S&W M&P Problems

[sccradd]

http://gallery.me.com/sccradd#100121/

I purchased this new S&W M&P 360 in Dec 08. It has been shot about 30 times. Recently I took it out and on the second shot of 357 Mag it came apart. Looks like it first started as a crack on the bottom where the barrel screws in to the frame. No injury, but glad to have all my fingers. Has anyone else had this problem with M&P? Smith and Wesson has the firearm now, but have not heard from them regarding of how they are going to proceed.

 

[Jim K]

They better proceed to send you a new gun or a full refund at your option. I have never seen anything like that, from S&W or anyone else. I have seen topstraps blow or break, but that looks like a flaw in the alloy stock from the supplier, not the result of high pressure or even a manufacturing defect.

Jim

 

[keyboard commando]

WOW !

I'm glad you weren't injured...........

 

[Snowbandit]

That's amazing. Never heard of anything like happening before. Doesn't make me want to go shoot my 340 M&P very bad either.

SCCRADD: Is there any way you can post this over on the S&W forum? I would love to see what those guys have to say about it. Some of them are pretty sharp.

 

[rcmodel]

There has been known problems with frame cracks using the new tension barrel system.

I can't tell for sure, but it looks like an old discolored crack from the front of the frame to the back of where the threads are.

If it was pre-cracked from the tension barrel mounting, it just finally let go following the stress riser of the sight channel cut.

rc

 

[Quoheleth]

You sure it didn't say "Taurus" on the barrel?

Everyone knows they're the only manufacturer that makes lemons. Everything else is prefect.

Q

 

[Iggy]

There have been other similar occurrences. When S&W went to cramming the barrels into alloy frames rather than threading and pinning them. This started occurring.

Not often, and they usually replace the gun without question, but it's danged disconcerting to the guy holding the gun when it blows.

 

[Old Fuff]

Somehow I think the combination of an aluminum frame (J size at that) and a .357 Magnum cartridge is not a particularly good one. But to each his own.

Smith & Wesson will repair or replace it, but that isn’t particularly useful if you had needed it in an emergency.

 

[mrt949]

2+ WOW:

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'll stick with my Colt Detective Special.

 

[rcmodel]

but that isn’t particularly useful if you had needed it in an emergency.

I bet it would still shoot in an emergency!

Old time gamblers would take the barrel off a Colt SAA to make a hide-out belly gun out of it.

rc

 

[Old Fuff]

I'll stick with my Colt Detective Special.

Now there is a good idea... Sometimes it pays to stick with something that's been proven over time. Especially so if it hasn't been subjected to a lot of cost-saving changes.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Now there is a good idea... Sometimes it pays to stick with something that's been proven over time. Especially so if it hasn't been subjected to a lot of cost-saving changes.

This one was made in the '60s, without the underlug. It's a fine example of a gun that was carried a lot and shot very little.

 

[danprkr]

Ouch!

 

[megatronrules]

This is quite disturbing my 340M&P is at S&W as I type this due to what looked like a crack right under the barrel where it meets the frame. I hope mine wasn't headed this way I'm still waiting to hear what S&W has to say about mine,although its only been there about 12 days so we'll see.

 

[Old Fuff]

This one was made in the '60s, without the underlug. It's a fine example of a gun that was carried a lot and shot very little.

Those were pretty poor guns...

So much so that I frequently carry one myself.

Must say that I never saw or heard of one shooting its barrel off into outer space.

 

[18DAI]

Smith & Wesson will make it right!!!

That should be safety wessons new motto.

 

[Guillermo]

Send it to Bill and/or Hillary Clinton.

Since Smith sold out to them I hear that they are the primary contacts.

 

[friscolatchi]

Hey - I'd better check my M&P 340! Did you know that I received a complimentary cigar when I purchased the gun! I have 2 S&W revolvers -
one is Hillary and the other is Monica.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I am tempted to ask why you named them that, but this is a family-oriented board.

 

[Jim K]

That gun does not have the torqued in barrel, it has the separate barrel and barrel sleeve, a bit like the Dan Wesson. The barrel is not all shown, but from what I can see it does not appear to be split or bulged. I think I will stick with the thought of a forging flaw unless someone can determine otherwise.

Jim

 

[sccradd]

Smith & Wesson has had the firearm now for 5 weeks. When I called today after 30 min on hold....I was told that he didn't know why it was taking so long in the Metal Lab. When I complained about the slow service he said they have a lot of people out on vacation and that he gets 140 calls a day...... Not impressed with their customer service. What's going on with S&W?

 

[DAdams]

As a 340 owner and as a result of your report I inspected mine with a magnifiying glass. No indication of failure present.

Interested in the report from S&W. My guess, they will send you a new revolver and the report will be vague and cryptic (based on personal experience).

Good luck and see if they will throw in a set of CT grips for your trouble.

 

[crazy-mp]

It sucks that your gun blew up, but look at the positive side, 1. you were not hurt (other than having to throw away those underwear at the range) 2. You found out about the problem in a "safe" environment instead of in a life/death situation.

After seeing that picture I am going to start looking for a 500 S&W mag, imagine how much will come apart on one of those!

 

[cyclopsshooter]

we got a service bulletin that smith was ending production of two piece barrels and returning to one piece... maybe this is why they are changing back