rdrancher
Member
And it's only Monday!
New 442 with "Crooked" Barrel? With pictures...
- Thread starter Robinett_11B
- Start date
- Status
And it's only Monday!
Robinett_11B
Member
Well, I'm glad I'm not just being hypersensitive. I'm a pretty understanding guy, but this rep was talking down to me pretty clearly. I talked to that guy, and even though he was less than pleasant, he emailed me the label. I also emailed S&W's CS with what was wrong along with pictures. I don't know how their email CS works, but I thought I'd give it a try. I just got back from fedex. I sent the 442 to S&W, hopefully I'll be hearing from them soon about what they're going to do for me. Thanks for all the input, guys...I really appreciate it!
Never, ever, let anyone other then the factory work on a barrel problem with a revolver that has an aluminum frame. The barrel threads are very fine, and if they are stripped, or partially so you are likely to find the barrel down range sometime. The ONLY sollution for a frame with stripped threads is to replace it.
On the other hand if the barrel is 2-piece construction the barrel/frame threads may be fine, and only the outer shroud needs to be fixed or replaced.
On the other hand if the barrel is 2-piece construction the barrel/frame threads may be fine, and only the outer shroud needs to be fixed or replaced.
Last edited:
Robinett_11B
Member
fingers crossed
Thanks, everyone, for all your experience and input. I just sent the 442 off last night, so hopefully I'll be hearing something sooner than later. This is my first time using a firearm company's warranty or CS, so it's all a little new to me. I'm sure I just got "that guy" that works at every CS center...I'm not letting that muddy up my opinion of S&W's service. Thanks again for the input. ***Anyone else have any thoughts/experiences, good or bad, with S&W's customer service or warranty?***
Thanks, everyone, for all your experience and input. I just sent the 442 off last night, so hopefully I'll be hearing something sooner than later. This is my first time using a firearm company's warranty or CS, so it's all a little new to me. I'm sure I just got "that guy" that works at every CS center...I'm not letting that muddy up my opinion of S&W's service. Thanks again for the input. ***Anyone else have any thoughts/experiences, good or bad, with S&W's customer service or warranty?***
Sniper X
Member
No but Colt's is incredibly good.
Guillermo
member
The last New Smith I bought was a long time ago but they took care of me well.
Everything I hear is that nothing has changed on that front.
Everything I hear is that nothing has changed on that front.
gun guy
Member
That is typical of what you get with S&W these days, in my opinion. Revolvers have been around now for what, weeks? months? years? a century and a half, and Smith produces that?? I wouldn't waste my time sending it back. Get a refund,buy a Taurus.
fourdollarbill
Member
My BC gap was off and crooked by .013" on a 642 SW. I emailed the tech guys and they told me it was okay. Then I called the tech guys and they told me it was okay. Then I asked the tech guy if I could talk to some one else and I did. The third fella absolutley understood what I was saying and they took care of it pronto. I don't know why I had to contact three people before one understood the problem but thats the way it worked. I had it back in a couple of weeks with a new barrel installed and the BC gap was perfecto. Go figure...
Hondo 60
Member
I sent my 36 no dash in cuz of sticky extraction. The guy I was emailing with was just fine by me. They said they had to re-align the extractor & they also noticed an issue with the b/c gap. So they're gonna fix that as well.
They said these are issues that just come with age & use so I had to pay $86.
I should get it back any day now.
They said these are issues that just come with age & use so I had to pay $86.
I should get it back any day now.
99% of the people out there are not firearms enthusiasts. They go to work to draw a pay check and that is the limit of their interest.
Now my opinion of this gap is that this is a cosmetic issue. If the revolver shoots to point of aim and nothing is loose, then functionally it is doing the “big picture” thing.
However I can understand wanting things to be perfect and if S&W makes it right then they have gone above and beyond.
Well my experience with Smith & Wesson, as well as others, goes back a long way. If you examine older revolvers (and by “older” I mean going back as far as the 1800’s, and as recent as the 1980’s) you will find that cosmetics were an important part of the “big picture,” and a product that was only functional was not acceptable. The fit and finish on pre-World War Two guns would put the current CNC machined and MIM parts guns to shame when viewed from a “fit & finish” perspective. If you want to see an easy example, check out sideplate to frame fit. On the older (hand fitted) guns it’s sometimes hard to see where they come together.
