manufacturing facilities and that being said, I will say that I think that they are some of the finest handguns being produced.
There Customer Service is SECOND TO NONE.
I've had a Glock 20 - 10mm and had issues with it, got rid of it.
I own quite a variety and quite a few firearms and my Smiths are among the finest ever.
Regards,
BM1

 

[SW CQB 45]

you have to take what they say and sometimes swallow it.

dont let this discourage you. take the good from each instructor and throw away the bad.

he probably had one bad experience with SW and now they are all bad.

I dont talk trash about guns anymore (I used to). I just talk about experiences and tell those, if that's what you want, get it, train with it so in a stressful situation, you are not reading the instructions when things go bad.

 

[Gamer]

NO mistake buying a S&W IMO. I think some people love whatever they own, a Glock or whatever else it might be and some folks tend to bash other guns. Maybe the guy had a bad experience and he's bitter

Personally, I own several Smith's, a couple of Kahr's, a Colt even and I LOVE them all....

I do have a 5904 I've owned since 89 and it still shoots like a dream. In a round about way I'm trying to say you'll have to decide the quality of S&W's for yourself. But, they've been good to me and they're so pretty.

Good luck!

 

[ColbyBruce]

Your instructor was absolutely correct...you get more bang for your buck with a Glock,

.

 

[cobra44]

At a local gun show last weekend, I happened over to the Glock armorer that was there, as my brother wanted me to ask him about the safeties that are available now for Glocks.
As I walked up I heard the armorer talking to a customer telling him that the Glock line of firearms are the most dependable, best built firearm that were ever made. Of course you get the same from the Kimber reps.
I will keep my Smiths.

 

[n4zov]

Well, I have to ask. What happened to the Glock in the photo?

 

[cshoff]

You know what they say about opinions. Of course, the truth is, if S&W semi-auto's were "junk" and "fell apart", there wouldn't be millions of armed citizens and thousands of LEO's that stake their lives on them every day.

My guess is this instructor either had bad luck with one personally, or had a buddy that had bad luck with one. I've personally had pretty bad luck with a Keltec AT380; lot's of FTE's and what not. That doesn't make every single one of them "junk", and there are plenty of people out there that just love those little guns.

 

[Big Lou]

I love Glocks. I keep two of them in my truck. I use them to block the rear wheels when I park a steep hill!

 

[Ridgway]

Originally posted by cobra44:
At a local gun show last weekend, I happened over to the Glock armorer that was there, as my brother wanted me to ask him about the safeties that are available now for Glocks.
As I walked up I heard the armorer talking to a customer telling him that the Glock line of firearms are the most dependable, best built firearm that were ever made. Of course you get the same from the Kimber reps.
I will keep my Smiths.

Ponder this: If Glocks are so good, why are there Glock armorers? Kind of like a mechanic who says "Fords (or Chevy) are the best most reliable trucks out there. They are all I will fix."

When I took the NRA Smith revolver armorers course at a gunsmithing school here in OK, the instructor/head of the gunsmithing school fielded a lot of questions towards the end concerning all types of firearms. Someone asked him what was the best autoloading shotgun on the market, and he went on forever about how great Remingtons were and how the Italians, notably Beretta and Benelli, cobbled together shotguns of questionable engineering and even worse metalurgy ("nothing in them is ever properly hardened"). It is important to note that he owned a gunshop that was the regional Remington authorized factory service center. In other words, for several years he made a hell of a lot of money by repairing Remington 1100's. Benelli and Beretta don't have regional service centers, just their U.S. headquarters in Maryland, and I'm sure this pissed him off to no end.

After watching him work on Smiths for a week, I understand now why Benelli and Beretta don't farm out their reputations to every bumpkin with a bastard file.

Regards,
Ridge

 

[sasu]

I have bought close to a dozen new S&W handguns in the last three years. Half of them have had manufacturing defects bad enough to require a gunsmith. I live overseas so I cannot use S&W factory warranty, at least not without a lot of effort.

Just a few weeks ago my new SW1911DK 45 ACP arrived at my shop. I did not accept the gun because it had the same defects as my SW1911PD. The barrel was riding on the link, and in addition the barrel had very deep scratches across the locking lugs, not to mention the very sloppy frame to slide fit. I had an Ed Brown barrel installed professionally on my SW1911PD to correct the link riding problem, but did not want to take on that cost on another gun again.

