Follow up to rusty m&p 40

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jamesr

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A follow up on the rust problem I posed about my week old M&P 40. I received the gun after 10 business days since they received it. The gun is back and all they did was replace the slide. So after paying $500 for a gun, having it covered in rust after one week of sitting in the house. All they did was replace the slide. So I covered it in Teflon gun oil, and will have to trade it in when I get a chance. I bought this gun to carry, and I have no confidence it is holding up to anything.

I know a lot of people have blamed this on me. I guess if setting a gun in a drawer clean/moisture free for one week is neglect, then oh well. I guess I am asking too much to think a gun should hold up to a little more extreme conditions. And for the guys that think guns require daily cleaning and expensive corrosion protection just so they don’t rust, then maybe they should find a new brand of gun manufacturer. I have other guns (Remington 870, colt 32 new police, savage mako 22, Winchester 300) and never had a rust problem.

As for Smith and Wesson service, I received the gun back with rust still on it (as seen in red circles). It was just wiped down and they replaced the slide. And it took them 10 business days to do that.

And for those keeping track this was posted on two sites.
:banghead:

1188952689-1.jpg
 
WOW this thing was heralded as the next "super pistol". I would recommend trading it for a CZ, that finish dont rust!
 
Yeah I was looking at either a CZ or Sig, but I am staying with the 40 cal I like the round.
 
See, here's the thing. Some of them will rust, apparently. Some won't.

I know of two officers caught directing traffic in a monsoon. Both officers and their guns got equally wet. Neither officer did anything to wipe down his gun, since we used to use the 4506 which was, apparently, completely immune to oxidation. Basically, we've learned to be lazy with out cleaning. In any event, two guns, equally wet, equally wiped down afterwards (meaning, not one bit), right?

Fast forward one day.

One gun rusted. Badly. The other did not. At all.

I don't get it.

Mike
 
Also, you have visible rust on the rear sight, and two roll pins?

OK. Roll pins are dirt cheap. Replace them. Or, drift them out, clean them, and put them back. That's 66% of your problem solved, right there. As to the rear sight, you can try a couple of things:

1. Call S&W and gripe. I'll wager they take care of it. They simply might have missed it the first time.

2. Remove set screw, drift out rear sight, wipe down with solvent of choice, oil, replace.

3. Use a Q-tip, solvent and some elbow grease.

4. Replace the rear sight with an aftermarket sight of your choice.

If I were cheap I would go with options 1-3. If I was a stickler for detail and principle, I'd go with #1. If I was looking for an excuse to upgrade, go with #4.

I'd be more concerned with the potential for the slide to re-oxidize. I;m not sure what sort of finish problems S&W is having, but they are obviously having them.

Mike
 
Coronach,

I think you are 100% right. After my initial post I have read many stories about the m&ps. And it seems that some rust no matter what you do, and other ones won't rust at all. With that said, I think Smith could have did better. They should have replaced every part that had rust on it. It would have been nothing for them to do that, and choosing not to will insure I never buy antoher gun from smith.

Like I said in my other post, for weeks I was torn between a lot of pistols. And in the $400-$600 range there are lots. If I would have know about this issue before, I would not have took a chance. I would have went with glock, cz, sig, ruger, or springfield. So I am just writing this to maybe give someone else with the same decision help. I am not saying don't buy an M&P, but be aware that it may rust no matter what you do, and don't expect smith to take care of you. Or it could not rust at all, and you will have a great gun.
 
I suggest you send it back to Smith again.

Call them, voice your displeasure in a civil tone.

Then, in your shipment, include a letter stating your original intent when you purchased the weapon (carry) and that the fact that it rusted and was still returned unsatisfactory has left you contemplating turning to one of their competitors.

Demand the issue be fixed (plus the addition of night sights) or your money be refunded.

You liked the M&P for a reason, obviously. So, send it back. But I also probably have too much patience.

If you trade now, you're going to lose money.
 
tydephan,

I wrote a civil letter the first time, with pictures. I also requested night sights for the trouble. I requested they at least replace all the parts, and they didn't even do that. I am going to call again, and send a letter to follow up.

Can I request a refund? it is only three weeks old and two of those weeks It was with them.
 
after the multitude of reports on the same problem -- I will be waiting for M&P 2nd gen (if such a thing comes along)

Seems like if the gun is supposed handle tough environments, the finish should be able to handle human prespiration and holster materials.

