UPATE: Is It Time To Replace My 640-3 Centennial?

[prplbkrr]

Had this one to the local 'smith last June, 2020. The gun had locked up, as in I could not pull the trigger. Would not budge. After the 'smith fixed it up, within a week I shot 50 rds. with no issues.
I had not shot this one since, so I took it to the range today. 22 rds. later it locked up again. I think that it may be "shot out".

The gun has not been abused. I am the original owner, I maintain it the best I can, but this piece has over 5,000 (yeah, five thousand) rds of full house .357 mag loads. 15.5 grs of H-110 over a 158 gr bullet.

Take it back to the 'smith? Send it S&W and have them look at it? Use it for a paperweight? This is the only 640 (of any "dash" model) that I know of with this many rds.

Thoughts?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Call S&W customer service and ask them.

Since you took it to a smith, and he worked on it, if you tell 'em that they may not honor the lifetime warranty.

Best of luck.

 

[AJR337]

What did your local smith say caused the original issue / lock up when he looked at / fixed it back in June?

 

[HughD1]

5000 full house magnums. Be happy you are going to a gunsmith and not a surgeon! Don't give up on the little gun! Good luck!

Hugh


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stansdds]

5000 rounds of full power magnum ammo? Ouch! Don't know what your local gunsmith did to your revolver or what is wrong with it now. I think contacting S&W is a good idea, but since you had someone else work on it, S&W may not honor their warranty.

 

[mikerjf]

Has the IL, right? Maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[steelslaver]

I doubt it is wore out. probably just need a good deep cleaning, a touch of oil here and there and another 5000 rounds

 

[Hondo44]

Guns don't get "shot out", barrels do. So all you need is expertise, it needs proper gunsmithing, issues can be fixed. A broken or cracked frame is one thing, but lock-ups are generally caused by malfunction of parts/fitting.

 

[GerSan69]

I would contend that 5K rounds of .357 IS abuse.
I'm hearing "locks up" but no explanation of what, exactly, is occurring. Clearly, something is no longer within spec or is coming loose, but I can't tell, sorry.
Did the 'smith explain what he did? If not, I suggest a return visit for a detailed explanation. It might end up as something simple and easy to do.
I won't make the obvious suggestion to stop treating it like a Model 27. Good luck to you.

 

[sipowicz]

I'm more interested in how your hand works after 5000 magnums than the gun.

 

[prplbkrr]

I would contend that 5K rounds of .357 IS abuse.
I'm hearing "locks up" but no explanation of what, exactly, is occurring. Clearly, something is no longer within spec or is coming loose, but I can't tell, sorry.
Did the 'smith explain what he did? If not, I suggest a return visit for a detailed explanation. It might end up as something simple and easy to do.
I won't make the obvious suggestion to stop treating it like a Model 27. Good luck to you.

I have had this gun since 2007. Doesn't average out to even 50 rds/month.

I wouldn't call 50 rds/month abuse. I would call that maintaining proficiency.The gun is now at S&W getting a look over. I have no idea why the gun is locking up, either. Hence the trip to the factory.

The 'smith I was using has recently retired.

 

[cd228]

I tend to agree. 5K rounds of the caliber It's chambered for over 13 years, I wouldn't call it abuse. I'm interested in what S&W finds.

 

[ken158]

Send it home and get end shake fixed because 5000 rounds of 357 will surely cause that and possibly other issues.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

It might be time to treat yourself to a new .357...maybe a 686.

 

[stansdds]

I have had this gun since 2007. Doesn't average out to even 50 rds/month.

I wouldn't call 50 rds/month abuse. I would call that maintaining proficiency.The gun is now at S&W getting a look over. I have no idea why the gun is locking up, either. Hence the trip to the factory.

The 'smith I was using has recently retired.

Let us know the outcome of its trip back to the mother ship.

 

[prplbkrr]

It might be time to treat yourself to a new .357...maybe a 686.

I have 686-1.

 

[murphydog]

Please let us know what S & W finds. Hopefully the issue is fixable with parts replacement short of a new frame (in which case they might offer a steep discount on a new one, or a new gun outright).

It is a "lifetime warranty" gun but in addition to outside gunsmith work it sounds to have had hot handloaded ammunition used in large quantities, both of which 'might' be an issue with a warranty claim.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

I tend to agree. 5K rounds of the caliber It's chambered for over 13 years, I wouldn't call it abuse. I'm interested in what S&W finds.

5k of full power Magnum loads in a small gun like that is likely to cause problems, regardless of what's inscribed on the barrel.
A gun doesn't have a calendar, 5k Magnums is 5k Magnums regardless of how many years it took to do them.

It will be interesting to see what S&W says.

 

[prplbkrr]

We all like the follow-up on problems with others guns, so...

The Fed-Ex guy delivered my Centennial from S&W today. According to the repair sheet, the damn Internal Lock malfunctioned. I didn't remember to have that damn lock looked at before I sent it to the factory. IIRC the gun was sent late May, early June. So approx. 13 weeks turnaround time. Gotta re-up my club membership tomorrow, then hit the range and shoot the 'lil Cent. I will keep the lock in for now, but if it ever locks up again, the lock will be the first thing I will have looked at.

I am torn between carrying the J-Frame and 1911. I have become used to having that big chunk of metal in my pocket. Yes, my pockets are big enough to pocket carry a 1911. 1st world problems.

 

[JH1951]

Thank you for the update. I find it interesting and hope my mind can retain it.
As for carrying a 1911 or J-frame, I have some experience. For years I carried a full size 1911. I then downsized to a SIG Ultra Compact 1911. Later on after retirement and leaving the realm of needing to subdue street gangs, I opted to focus on simple self-protection and downsized again to a J-frame .38 Spl. Mod. 649. If five shots don't get me out of trouble, likely I should not have been where I was.