Through with Smith & Wesson.

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westernrover

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I’ve bought three Smith & Wesson revolvers in the last three months and they all had to go back for problems. The latest one, a 340 PD was cutting cases and either the crane was misaligned or the cylinder stop sheared. Smith replaced the cylinder and returned it. When I got it back, it was striking primers off center, then it just stopped rotating the cylinder. The hammer would cock and drop, but repeatedly on the same case. Then the cylinder started rotating in the frame freely and the trigger just crunches. Worthless junk. I’ve lost all confidence and can’t possibly see carrying one of these. It will go back to Smith again and when it’s fixed, I’ll sell it. I won’t even go into the problems with the other two, but they’re going to be sold too.

I’ve got about $2000 invested in .357 ammunition. I was about to buy another S&W, a 3" 7-shot 686, but now I would have to have my head examined. I don’t want to carry a 5 shot Ruger when it’s 30 ounces. For that weight, I could carry a loaded Glock 19. The Kimber is basically the same. Don’t want a LCR either. I thought I had my carry situation all worked out with lightweight J frames, but they’ve been nothing but crap for me. I’m thinking of going a totally different direction. Anything but Smith & Wesson or M&P.
 
Welp, it leave Ruger and Taurus on the table, but I could substitute either brand into the OP and find dozens that read the same way.

I think the issue may lie with the concept of "I'm thru with X." There is a concept that a particular Brand was a guarantee of minimum performance standards and they weren't acceptable. Expectations were found unfulfilled.

Every Brand goes thru that period with gun buyers, including all the ones recommended above.

A nice .357 with lock hole from the "good ol days" would be ok - unless you hate "hillary holes." And every make mentioned has had it's stinkers. We've all suffered the good and the bad.
 
I would look for either a vintage short barrel version of a S&W Model 19 or Model 686 or else try to find an older Dan Wesson Pistol Pac. If not any of those then a Ruger Speed Six or a Colt Lawman Mk.III/V with a 2" barrel would make for a decent .357 snubby. For myself I just think the S&W Model 340PD is too light and too small of a frame to handle a steady diet of .357 ammo.
 
You have had a run of bad luck. The only one I had a problem with was a 638 where a pin came out in the hand that bound it up.

My 442 Pro and my new 638 have been perfect.
 
westernrover said:
I’ve got about $2000 invested in .357 ammunition. I was about to buy another S&W, a 3" 7-shot 686, but now I would have to have my head examined.
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If you want a full sized .357 revolver and S&W is off the table, the Ruger GP101 seems to be the logical choice. I've yet to have any problems with any of my Ruger firearms (knock on wood!).

I don’t want to carry a 5 shot Ruger when it’s 30 ounces. For that weight, I could carry a loaded Glock 19. The Kimber is basically the same. Don’t want a LCR either.
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If the S&W, Ruger and Kimber small frame revolvers are all out, I'm not really sure what else to recommend, unless you want to look into an older S&W or Colt revolver.
 
Haven't shot one, but had the chance to handle a Kimber revolver. Great feel , best sights of any small revolver, hands down! Might be worth a look.
 
I've been lucky. I've had good revolvers from Colt, Ruger, S&W, and Taurus.

I would recommend an older S&W.

The Ruger SP101's I've owned and fired have randomly had okay or horrible triggers. The ones with decent triggers are decent guns.

I've owned some very nice Taurus revolvers from the late 1980's and early 90's. I think the snub 357 is a Model 605. A used one would be relatively inexpensive.

I don't buy brand-new handguns anymore. The older ones are less expensive and seem to be better made.
 
While I don't like any S&W with the ILS and buy used , you must be the most unluckiest man that I have heard of buying a new gun and getting 3 bad ones . It sounds like you bought at least one too many anyway . Fool me once shame on you , fool me twice shame on me , fool me three times .
 
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