Back To S&W Again

[Lt.Dan]

I bought a new 686 mountain gun and had to send it back for warranty work after 1st trip to the range. They repaired the yoke, they replaced the extractor, they replaced the barrel. They replaced the barrel with the wrong barrel. The "Mountain Gun" was missing. I have lost some faith in S&W. So it's going back to have the proper barrel installed. And they don't have a matching finish either.

Gun that was sent:

Gun that came back:

 

[UPSman]

I started to buy a 44 when they came out. After reading about the barrels being canted, gold dot falling out of front sight and yokes….I'm glad I saved my $

 

[7mm08]

sorry. That sux!
Made in Massachusetts or TN?

 

[pockets]

sorry. That sux!
Made in Massachusetts or TN?

Say's Springfield. Mass.

 

[7mm08]

Say's Springfield. Mass.

Forgot we can enlarge a photo. Ha!

Guns should be right the first time. I had an Sig that was a 3 timer….. now I know they just make good door stops

 

[nso123]

That's no good. It even looks like the contour is slightly off too.

 

[Cotis]

All revolvers are still made in MA. Lipsey's has done some great things pushing S&W to produce some highly sought after revolvers recently, but unfortunately the QC at S&W seems to be spotty. Case in point - The .38 and .32 subnose revolvers released 2 years ago were a big hit, but many of the initial ones arrived at gun shops with a dead tritium front sight. Turns out they instructed the stage of the assembly line to "tap" the front sight in using a hammer, not a press. Result - broken tritium vials. WTF - the lack of logic and QC here is staggering. Unfortunately it is just a sign of the times.

 

[Lt.Dan]

sorry. That sux!
Made in Massachusetts or TN?

Mass.

 

[Lt.Dan]

That's no good. It even looks like the contour is slightly off too.

And the finish isn't as polishied.

 

[Lt.Dan]

All revolvers are still made in MA. Lipsey's has done some great things pushing S&W to produce some highly sought after revolvers recently, but unfortunately the QC at S&W seems to be spotty. Case in point - The .38 and .32 subnose revolvers released 2 years ago were a big hit, but many of the initial ones arrived at gun shops with a dead tritium front sight. Turns out they instructed the stage of the assembly line to "tap" the front sight in using a hammer, not a press. Result - broken tritium vials. WTF - the lack of logic and QC here is staggering. Unfortunately it is just a sign of the times.

It's a shame really. At the price they charge, you would expect flawless. My 686-6 has absolutely no issues mechanically but there is a blemish on the gun. Being bought as a hunting work horse I am ok with it. It's not real noticeable. But the mountain gun was bought for It's beauty. The original barrel and gun was polished as you would expect. It looked great. Mechanically, not so good. Actually worse than I thought when I sent it in. It won't be the last S&W I buy, but it will be the last new S&W I buy.

 

[DaveTN]

I had my run in with them. All the way up to the Firearms Director. They used to be the Gold Standard of gun quality and Customer Service. Not anymore. And that's a real shame.

 

[mountain man 71]

Why I love my Rugers

 

[Remington700]

Sadly quality control is not what it used to be anywhere. I believe this new generation thinks differently that those of old. Pride in work is something that people do not have and it shows in everyday items such as this.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Sadly quality control is not what it used to be anywhere. I believe this new generation thinks differently that those of old. Pride in work is something that people do not have and it shows in everyday items such as this.

I agree with this. People just don't care anymore. I was always taught to take pride in what I do. Return things you borrowed on time and in as good or better condition.

 

[DaveTN]

Did you get it back yet?

 

[Lt.Dan]

Did you get it back yet?

Funny you should ask. I just got the email an hour ago saying they were going to replace the gun with a new one. So now I have to pay for ffl fees because they can't send the new gun to me. AND I get to pay for another background check for a gun I technically own/ and have already paid a background check on. So, another $45 and I doubt the gun will be in my possession before I go out of town this weekend. WTF I've been almost 2 months owning a gun that's not been in my possession more than 3 days. S&W better send a good gun. Or they will be refunding my money and I will buy a Ruger

 

[Lt.Dan]

Further update. I have not been sent a tracking number nor heard anything more since I sent S&W the FFL info. A call will be going out this morning to them

 

[DaveTN]

Further update. I have not been sent a tracking number nor heard anything more since I sent S&W the FFL info. A call will be going out this morning to them

Better hurry. They have a two week shutdown for Christmas.

 

[nso123]

I think I would push them to cover any transfer fees.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Better hurry. They have a two week shutdown for Christmas.

I have been on the phone with them. But thanks for this tid-bit of info. I will call again today since I did not receive an email with a tracking number yesterday.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Better hurry. They have a two week shutdown for Christmas.

I think I would push them to cover any transfer fees.

I finally received the email from S&W. I can honestly say I am not thrilled. But at least I have an estimated time of delivery. So much for showing off my new gun at my brother's over Christmas. This is what they sent me:

Good Morning Mr. Brownell

Your replacement order number is ******5. Our lead time for replacements can take 4-6 weeks for processing and shipping however, with Smith & Wesson closing for the week of Christmas, this will exceed the current lead time. You will pay the transfer fee, email me a copy of the itemized receipt and we will refund you your money back. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you

 

[DaveTN]

Having to send a new gun back sucks. Having to send it back twice is ridiculous, I had to do that once. Mine was on a Performance Center gun.
At least they say they will refund your transfer fee. I didn't think they would do that. Keep your emails with the names of the people you have contact with. You may need them later.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Having to send a new gun back sucks. Having to send it back twice is ridiculous, I had to do that once. Mine was on a Performance Center gun.
At least they say they will refund your transfer fee. I didn't think they would do that. Keep your emails with the names of the people you have contact with. You may need them later.

I am. I always do. I learned that the hard way. Plus I can't remember

 

[nso123]

I finally received the email from S&W. I can honestly say I am not thrilled. But at least I have an estimated time of delivery. So much for showing off my new gun at my brother's over Christmas. This is what they sent me:

Good Morning Mr. Brownell

Your replacement order number is ******5. Our lead time for replacements can take 4-6 weeks for processing and shipping however, with Smith & Wesson closing for the week of Christmas, this will exceed the current lead time. You will pay the transfer fee, email me a copy of the itemized receipt and we will refund you your money back. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you

At least they will refund it. They really botched this one.

 

[SSlater]

After the new ones I've looked at in stores, I'm going to avoid them.

Older ones like my 63 are a different story.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Update on my Mountain Gun:

Still waiting

 

[Wiley]

Any new development?

 

[Lt.Dan]

Any new development?

Not yet. I'm calling Monday (1-26-26) morning. That will be the 4 week mark, 5 weeks with their Christmas shutdown. And it will be increasingly closer calls until a gun is shipped.

 

[Gunpowder]

Dang.. I'm sorry that's happening to you, man. I know S&W went through a very rough spot back in the 90's when they were still up here. Do you happen to know when your revolver was made?

Also, the "Springfield MA" doesn't necessarily mean it was built in mass. They just didn't change the tooling. I have a pistol that has Springfield on the slide, and Maryville on the frame.

 

[Displaced_Vol]

Frustrating man those are good looking guns. I've been wanting a nice revolver and those definitely caught my eye