357wheelgunner
Member
So I picked up my new in the box S&W model 66-2 (4" barrel, wood grips) and it has some serious fit and finish issues. This pistol was sitting in a gun shop's safe for the last 20 or 30 years, and it is brand new. It shoots well ( I shot it 320 times, 300 .38s and 20 .357s) and feels/looks great on my hip or in an IWB. The problems are all cosmetic:
1. Crane/swingarm (not sure of technical term) to frame fit- there is a good sized gap where the crane meets the frame. On my other S&Ws the gap looks thinner than a hair, but the gap on this 66 is enough to wobble back and forth when the hammer is locked back!
2. Where the barrel meets the frame- there is a large burr here, almost enough to cut my hand on. Looks terrible
3. Where the sideplate meets the frame- another terrible burr
4. The frame around the cylinder- lots of burrs and assorted sharp edges here, especially on the face that the back of the casings rest against, right about where the primers sit.
There are more little things, burrs and whatnot, that need to be gone over. I can't believe Smith would let a gun like this get out of their factory. Maybe I am spoiled by my other S&Ws, but this is unacceptable.
The good news is that when I called S&W to complain they offered to send me a prepaid fedex box so that they could fix all of the problems. It will be interesting to see how this turns out, I've heard good things about S&W customer service.
1. Crane/swingarm (not sure of technical term) to frame fit- there is a good sized gap where the crane meets the frame. On my other S&Ws the gap looks thinner than a hair, but the gap on this 66 is enough to wobble back and forth when the hammer is locked back!
2. Where the barrel meets the frame- there is a large burr here, almost enough to cut my hand on. Looks terrible
3. Where the sideplate meets the frame- another terrible burr
4. The frame around the cylinder- lots of burrs and assorted sharp edges here, especially on the face that the back of the casings rest against, right about where the primers sit.
There are more little things, burrs and whatnot, that need to be gone over. I can't believe Smith would let a gun like this get out of their factory. Maybe I am spoiled by my other S&Ws, but this is unacceptable.
The good news is that when I called S&W to complain they offered to send me a prepaid fedex box so that they could fix all of the problems. It will be interesting to see how this turns out, I've heard good things about S&W customer service.