Through with Smith & Wesson.

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red rick said:
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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We wont be fooled again...? - Dubya
 
joed said:
Should have sprung for the 686, I can almost guarantee it would be fine. There's a reason I don't buy alloy revolvers.
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I have the 4" 686+ and it's my favorite gun....but then I also have a Colt DS, Ruger DAO, and GP100 3" too so clearly I don't mind weight in a gun. To the OP, I'd look for an older Smith, all steel. Revolvers can make great gun if everything isn't held to a weight restriction.

Laura
 
I can't say that I blame the OP on this one.
If I'd bought three brand new lemons from the same car maker I would cease being that manufacturer's customer as well
 
Sistema1927 said:
Looks like the OP hasn't been back. I hope that he got it off his chest.
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No, I've been keeping up. I appreciate the responses. Rather than just bitching about the Smiths, I've been using other threads to search out alternatives. I liked the Coonan suggestion. I even considered it seriously.

The thing about the J frame, is I'm still convinced it's the best of the small double-action revolvers, if only the ones I got didn't suck. The Ruger LCR is an alternative for sure, but I don't think it's as good. The SP101 and Kimber are double the weight. That makes them a different kind of gun entirely. In that category, I have a Model 60. It has a defective rear sight and a damaged screw (both problems are as new from the factory). I know S&W will take it back and fix those things, but I bought the 340PD to replace it while I sent the 60 in. Yes, S&W said I must send it in. Only the 340 puked before I could do that. The first J frame that failed me was a 642. S&W made it right, but that gun now has a new barrel and a totally refinished frame. I intend to sell it in its pristine condition.

My experience with those two aluminum guns put me off the aluminum. The stainless 60 is solid. I never get stuck cases like the 340. I don't have to worry about the cylinder stop shearing off or the crane bending. And believe me, I'm not a meathead that beats on his guns. I'm sure a Kimber or an SP101 Match Champion would be good alternatives to the stainless J frame, but they don't really replace the airweights. So should I replace the 340PD with a Kimber even though it weighs a lot more? Why not a Coonan? The only problem with it is it weighs more too.

Coonans aren't that easy to buy. Auction site maybe, but the shelves aren't full of new ones. I more seriously considered going to a Ruger, but a single action. Yeah, because I have some doubt Ruger's double actions are better than S&W. Their quality control might be better, but I'm not sure the guns are. But single actions, Ruger for sure. Yes, I considered replacing a 340 PD with a Ruger Blackhawk. I mean, you can't replace an 11 oz .357 with another .357 that isn't at least 40% heavier, and I'd rather have a Blackhawk than an LCP.
 
I would buy used .

Shooting a 11oz. .357 isn't much fun too me . I sold my M&P 340 ( it weighed around 13oz. ) because it was painful to shoot , but we all are different , that's why there are so many choices and I will not fault anyone for buying what they like .
 
I don't like light weight guns myself, and since discovering the searing pain in my left hand is probably arthritis, I avoid any light weight firearms like the plague. Sometimes weight is your friend....

Laura
 
I disagree about the LCR not being as good. I own quite a few snubbies. That's the one I carry the most. The DA is VERY smooth. I shoot mine well, and it fits nicely in the cargo pockets of my summer shorts. It's so light that it doesn't make the pocket "sag and wag" the way that a metal revolver would.

My friend has the 357 version. I can shoot it easily, even with 357's (though I believe his handloads are on the light side). After I'd shot his, I saw a 38 special version at my LGS barely used and bought it. The 357 version is four ounces heavier. That made a big difference to me, maybe because of my XXL hands. I can shoot the 357 version just fine with the regular grips, but I had to add the slightly larger LCRx grips to my 38 special version to control it decently.

I can't emphasize enough how good the trigger is, how easy it is to draw, and how well-balanced it is. I own a lot of CC handguns, and it's the one I carry the most. You may notice that the previous owner was kind enough to add a very nice after-market front sight. It's a worthwhile improvement.

Ruger LCR in 38 special

Ruger LCR in 38 special

 
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In my experience, the Taurus Model 85 is a decent substitute for the S&W. I owned an excellent steel-framed example from the late 80's that served me well for many years... before it was stolen in a burglary.