My new 25-5 45 Colt fails to carry up on one chamber.
My 629 44 Magnum had a botched muzzle crown and a slight cylinder alignment issue.
My new 29 Mountain Gun has unfinished chamber throats, that gun is going back for warranty work.

On the other hand my 4506, 5906, 5903TSW, 29 Classic, 19, 329PD are very well made, reliable and accurate. I am waiting for delivery of a 945PC, M&P45, 60 Chief's Special but those will be my last Smith & Wessons for a while.

I do not like the lottery like suspense of whether I get a properly built gun or not. S&W should be taking a look at their quality control.

One theory to explain the attitude of S&W is that many shooters are not serious enough to notice these problems, so S&W can get away with it. Only a small percentage of buyers make a warranty claim and S&W takes care of those. It might be a case of basic profitability calculations that make this kind of compromise possible.

 

[gruntsrus]

I just recently bought my 2nd and 3rd Smith & W autos. I called the factory about the 1076 possibly having/needing some recall work related to the decocker. Sure enough, mine had not had the work yet done on it. I shipped it to them, with the mailer lable they provided to me, and 10 days later I got it back with the decocker recall completed free of charge. In their inspection they did not like the condition of the sideplate and replaced it.

Not quite sure what kind of BS the range Sgt was trying to sell you? Maybe he wants your Smith? I've seen that before. Congrats on your purchase.

 

[Jim H]

Originally posted by hfl73:
...Did I make a mistake in buying Smiths? Has anyone else had problems with Smiths due to poor quality?

You did not make any mistake, S&W quality is as good as any, and better than some. My SW40F 1st generation Sigma (I bet your instructor would love that gun...) had a few teething problems which S&W addressed quickly and at no cost to me.

As for whether Glock or S&W has higher quality, is Coke better than Pepsi? Is a Mustang better than a Camaro? There will always be rivalries, and those who believe strongly one way or another. In the end, after you ask the questions and understand the answers, what you learn from your own experience counts more than others' opinions.

 

[growr]

Your 3913 is in my opinion an example of the finest ccw handgun made by anyone, anywhere. S&W Customer Service is the finest in the industry. My M&P .40 has over 10,000 rounds and has yet to bobble anything with any mfg. ammo. AND it keeps on getting better and better. Lastly it is MADE IN THE USA! My M&P has also won over at least 5 former Glock shooters (USPSA & IDPA) simply due to the ergonomics.
Your instructor was an idiot with an agenda..
Randy

 

[S&W-4-Me]

You made a good choice with the S&W. As a retired Tool & Diemaker I feel I have a good understanding of metal work and it's quality. In my opinion S&W is putting out a fine product. As in any manufacturing operation, you may get some flaws that get by quality control. I have been shooting many years and own the models 686SSR revolver, 5906 9mm pistol, and a model 41. These guns have the best "out of the box" trigger that I have ever used. The workmanship in these guns is excellent. I also own a Glock 36, 45 cal. Though serviceable and functions well, I don't see where the build quality of a Glock is anything to write home about. My experience with S&W, and that of other Smith owners that I have known through the years, I found Smith & Wesson stands behind their product. I think you will enjoy years of good shooting with your gun. JMHO
Ed

 

[dlstewart01]

Opinions vary.

My Smiths are not for sale.

Just my opinion

 

[Sputnik]

Means nothing. Just HIS 'personal' opinion. He has his, I have mine, you have yours. Have heard all before from several Mr.know it alls, Glock is the best, s SIG is the best, my brand of 1911 is the best, Honda is best, Harley Davidson is the best, Chevy, Toyota, yadda, yadda......

Just for fun do a google search 'Glock recalls' & 'Glock accidental shootings' A great firearm but far perfect.

 

[Ridgway]

Originally posted by bad_man_ one:

I have toured both manufacturing facilities and they are the some of the finest handguns out there now.

This brings up something else I find interesting about Glock. Try to find a photo or an article where the writer toured the manufacturing facility. Or, for that matter, any images released by the company of their facility. Nada.

Makes you wonder how much of the pistol beyond the polymer frame is outsourced to other companies. Could it be that most of what goes on at Glock is just assembly of parts made elsewhere?

Ridge