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What's S&W's quality been like lately? And the "new Ls"...

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J

Jim March

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Just saw the Gunblast review of the new "K frame replacements" - the 619 and 620:

http://gunblast.com/SW619-620.htm

I must say I'm impressed. They've take L-frame 7-shot 357s and shaved a bunch of excess off, getting them to look and feel more like Ks but overall beefier. A fine concept if the QC holds up.

What are the general opinions of the newer (non-Scandium, that's a whole 'nuther set of issues!) S&Ws?
 
I had to send my 620 back for a slightly canted front sight and tool marks near the throat of the barrel. S&W was very aplogetic and sent return postage from Fedex right away. Aside from that the gun is very nicely made, shoots very well and has a great trigger. It feels absolutely great in my hand. I'm having them do an action job at the same time, since it's with them anyway.

I'll let the Forum know how things go, but at this point it looks like a keeper.

Jeff
 
"What are the general opinions of the newer (non-Scandium, that's a whole 'nuther set of issues!) S&Ws?"

Perhaps 30 new S&W revolvers have passed through my hands in the last 2 years. Some get used in my shooting school. None have had out-of-the box problems. Two 329s have needed new cylinders after 600-800 rounds of factory ammo. The jury's still out for me on that one, but Smith fixes them for free for life.

The surface finish isn't as pretty as 50 years ago, but the dimensional tolerances are better than they ever have been, IMO. The guns I'm getting now shoot more accurately than my best 29s of 30 years ago. I think with the right bullets and a scope, the 500 is a solid 2 MOA gun at 100 yards. I'm hearing reports of .460s shootin 1MOA(!) groups.

Can't wait for both the steel and Ti/Scan short X-frame in .44 Mag (7 shot) and .500 Special (5 shot). Don't know if they'll do the .500 Sp. in Ti/Scan, but I'm lobbying heavily.

JR
 
I recently acquired a 629-6 that boasts a very high level of fit and finish. Whenever I handle the gun I am struck by the impressive polish of its overall construction.

This 629 has single-handedly elevated my view of current Smith & Wesson production (which was already pretty favorable). While the Ruger double action revolver design is superior to the S&W, none of my Rugers are as nicely finished as this gun.
 
Hmmm.

Well the 620 is really calling out to me as a general purpose piece. Seven shots, speedloaders easy to find, fairly tough yet lighter than a GP100. LOTS of grip selections possible, I'm kinda picky that way.

This is the same adjustable rear sight S&W has been using for years. Does anybody make a Tritium rear sight for it?
 
Ooh, ooh, they need to make a .357 Magnum (Maximum?) X-Frame with a 10-shot cylinder. The high cap revolver!

I wish they'd make a version of the 329PD in .45 Auto Rim. I know about the 325, but I was thinking 4" barrel.

And how about a four-shot J-Frame in .45 Auto Rim? Using...um...X-Clips?

Though honestly, more practically. A 2.5" L-Frame (or lightened L-Frame, like the 620 series), 5-shot, .45 Auto Rim, in ti/scan. Put on some boot grips, and FIXED SIGHTS, please, and you'd be all set.

I'd like a 3" or 3.5" N-frame 625, too. 3" N-Frames just look right.

Hey John, any problems you've heard of with the Scandium 325PD in .45 Auto Rim? I'm seriously considering one.
 
I have only two recent production (with The Lock) Smiths, a 686-6 (+) and a 637-2.

As far as this 686 goes, I remain impressed. Great trigger, both DA and SA (the SA pull is incredible). This revolver locks up tighter than any I've ever owned. Tolerances are pretty near perfect; the fit and finish is excellent. It's superbly accurate. I've got a 2004 "special edition" with a 5-inch barrel, Ahrends finger groove cocobolo grips and the adjustable "v" rear sight with a red Hi-Viz front sight. I enjoy this piece a great deal.

The 637, on the other hand, I'm a little disappointed in ... the strange clear-coat finish on the side plate is flaking off and looks horrible. Accuracy is good, the trigger pull is acceptable, but, even though it's only a cosmetic detail, I do not like the finish. Hence, older (especially blued) j-frames such as the 37 or the 642 (no dash) are my favorite snubbies.

The Lock aside, I think S&W's quality (as far as revolvers go) is as good as it ever was.
 
I own a 686+ w/4" barrel. Manufactured Jan 2001. No lock. It's a great shooter and I've been very pleased with it.
 
My wife recently bought a new S&W 642. Its very well made, shoots great and surprisingly accurate for a 1 7/8 " barrelled revolver.
 
Smith and Wesson 620 "locking up"

We purchased a new Smith and Wesson Model 620 one week ago. After firing about 60 rounds the trigger started occasionally locking up. In about 70 rounds it locked 8 or 9 times. It is like the internal (set with the small key) safe mode kept kicking in and out. Very disconcerting to squeeze the trigger and have it locked (can not pull it) shooting the 2nd or 3rd round of a cylinder of 7 shots. We never experienced a problem with the older model 66. Because of the historic reliability of the Smith & Wesson revolver's, the gun store where we bought it is trying to blame everything from ammunition (we use factory new, Fiocchi 142 grain .357 Truncated Cone FMJ's and CCI Blazer 158 grain .367 JHP) to poor shooting technique (we use a slow deliberate pull and 5 to 10 seconds between rounds). Not sure how we can get this resolved. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Also could anyone let us know if the 620 has a different trigger mechanism or locking mechanism than the model 66?
 
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