But back then, an essential component in each gun was something called “pride,” which is increasing being replaced today with, “anything goes.”
Then, as now, there were cheaper makes and models on the market that didn’t reflect the “very best” in all respects because they were made to sell at a lower price point. So “less then best” was to be expected. But S&W and Colt never were part of this category.
What we are looking at in this thread may be nothing but a lapse in cosmetics, and yes- I fully expect the company will make it right. But the fact that it got out the door in this condition in the first place says something about current inspection procedures (or lack of same), and is one reason I much prefer the older guns. In my big picture just being functional isn’t enough.
Guillermo
member
I would characterize "making it right" as being the MINIMUM that one should expect from a company.
Then again, I think that they should have "made it right" intead of having to come back and "make it right".
I guess my expectations are a little higher when purchasing a product that claims to be premium.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Two years ago you would have been stuck with a revolver replacement that has the lock. Now that S&W has both the M642 and M442 in both lock and no-lock frames they will replace your revolver with the type you send them. Just to be sure though, when the rep contacts you and if he/she says they need to replace the revolver, remind them yours is a no-lock frame.
DAdams
Member
3 years ago I had a 642-2 that had problems after about 50 rounds.
S&W issued a return RMA number and prepaid shipping instructions.
It was back an in working conditions in under 9 days.
I hope you will find their customer service quite acceptable. I did.
You won't get a great deal of speculation over the phone and not much information on the returns. Typically which parts were replaced and that is it.
S&W issued a return RMA number and prepaid shipping instructions.
It was back an in working conditions in under 9 days.
I hope you will find their customer service quite acceptable. I did.
You won't get a great deal of speculation over the phone and not much information on the returns. Typically which parts were replaced and that is it.
sixshooterfan
Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2008
- Messages
- 29
I only have one S&W that was bought used many years ago. It's an old model 1000 12 gauge semi auto that they had made for them by Miroku or Howa or someone back in the early-mid 80's. I needed a manual for it, so I called up tech support. Guy on the phone was very quick and to the point, but 3 days later I had a photocopied manual in my mailbox. I was fairly impressed.
Currently thinking about buying one of their new nickel plated models (either the model 29 or the 8-shot .357) so I am paying attention to these threads.
Currently thinking about buying one of their new nickel plated models (either the model 29 or the 8-shot .357) so I am paying attention to these threads.
Anything I've ever sent to S&W was repaired properly or replaced in a prompt manner.
Also... People who call a factory about a service issue and want to discuss the "possibilities" and pin someone down on what the problem "could" be, and also what the repair "should" be, (and who's going to pay for it) BEFORE THE ITEM HAS EVEN SENT IN FOR FACTORY EVALUATION are being completely unreasonable and are wasting the time of the factory person on the other end of the phone ...who (a.) can't determine a course of action at the point of phone-contact beyond "send it in", and (b) knows from experience that 50% of the time, the caller is not willing or capable to accurately assess or describe the mode of failure. He doesn't know that "you" are special and different and of course you are extremely capable and honest.
No, I don't work for a gun manufacturer, but I do have a lot of experience dealing with people who want broken machinery repaired.
Les
Also... People who call a factory about a service issue and want to discuss the "possibilities" and pin someone down on what the problem "could" be, and also what the repair "should" be, (and who's going to pay for it) BEFORE THE ITEM HAS EVEN SENT IN FOR FACTORY EVALUATION are being completely unreasonable and are wasting the time of the factory person on the other end of the phone ...who (a.) can't determine a course of action at the point of phone-contact beyond "send it in", and (b) knows from experience that 50% of the time, the caller is not willing or capable to accurately assess or describe the mode of failure. He doesn't know that "you" are special and different and of course you are extremely capable and honest.
No, I don't work for a gun manufacturer, but I do have a lot of experience dealing with people who want broken machinery repaired.
Les
Robinett_11B
Member
Alright, guys...thanks for sharing all the info and experiences. Apparently they replaced the barrel, they said it should be back to 100%. I'm hoping so :/ I should have my 442 back sometime today. I'll be sure to post new pics when it comes in...
- Status