New 442 with "Crooked" Barrel? With pictures...

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Robinett_11B

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2010
Messages
30
Location
Everett, WA
Hey everyone! I'm new with the forum, and pretty new to revolvers as well. I've been around various handguns and all standard Infantry weapons for quite some time now and I think something may be wrong with this 442 I just purchased. I bought a 60-14 a couple months ago and just traded it for this 442. I've been looking at it and I think the barrel "slopes down" from the frame. It's hard to tell in the photos, I know...but you can tell a lot more in person. There's a gap between the barrel and frame on top. I haven't found much on this in many of the different forums I looked in, so I was seeing if anyone around here could give me an idea of what I should do about this. I'm going to call S&W tomorrow. *What should I expect from them?* Should they be able to "straighten" the barrel back out?* Should I request a new gun?* Can I expect the same service life and reliability of an "unaffected" 442 if they just "redo" the barrel alignment?*
Thank you for all your input and help. I hope to be a good contributor to the forum...

IMG_0295.jpg

IMG_0296.jpg

IMG_0297.jpg

IMG_0299.jpg
 
I compared your picks to my 442 and mine definitely doesn't have that gap like yours. I would send it back.
 
I don't know if this revolver has a 2-piece barrel or not, because it was my understanding they were going to discontinue that kind of construction. In the 2-piece design the barrel is a straight rifled tube that is threaded into the frame, and then a sleeve that comprises the rest of the barrel with the rib, front sight and underlug is slipped over it. Anyway, that could account for the gap, but it doesn't make it right. I would return it to S&W on their dime (they'll send you a mailing label) and have them correct it. It isn't something you or a local 'smith can take care of.

Top "pro-smith's" and the factory can check to see if the barrel is on straight by using a special plug gauge, but you aren't likely to find anyone in your local area that has one.

If the threads are messed up in the frame (or barrel) they will either replace one or both, or stamp your serial number on a new gun and destroy the old one.
 
Last edited:
Thanks, Old Fuff. I pretty sure this barrel is not one of the 2-piece designs. I think the Sc and Ti framed guns are the ones with the 2-piece design. Thanks for the advice. **Anyone else have any input?
 
Just checked my 442-2, love it by the way. No gap on mine like yours has. Give S&W Customer Service a call, they will make it right for you.
 
If you got feeler gauges then check the barrel cylinder gap on the top and bottom of the breech end of the barrel. If they are even the slightest different then the barrel is fitted wrong.
 
Appreciate it, guys!

Thanks for all the input. I'll be sure to make a post when I hear what S&W has to say about it tomorrow. I'm just disappointed. I was so excited to find this 442, the only one I could w/o a lock within 50 miles and now I have to send it back. I just hope S&W either fixes it to factory standards or replaces it with a NON lock 442. Any thoughts on what way they might swing? And is S&W customer service pretty on point or should I prepare for a long wait and hassle?
 
I had a 442 at one time too, I not only had that same gap, but the milled front sight was canted, actually sitting slightly cross ways when you look down upon it. Then as I was "proving" its utter reliability to my wife the tip of the rotating pawl broke off and the cylinder didn't rotate anymore when the trigger was pulled. I sent it back to S&W to fix then promptly sold it.
 
amprecon said:
I had a 442 at one time too, I not only had that same gap, but the milled front sight was canted, actually sitting slightly cross ways when you look down upon it. Then as I was "proving" its utter reliability to my wife the tip of the rotating pawl broke off and the cylinder didn't rotate anymore when the trigger was pulled. I sent it back to S&W to fix then promptly sold it.
Click to expand...
Thanks, amprecon. I was kinda hoping I wouldn't of ran across anyone else that had this ~exact~ issue directly...I guess wishing I got a 1/100,000 lemon? *When they fixed it; did they repair it or replace it? If they repaired it, what work did they document doing on it?* I know you should be able to trust a carry gun 100% and I can see why you'd want to sell it if they had only repaired it. I'll keep my faith in the model if they can replace it, but I don't know if I'll be happy if they just "fix" it...kinda scary, I suppose. Thanks for sharing your experience......oh, and did you end up with another 642/442?
 
Hmmm

Well, I just called S&W and the guy was sort of an a**hole. He wouldn't hear anything I was saying about what was wrong with the gun. He just said that they'd have to see it and make their decision. I said, "okay, but ~~what if~~ this was something that couldn't be fixed...what would you do then?" and he got very defensive and insisted that the gun had a lifetime warranty and so on. His responses didn't exactly inspire confidence.....so I'm hoping they can make this right w/o too much hassles. I just don't really feel comfortable carrying the gun as is, or even if they just "make repairs".


Anyone have any more thoughts on what I should expect from S&W on this issue?
 
Sadly I have had similar issues

While I am one of the first to point out want lousy QC Smith has and my loathing for the company that they have become, I must say that their customer service is usually very good. (practice makes perfect)

I had a similar problem with my current wife's 7 shot 686 and they took care of it and did so in a reasonable amount of time.

