New S&W "problems" overstated?

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gorenut

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Just curious on this issue. Across several boards, I notice people swearing off current S&Ws like they're cursed monkey paws. I know most if not all people are not fans of the internal locks.. but aside from that.. are things REALLY that bad.. or is this just another case of gunowners following the trends of "it was better way back when..." (notice the same with guns of all makes, Sigs, etc... though I think Glock and H&K lovers tend to love everything new that comes out)?
 
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i have had no problems with my recent purchases of smith 642 and 442 during the past year. Flawless to date... then again, i am in love with my Taurus which is just as good IMHO. Bunker
 
I love my 4" 629 -- purchased new a couple of years ago. It has the lock (disabled now) and probably a few MIM parts, but I've shot the hooooey out of it (10,000+ rds) in competition and it runs beautifully for me.

The trigger slicked up so much I went back to the factory trigger spring, but no one seems to believe it is if they try it.

I did find that the chamber throats were a little tight for cast bullets, but that was a cheap fix.
 
I got one of those $349 Model 642 Airweights that CDNN had a month or so ago, and I love it. But I'm still waiting on that rebate check !!! :scrutiny:
 
I have a 5-screw K-22 and it's sibling, a 5-screw K-38, but my most-shot guns are a lock- and MIM-infested 4" 686 and a 4" 617, which get the batsnot shot out of them...and they're every bit as accurate (more, even) than their 5-screw counterparts.

The newer stuff may not have the fit and finish of the older guns. And many hate The Lock and MIM parts. Many hate what The Lock and MIM represent to them. Many hate that S&W has "cheapened" their guns by introducing modern CNC production. Funny, then, that they shoot as good as the older ones.
 
I bought a model 25-15 Classic in 45 Colt last year. If there are any quality issues or problems with MIM I haven't found them It is well broken in with loads from light to heavy. My only complaint was with the grips, which I solved with some Pachmayrs.

And it does have the Hole, but no barbed wire around it.
 
Too many issues with the new revolvers for me to spend hard earned money on them when there are so many used, older models available.

Smiths new autos on the other hand are really something to own. ;)
 
I got one of those $349 Model 642 Airweights that CDNN had a month or so ago, and I love it. But I'm still waiting on that rebate check !!! :scrutiny:
MIL-DOT: Got my check just the other day (sent in for it a month or two ago)... so don't worry, I'm sure yours is on the way too :)

To the OP: I have a new 642 without the lock, and have zero complaints about it. It's a great lightweight j-frame.
 
The vast majority of my S&W's have the IL & MIM parts. I have had zero problems - and most of my S&W's have been on 'accelerated wear tests'. Most people who berate current production have never held one, much less shot them.

Stainz
 
companies have to invest in new technology to reduce production costs in order to compete i a very tight industry. if you dont move foreward, you get left behind. this is true in most manufacturing plants. if everything was hand built the way it was years ago, the cost for the consumer would be astronomical. very few of us would be able to afford anything, causing that particular company to close its doors. how many Blacksmiths are still in operation? this is true with Harley Davidson also. many people swear they will not buy a new bike because of all the crap and computers ect.. instead they run old shovelheads, pans, ect.. there is a definitly a cool factor to the old bikes but the new ones have the modern technology BUT also have all the GOVERNMENT mandated junk like emissions controlls..(sound familiar.. IL) there are pros and cons to both old and new.. buy what you like and what you can afford..and try to buy American as much as possible.
 
Just curious on this issue. Across several boards, I notice people swearing off current S&Ws like they're cursed monkey paws. I know most if not all people are not fans of the internal locks.. but aside from that.. are things REALLY that bad.. or is this just another case of gunowners following the trends of "it was better way back when..." (notice the same with guns of all makes, Sigs, etc... though I think Glock and H&K lovers tend to love everything new that comes out)?
There is no problem other then stupid people wanting USA-made quality that would take $1500+/-100 price tag to realize for half or less.
 
I don't own any myself yet & have stayed away from them because of the stories (there has to be some truth in those stories) but in my area there aren't that many older no-lock revolvers around to buy. Now I'm considering a 627-5 non PC w/cuff key hole. I hope when I get one I wont be disappointed.
 
I think Motorcycle Charlie nailed it:
companies have to invest in new technology to reduce production costs in order to compete i a very tight industry. if you dont move foreward, you get left behind. this is true in most manufacturing plants. if everything was hand built the way it was years ago, the cost for the consumer would be astronomical.
This is what helped kill Colt. They didn't modernize and were stuck with expensive unionized labor.
S&W did the smart thing, they have modernized where possible and have machines doing their CNC thing to bring out guns that don't need such expensive manual hand-fitting labor. If one tries the old methods, the guns are quickly unaffordable and you'll have consumers complaining about the cost of the gun.
 