I replaced it with an aluminum-framed version that has functioned well for about 20 years, though it does have a so-so trigger. I bobbed the hammer and use it for back-pocket carry while walking the dog.

I bought a steel-framed hammerless version recently as a gratuitous back-up, and because I had a nice set of spare grips just sitting around. The trigger is a bit stiff, but it functions well.

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It's big and heavy for carry, but my favorite snubby is my S&W Model 10. It's a police turn-in and is from 1961, IIRC. Its finish is marred, it doesn't have the correct grips, and it's ugly, but I don't care. Its trigger is like magic, only better. It fits my huge hands perfectly if I tuck my pinky under the grips. I consider it a little on the large size for CC, but in cooler weather OWB with a light shirt or jacket to cover it, it's the cat's meow.

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A34CCACC-7C58-4B1A-967C-9D9632114237.jpeg I have a nickel plated modeol-10 made in 1977 and I love that gun.I think the older S&W’s are made better to.My suggestion on the Ammo stash you have is buy a Henry lever action rifle.They are so fun to shoot and the actions are smooth, I kinda like it more than my Bushmaster M-4.
 
I switched to a Colt New Agent in 45acp 3" 1911 it never gave me a problem , shoot 50 rounds through it every week . Colt Defender is basically the same pistol . Easy carry .
 
westernrover said:
. 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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While I can understand your frustration with S&W and your history with them, there are very few problems with their 686s, old or new. It's kinda their modern day Flagship revolver. Just bought another one a few days ago for one for the boys. In the last 5 years I have bought about a dozen S&W revolvers for me and my two sons. I have had exactly zero problems with any of them. In the same time I have bought a few Rugers, and had issues with a few of them. While irritating, not worth abandoning. Had a Coonan a while back too, fairly decent gun, but there were other semi-auto platforms out there that worked better using rimless ammo. If you really do have $2000 dollars worth of .357 ammo stashed and enjoy the caliber, I too suggest getting a good lever carbine in the caliber.....maybe even a 77/.357. I have a 77/.44 and love it.
 
I hope he is not slamming the cylinder shut like they do on TV this a no no on any cylinder gun! S&W will make any gun good. They will fix most old guns for a price give them a call and tell the HEAD man what is going one.
 
Waveski said:
I have heard that S&W will not work on older guns , pre numbered models or something on that order. Am I misinformed? That would be good news to me.
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There are older guns out there they no longer have an inventory of replacement parts for. Same goes for Ruger(my old .44 carbine comes to mind) and other manufactures. While parts may available from Numrich and other sources, you need to find your own Smith to do the work.
 
A Smith isn't a Smith any more, get one made before 1981 and you get a really good gun
 
Bobbi said:
A Smith isn't a Smith any more, get one made before 1981 and you get a really good gun
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Not really from total five I used to own and one I own now only two were made prior to 1981 (ie had barrel pin and chamber ends recessed for cartridge case rims). All were 100% reliable and accurate shooters. Like with just about anything low tech older stuff usually had better fit and finish plus fetures absent from never line to make them less costly to manufacture.
If one collects guns then yes by all means pile on old ones in best possible condition. Please make sure to ask the seller about the all important original box.
 
You’re not the only one. I’m done with the company as well.

686+ pro series was absolute trash. Customer Service was even worse.
 
Smith brags about their lifetime warranty but fail to mention they won't service their first, second, or third generation metal Semi-auto pistols. Guess their lifetime warranty is good until it isn't. Their revolvers are now for the most part terribly over priced and I'm more a fan of non striker fired semi-auto pistols anyway. No more new Smiths for me.
 
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I'm not impressed with new revolvers from most companies. I rather but used Smiths and Colts because like most products, they don't make them like that anymore.

I have not trashed any gun company, I take it one product at a time. (although most times I choose not to buy new)
 
paulsj said:
Please make sure to ask the seller about the all important original box.
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Maybe I'm an odd ball but I've never been fascinated by the box. I'm in it for the nice old machines. (I apologize for the slight thread drift.)
 
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