My Pain and Disappointment: Smith & Wesson

[Airburst]

Here's my S&W repair story.

I picked up a nice 4516. I went to the range and test fired the weapon with my practice ammo and my carry ammo. With either selected ammo in every magazine, the gun would not fully go into battery. I sent it back to them, (they sent me a UPS label) and in three weeks, I got it back. They said they determined the extractor was the problem. I told them it was the recoil spring. Repeated my range trip and the problem was still there. Wouldn't go into battery. I then bought a replacement Wolff gun spring and installed it. Went back to the range and big suprise, it works perfectly.

 

[megatronrules]

I have a S&W 340 M&P and the first one I bought developed a split underneath where the barrel meets the frame. I send it back to S&W and 3 weeks later had a new gun send to my FFL. In my experience S&W customer service was excellent,it was very frustrating to have to return a $700 gun to the manufacture but it happens. In the end it worked out and I couldn't be happier with this gun. I'm sorry to hear of you experience I hope it turns out good for you.

 

[stonecoldy]

I was sorta considering a S&W Model 22 Classic for purchase this past week, everything looked OK until I looked at the front sight, it appeared to be canted left at the rear of the sight to the front. I immediately turned right to see if it would straighten out at due North, but no luck. I wasn't that interested in its purchase, but in retrospect, it certainly pays to take your time to "kick the tires" and then some. Not that it helps until you shoot it, but initial appearance counts for something.
I have purchased a Model 60 earlier this year (so far so good with 500 rounds of mostly .38 Special mild loads through it), and a 625 (not shot yet, will do so tomorrow), so I don't have much to offer.
In my own opinion, I'm thinking the overwhelming desire of the past year for purchasing by the general populace has resulted in some corner-cutting on pushing production out the door. The tried and true shooters notice the difference.

 

[gmh1013]

I like my SP101 .357 and cant find any new Smith that I would fork over my hard earned dollars over......way way over priced now

 

[Bishop.357]

I own 3 S&W revolvers, the 640-3 .357 magnum, the 686 .357 magnum and the 629 .44 magnum. I've never experienced any problems with any of them or with any S&W in general. When I turned 14yrs old I received my first handgun,an S&W model 13 .357,and I've been a S&W man ever since. I have heard that as of late S&W is lacking the quality it used to be known far and wide for;but until I start havin' problems I will remain a loyal customer.

 

[sw282]

The troubles being expressed is the reason I buy only used guns. That doesnt mean they are or were better when they left the factory. I just hope the first guy fixed them. Five of the last guns I have purchased new required work out of six. Two Rugers, Two Remingtons. A Winchester. The Winchester and Rugers had sorry triggers. Had local guy fix those. Had to send the two Remingtons back because the scope mounting Holes were off. I dont even bother Remington with triggers. I just get my guy to put Shilen triggers in them. The only troublefree gun bought new recently was a Cooper. It came with a target. I remember the days of going and seeing new Smiths come into gunshops filthy from factory firing. Dirty yes. But at least you knew they worked.

 

[PsychoGlory]

I was in the market for a new revolver, what I wanted was a 629. I went to my local gun store and being a Smith & Wesson distributor he had several Smith & Wesson's in stock. I inspected all the models that caught my eye and everyone was perfect. Not a single thing wrong with any of them. Unfortunately the model I wanted was not in stock, so I ended up ordering 629 model 163698 from Bud's Gun Shop. When I received it, it was as exactly as I expected, perfect like my other Smith & Wesson I bought. Both my Smith & Wesson's were bought off the internet a 1911 108284 and my most recent the 629 163698. The 629 was bought a month ago and my 1911 a year ago. Finish, function are excellent for both

 

[KBintheSLC]

Is 6" off at 25yds that unacceptable of accuracy??

It is a snub and all.

I guess it depends on your standards. My $250 Kel Tec P32 shoots much better than this $425 S&W 637 does. So, I guess it is unacceptable... IMO

Smith will make it right.

Thats what I keep hearing, but they had the chance to and didn't. Now I am waiting for a shipping label to send it back again.

But as I said, those times were a long, long time ago. I can only suggest that you carefully look at what you’re buying before, not after you buy it.

I agree. I did a thorough run through of the revolver inspection steps (its a sticky here). However, I never really imagined that there would be a crooked barrel problem on a revolver as I have never seen such a condition before. It is pretty subtle initially, but once you are made aware of it it is painfully obvious.