.. and it reduces the tradein/resale value of the thing.
 
Have the rust problems shown up on the slide or barrel as well as some of the small parts? The barrel and slide are supposed to be stainless. I realize that stainless can corrode if exposed to the correct hostile environment, but I'm guessing that the small parts are the main problem. What have people experienced?
 
Are manufacturers using some cheaper finishes today?
I was at a gun shop yesterday. The salesman got out a new Ruger Mk III target model to show another customer. There were finger print blemishes on the barrel. It hadn't really rusted yet, but we couldn't wipe those finger prints off with a silicone rag either!
 
If this pistol is to compete with Glock, they'll have to do better ( for that matter, my sigs or Rugers haven't rusted )...
 
james said:
tydephan,

I wrote a civil letter the first time, with pictures. I also requested night sights for the trouble. I requested they at least replace all the parts, and they didn't even do that. I am going to call again, and send a letter to follow up.

Can I request a refund? it is only three weeks old and two of those weeks It was with them.
Click to expand...

I understand. Write another one. The squeaky wheel almost always gets the grease.

Tell them you are dissatisfied with their product. Point them to this thread and others regarding the issue. Tell them you have heard good things about their customer service, but your pistol was returned with rusting parts. Tell them you will now move to another polymer platform if the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction. And satisfaction means replacing X, X, and X parts and add night sights for the trouble of not having your main protection piece. Tell them if these expectations are not met and the gun returns to you in unsatisfactory condition, you will be pressing for a full refund.

Tape the letter to the hard case when you send it in, so you know they see will see it.

What I'm getting at here, is that this is a teething issue. If you like the ergonomics and the way it shoots, then make Smith make it right. Be persistent.

It sucks that it wasn't fixed the first time, and I'm really surprised, given all I've read and my own experiences with Smith's customer service. But go after them. Don't just take a $150 loss on a pistol.
 
The gun shop I gunsmith for has had some issues with both the Smith and Wesson M&P and the clone gun Taurus 24/7.
The M&P is actually an American refinement of the Taurus 24/7 which has been around for a couple years longer than the Smith and has a reputation as a problem gun too.
All I will offer is next time, buy a Glock,,,,,,,,,
 
Your original rust problem was definitely an issue for Smith to deal with. And on principle, this new one of the roll-pins and sight would be too. But honestly, is it worth the effort to send it back to have two roll pins and a sight cleaned up? It'd take me a half-hour tops to clean it up and I have no skills what-so-ever. I've only heard a few stories of Smith's service being less than satisfactory, and I can only hope that this story is simply a fluke, as they are a good company who has made a good product, and as far as I've heard, has done a more than reasonable job taking care of the customers as the problems have been cropping up.
 
You should trade it in for something you will feel more comfortable with carrying. I hate to say it but the new M&P line is going to need a major redesign in the near future.
 
I hate to say it but the new M&P line is going to need a major redesign in the near future.
Click to expand...

Id say they just need better metals and finishes, my 60+ year old enfield doesnt rust, why should a band-new pistol with super space age finish?
 
I don't think it needs a redesign, as evidenced by the fact that most guns run great and don't rust. They need to address QC and materials issues.

I'd bet money that this is a function of trying to churn out enough to meet demand. I think that they would have been better off producing only what they knew thay could churn out with very high QC. Now, the pistol is developing word of mouth as being twitchy (even if 99.99% of them aren't). This will ultimately hurt sales if they don't address the problem ASAP.

Mike
 
gun looks OK to me, try some of the advice of the other posters, if you are displeased. As I told you in your initial post two weeks ago, this is a unusual case. I have 8 friends with M&P's and they all agree along with myself that it is one of the finest polymer pistols currently in production. Personally, you should tell S&W to please replace the entire gun because you arent satisfied with what was done.
 
I don't think it needs a redesign, as evidenced by the fact that most guns run great and don't rust. They need to address QC and materials issues.
Click to expand...
When I wrote redesign I should of stress in the materials, and finish used in the construction of the M&P. The gun is rusting because the metal is not treated properly and maybe the composition of it is a poor choice for the intended use on a gun. I have a Smith 5906, and it does not rust. Personally after reading about all the issues people are having with this gun (yes most of the issues are resolvable by Smith but still who wants to have to send a new gun in to fix poor QC), I would wait for a M&P 2.0 version before I laid money on a table for it.
 
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