The jerk that you spoke to notwithstanding, give them a chance and you will probably be happy with the results
 
BTW, the guy has people calling him all day trying to tell him about their guns. He is not a tech and cannot deviate from company policy which correctly states that a tech has to have the gun in hand to evaluate it.

Maybe he could have been better at it but he told you the right thing. Call back and get the information on how to send it back. They make it pretty painless.
 
You can't and won't get a commitment from any major manufacturer on a question on repair or replace-ability without them seeing the gun. If they did go out on a limb and say something out of the guidelines of the written stated warranty, they would be replacing guns all the time that shouldn't be. Like for neglegence in damage and so on. I say just send it back to S&W and see what they say.
 
Another ting, since you didn't buy it from a gunshop or FFL, you are on your own with S&W being your last resort.....
 
Thanks

Thanks for the input, guys. I understand he can't really give me much only being a CS rep and everything...I guess I was just kind of put off by the way he handled my concerns, but you're right he does have pepole calling him all day and telling him this that and the other and he can only say so much. I did purchase the gun from a dealer, the dealer told me that since I've paid for the gun and taken it out of the store, that it's S&W's issue now....that there's not a whole lot they could do. Feel free, anyone else, to add some input....I appreciate all I can get.
 
Just send it in, it's pretty obvious there is somenting not right with it and I'm sure the tech that gets it will make it right. Don't get hung up with whoever answered the phone when you called, get it on the shop floor with the people who know what is gong on to address the issues. They don't put the cream of the crop on the front desk answereing the phone.
 
First of all, welcome to another Tacoma shooter!

As far as the gun goes, S&W is pretty good about taking care of customers so I wouldn't worry too much about them making it right. If it can't be fixed, it will be replaced. The worst part is going to be having to wait to get your brand new gun back.

The shop that you bought it from, while not being overly helpful, is telling you the truth about it being S&W's problem now. I have never heard of a shop exchanging defective guns but I could of course be wrong. Where did you buy it, if you don't mind me asking?
 
Thanks oasis618 and Old Shooter. Yeah, I've been here in Tacoma stationed on Ft. Lewis for the last 3.5 years. I love it here, I'm only 2 miles from the Marksman! You guys make some good points. I guess I'll have to wait and see what their techs say about the issue. Yeah, it was Federal Way Discount Guns. I called them again this morning and they said they could send the gun in for me or have their smith see what he could do, but wouldn't them sending it in be the same as me sending it in? Just adding a middleman? And I'm not trying to go the gunsmith route...the idea of trying to fix this aluminum-framed revolver kinda makes me sketchy. I'm not trying to talk FWDG at all....they are a great store. I've never had any troubles with them. They always have the best prices I've ever been able to find among the 5 or 6 shops I usually try and I've never had a problem with service there. This is just the way these things go sometimes I suppose.
 
Oh, and just in case anyone thinks differently...I'm not coming on here and knocking S&W's CS because one of their reps may of been a little condescending with me. I know he's just a guy taking calls and hearing about peoples issues all day. I know that he can't really give me any in-depth answers either. I'm going to reserve my judgment of their CS after I find out what they are actually going to do to solve this barrel issue. I talked to the gun shop I bought it from and they said they could either send the gun to S&W or have their smith look at it. I don't see much of a difference in them sending it to S&W or me doing...just adding a middle man. I could be wrong though? And I would much rather just have S&W see what they could do about fixing or replacing the gun vs. have a local smith see what they could do.
 
If S&W will send you a prepaid shipping label, I would just go that route. Like you said, no use in involving the shop if it isn't necessary. I would not have their gunsmith take a look at it as it is under warranty and if it were mine I would much rather that S&W do the tinkering.

FWDG does usually have the best prices but they can be a bit short with customers sometimes. As long as you aren't there just to chitchat they are helpful and knowledgeable...I've purchased a couple guns there and have been very happy.
 
Thanks for the advice, guys. And yeah, I have noticed they can be a little "short" too, but they probably have to deal with immature people and idiots all day. I've kinda noticed that trend in gun shops. I'm not letting this little episode keep me out of their shop though. They've always been pretty cool at the Marksman...although not as cheap! Oh, oasis...I have hard about an outdoor shooting spot at a quarry by Olympia. I've wanted to check it out, but haven't been able to track down much info. Ever heard of it?
 
I had a canted barrel on my 686 and called S&W, the guy on the phone wasn't too friendly, so I sent an email to complain about it and got it straightened out. Tell the guy it's a NEW revolver and they'll send you a pre-paid FedEx slip. You'll have to supply your own box.

I don't know how many times I've read about the guy on the phone being a jerk. but it looks like a pattern.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
442 problem
Replies
6
Views
626
jnariv
J
M
  • Locked
every day snubnose 442
Replies
7
Views
778
gordy
G
6
  • Locked
Is my 442 barrel stripped?! Please help
Replies
19
Views
1K
Seven High
S
C
  • Locked
Just bought something new
Replies
6
Views
589
22-rimfire
2
P
  • Locked
Anybody have finish problems with a Smith 442? 642 problem here.
Replies
9
Views
3K
ColtMember
C
Back
Top