I don't own any myself yet & have stayed away from them because of the stories (there has to be some truth in those stories) but in my area there aren't that many older no-lock revolvers around to buy. Now I'm considering a 627-5 non PC w/cuff key hole. I hope when I get one I wont be disappointed.
rayman.. go ahead and buy it, thats a really nice gun. i would not worry about the stories. i have read the negative comments online about many world class manufactures. Ford, Chevy, Ruger, S&W, Kahr Arms..guns, cars, trucks, and the list goes on. usually the experiences you read on the internet, though they may be real, are the extreme cases. most people are quick to report bad happenings rather than great ones. after a bad experience people may never buy that brand again, and i cant blame them. my dad bought a brand new Ford LTD in 1979 and it was a lemon. nothing but problems. he swears he will never buy a ford again or even a brand new car of any make for that matter. 32 years later he is still stickin with it. the chance of getting a bad one from Smith is possible but highly unlikely and their customer service is good just incase. go for it and good luck to you.
 
As for as S&W's "problems" as the OP puts it, I believe that those are overstated. Has the lock failed? Yes. Is it common? No. Is the probability of the lock failing enough to sway me away from a S&W? No.

But I don't personally agree with the need for lock in the first place. Whether or not it's functional or is a liability isn't even a question for me. It's there, I don't agree with it, and there are plenty of other affordable S&Ws without one that I can purchase. So I just choose not to buy one. To me, it's a matter of personal preference and everybody has their own. Doesn't make one side any better than the other.

My thinking is that in another 30 years people are going to be paying premiums for the S&Ws with MIM parts because the MIM parts or going to be better quality than whatever S&W uses 30 years from now to keep costs down.
 
No, I don't think the problems with S&W are overstated.

I think the asking prices for current production S&W handguns are overstated. Especially considering the junk you recieve for your hard earned money. :)
 
Hi,
I have one new generation S&W. Its a model 10-14 4 inch which I bought about two years ago. I paid around $320 with fees. The revolver was unfired and the gun shop was going out of business. After many rounds fired, I have had no problems. I don't like the internal lock and hole on the side of the revolver but other than that I have no complaints.
The only reason I bought this revolver is because it was cheap. Now a days a new S&W is pricey for what a person gets. The price on the 10-14 would of been over $600 had not for the fact the shop was going out of business.
Today, I would not buy a new S&W revolver. Whether it has mim parts or internal locks I believe S&W is pricing themselfs out of the revolver market.
For example, I can buy a new Ruger GP100 4 inch Stainless Steel for $559.
The S&W 686P 4 inch is going for $750. Other than the one extra round I don't see paying that much more for a S&W than the Ruger. The Ruger triggers are much better now and are the equal to the S&W.

Thats the reason I won't buy new S&Ws anyone.
Howard
 
Glad to hear some voices of reason. I just scored a 627 PC 5" for $750. Before this, I've pretty much just shot Rugers.. but after testing some S&Ws out.. I was completely sold on the trigger.
 
The only S&W worth the money might be their M&P semiautos.

Motorcycle Charlie, thanks for the laugh about Ford, Chevy etc. being in the 'worldclass mfg.' category.
 
Yes, I think the internet has overstated things quite a bit, especially when it comes to "the problems" ...

I had more trouble and issues which required repair and correction with S&W revolvers produced from the 70's through the 90's.

Of course, I also had problems which required repair & correction with quite a number of Ruger revolvers & pistols produced during the same time period. (I'm a long time Ruger owner & enthusiast, too.)
 
All I know is that the two Smiths I have work flawlessly. One is a 15 year old 686 that is as smooth as silk and a joy to shoot, and the other is a 442 I bought about a month ago. I have not noticed any of the issues mentioned in the other thread. It has very good fit and finish and the trigger pull is good, albeit quite a bit heavier than the 686.

It's not as smooth as the bigger revolver, but I guess I wouldn't expect it to be. It seems to me to be a solid little revolver. Not much to draw on, but that's my experience.
 
Thaddeus Jones said:
No, I don't think the problems with S&W are overstated.

I think the asking prices for current production S&W handguns are overstated. Especially considering the junk you recieve for your hard earned money.

That's just way over the top. To call a new Smith & Wesson firearm junk is to strip yourself of any credibility. Say you don't like them or they are overpriced, fine, but junk? No way.
 
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