S&W Service Experience--M&P 340
Some time ago, I set aside my M&P 340 to send in for service. During the last-time-I-shot-it cleaning, I noticed what I thought was a stretched cylinder. Since I had been shooting reloads--but no "high test" 357 rounds in it, I assumed that it would be repaired as needed at my expense--and my budget was tight.
Besides, this was a good excuse to carry the Airweight 360 I had purchased--i.e., that DA/SA scandium-357-frame, 38 Special I picked up last fall; I think it was a product release of a cancelled (European) PD contract. So, for several months I carried and practiced with that gun.
In August, I sorted out the potential money issues, and called S&W for a FedEx pickup. It took about two weeks for them to mail the RA and FedEx label. AFAICT, that's because of the reduced workforce due to vacations and downtime in August, and the workload backs up. So, I packed up the 340, c/w a cover letter explaining what I thought the issue was and noting that I had shot reloads in it. (It also went in with a Model 63 that required a minor blemish repair--but that's not really relevant.)
The M&P left here on Thursday, Sep. 3--i.e., just before the Labor Day / long weekend. The FedEx shipping was two-day--and I was concerned about receipt at S&W on Saturday, or maybe being held until Tuesday. I meant to call on Wednesday (allowing a day for receipt processing), but forgot; forgot again on Thursday--and on Friday Sept. 11 , I received a postal letter acknowledging receipt.
I've been awaiting a letter detailing the repair cost (I expected a charge for cylinder replacement, perhaps $125.00). Today, Sep. 16, Fedex returned the 340. It left S&W on Monday, the 14th. A new cylinder was installed, and the cylinder is well-fit: minimal, barely-detectable endshake. The barrel-cylinder gap is at 0.005
(With it was the M63, its muzzle re-crowned to remove the EDM(?) chatter I had not noticed when I purchased it. Both guns were wrapped in the S&W gun-wrap, with accompanying form letters describing the service performed. Packed in the original Doskosil small 2-gun case I used to send them.
By my estimation--allowing a day at each end for receipt / shipping processing, the service time was three days.
I'm impressed, and thoroughly satisfied.
I now need to send in the 360--it needs a rough cylinder polished--and I may send in the 640 as well, just for a general checkup; it has about 18,000-20,000 rounds through it now.
Jim H.