Let's settle the S&W internal lock debate once and for all!!! Read instructions!

S&W Internal Lock Problem?

  • I've owned 1 S&W revolver with an internal lock, and had no problem.

    Votes: 71 40.1%

  • I've owned 2 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 39 22.0%

  • I've owned 3 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 21 11.9%

  • I've owned 4 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 13 7.3%

  • I've owned 5 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 8 4.5%

  • I've owned 6 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 7 4.0%

  • I've owned 7 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 3 1.7%

  • I've owned 8 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 1 0.6%

  • I've owned 9 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I've owned 10 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 1 0.6%

  • I've owned 11 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I've owned 12 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 1 0.6%

  • I've owned 13 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I've owned 14 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I've owned 15 S&W revolvers with internal locks, and had no problem.

    Votes: 3 1.7%

  • I've had 1 S&W revolver that had a problem with the internal lock. Post the number of good.

    Votes: 6 3.4%

  • I've had 2 S&W revolvers that had a problem with the internal lock. Post the number of good.

    Votes: 2 1.1%

  • I've had 3 S&W revolvers that had a problem with the internal lock. Post the number of good.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I've had 4 S&W revolvers that had a problem with the internal lock. Post the number of good.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I've had 5 S&W revolvers that had a problem with the internal lock. Post the number of good.

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • Total voters
    177
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
I have 2 with the lock,a 625 and a 25-13. The 25-13 locked up on the range on round #82.I had the key with me and it would not unlock,took inside to the gunsmith and before he could do anything he said it's not locked.he showed me it wasn't locked. Somehow it unlocked when I walked inside for him to look at.Thank God I had two other people ,one the range officer with tell him it was locked on the range.
It took a week of me bugging him but he removed both locks and I have had no problems since.
 
I had a couple (2) with the lock. Never had any trouble with either, but I admit that I didn't shoot either of them a lot. I eventually traded/sold them off for something else. I'd buy another.

Not part of the poll, but I didn't see why the lock was any uglier than any other pin or screw in the side of a gun.
 
I have a 642 with a lock. But, I am not going to vote.

I hardly ever shoot it. So it proves nothing.
 
629 with lock
Lock would half rotate to up/lock position & tie up gun shooting full power magnums double action.

627 PC 8 shot with lock.
Lock dragging on hammer affecting trigger pull weight and consistent let off weight of pull.

I despise those stupid locks & refuse to own another S&W revolver with one.
 
Just bumping this so anyone who wants to take part sees it if they haven't already.

Running for cover now.

Yes, I know it won't really settle anything.
 
Last edited:
I honestly think that S&W thinks that the lock is a good thing even though many people complain about it. It takes the place of a gun safe or a keyed storage box if you have kids. I believe most of their sales are auto loaders anyway so one way or the other they still make a lot of money. Most of their revolver listings are for J frames. Lots of women buy J frames and a lock probably looks like a good thing to them.

I have a 625 with a lock and I haven't had to shoot my way into or out of the gun range yet so I don't pay any attention to it. If you carry a revolver, and I do most of the time, I carry one without a lock. Problem solved.
 
I have >15 S&W's with the IL, all bought new, none of which have ever exhibited a single IL-related problem. They, excepting my 296 & 632 Pro, include my 24/7 EDC CC and HD revolvers. As I reload, they have each sent thousands of rounds downrange. Other than making an ugly wart on the side of a current production S&W revolver, I have no problems buying new IL-equipped S&W revolvers.

Stainz
 
I have six IL revolvers, 3 in 44mag and 3 in .357mag, no problems with thousands of rounds fired through them. All of the .44mags have shot handloaded ammo, same for 99% of the .357mag ammo. Three of the six have exceptionally smooth DA actions.
 
I've put several hundred rounds through my 642-1 with lock, and no issues whatsoever (yet anyhow). I've got to load up some more and get to the range again this month if it warms up enough.
 
I have owned four S&W double action revolvers and one Colt. I still have three of the S&W guns. The only lock gun is a 642-2. I have owned it for ten years, fired thousands of rounds through it, carried it thousands more miles and it is in my pocket full of Gold Dots right now. I have never had one problem with it. I have checked it in my luggage several times, and engaged the lock when it was in the luggage. The lock always functions as smoothly and perfectly as the rest of the gun.

I do not think this is a non-issue, and have contemplated removing mine, or trading it for a no-lock version, but it's my buddy now. Long as it keeps on working like it does, I guess I'll keep it. Hasn't hardly got any finish left on it anyway. That stupid leprosy clear coat finish bugs me a lot more than the lock ever has.

My Ruger Single Six has a lock, too. Can't figure out why-it's impossible to use, buried under the grip like it is. I just ignore that one completely.
 
My Ruger Single Six has a lock, too. Can't figure out why-it's impossible to use, buried under the grip like it is. I just ignore that one completely.
Click to expand...

It's because they looked at Smith & Wesson's experience, and while they, and they're lawyers, thought that having a lock was advisable because of potential liability, there was no reason to make it in a way it fired people up. Taurus did much the same. Out of sight - out of mind.
 
I've got a 642 with a lock. I bought it new and I've had it around 10 years. Never a problem.

The gun looks like hell. The clear finish is finished in a lot of places. The gun probably has around 750 rounds through it. I don't keep track, but I've qualified with it every year since I purchased it and then there is practice.

Most of the rounds through it have been +P.

I don't mind the lock on this gun. Sometimes the gun must be left unattended in less than totally secure places, e.g., in my trunk when I'm in court and that's when I engage the lock.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by .455_Hunter:

I have had one S&W with the lock and that gun had lock problems.

Sooo...... Don't keep us in suspense, what happened?
__________________
Click to expand...

The locking flag on my 657NG would engage and jam the gun during dry firing.
 
.455_Hunter- I have had one S&W with the lock and that gun had lock problems.
Given your screen name, should we guess that it was a big caliber with hot loads, most of the formula for known incidents?
Click to expand...

My screen name is tied to my fondness for the .455 Webley- both the cartridge and the platforms that fire it.
 
Just a quick update, I removed the lock from my 27 last week, and when I was at the range there was no issues.

I only fired about 75 rounds out of it with the same two loads as always and there was no binding or locking up.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
  • Poll
Wheel Gun Internal Locks Poll
2 3 4
Replies
92
Views
3K
skidder
S
Waveski
  • Locked
SP101 Internal Lock?
Replies
7
Views
1K
DPris
D
C
  • Locked
S&W internal lock - bought a snubbie
Replies
13
Views
981
wuchak
W
A
  • Locked
S&W Internal Lock - technical thread.
Replies
11
Views
1K
Guillermo
G
S
  • Locked
Internal Lock on S&W 44 mag.
Replies
13
Views
1K
TexasRifleman
T
Back
Top