Hi Friend! GunBlue490 here to answer your question about the reason for cutting the forcing cone. It's not an uncommon repair, especially for alloy framed models that see lots of DA use. As the hand travels upward, two opposing lateral forces are acting on it: the inside edge is engaging the cylinder ratchet that resists it, while the outside edge bears on the outer side of the window. The timing is perfect on a given charge hole when the passageway between its ratchet and the outside edge of the hand window just allows the hand to slide upward snuggly, without binding, while the cylinder locks. Of course, this must occur with every ratchet, which, as you described, was not the case. If even one fails out of the group, it's time for an oversize, thicker hand. As you can see, the oversize hand now pushes the previously untimed ratchet to its lock point, but it will not pass by or will jam the other ratchets. The fitter then hand cuts each of the ratchets with his trusty Nicholson Barret file and all is well for the timing... But now, the oversize hand may be advancing the chambers beyond alignment with the bore, which will cause the edge of a bullet to clip the forcing cone, a spitting lead condition, which is what poor timing also causes. A very light reaming of a thousandths or so with a hand held chamfering tool is all that's necessary to open the forcing cone to accomplish what its name implies, and provide bullet alignment. Like me, you are a lover of the DA revolver. Because it's a more aggressive mechanical force on the aforementioned parts than thumbing the hammer, wear can be expected over a great period of firing with steel frame guns. Of course, the interplay between a steel hand and an alloy frame is more subject to causing wear on the window and another oversize hand, etc. There's a limit to refurbishing, where the cylinder will no longer be in satisfactory alignment. Alloy is terrific for weight reduction, and they are remarkably durable but, as with most things in life, there are tradeoffs, and with revolvers, its simply that they cannot be expected to be as durable as steel. My daughter just got a beautiful 4.2" Ruger SP101 .22 long rifle last month, which I hope to pry out of her hands to do a video with as soon as my knee replacement recuperation allows. Great video. S&W treated you right. God bless.
Both you and Buffalo makes some great videos. Can’t wait to see your review on the Ruger .22. All love for old revolver heads (said with the utmost respect).
In a video showing the new Smith and Wesson Revolver. You said the newest made Smith and Wesson Revolvers are superior in design as every subsequent number after the dash is a new improvement. My Department gave us a choice, Ruger Security Six or a Smith and Wesson Model 64. When the Glock 19 was chosen to replace the service revolver. The local news did a story while at the range. The Smith and Wesson revolver vs the Glock 19. The S&W malfunctioned during a reload. The ejection rod became loose, one of the issues with S&W revolver. The issue with the new S&W 19, 27 revolver is the blued finish. I would hope S&W will come out with a nickel finish in those models again.
Great answer. Thank you for the information. It's nice to hear from a former Smith and Wesson employee answering, in detail, a question asked about a S&W revolver. Thank you.
Good luck with the knee and thank you for the interesting information. Very impressive detail from a craftsman. Two of my favorite channels in one, can't be bad.
@@boostimalaka1I would never get rid of my model 64 that I carried for many years. My department also switched to the glock and i understand the reasons.
My experience with S&W was terrible. Sent the same gun back 3 times and they failed to resolve the issue which was a magazine dropping out during firing. Unacceptable for a brand new defensive weapon. I will never buy from them again.
That's because the problem was the way you were gripping the gun. Not the magazine release. I work at a range and every time someone's Smith is dropping mags it's because they have a crappy grip on the gun while shooting. Get some training@@WinterInTheForest
Say what you want about Ruger ,but I have a GP-100 that I've fired thousands of full power .357 it stopped being a double action and would only fire in single action mode. Sent it back to Ruger ,they fixed it (No questions asked) charged me ZERO ,and even returned it in a cool case. It works flawlessly
Rugers are built to last forever. I've had a Ruger MK1 and a 10/22 22lr autos for 45 years . A Super Blackhawk 44 mag and a Super Redhawk 454 Casull as well. None have ever needed repair and still run like new.
Colts one year warranty vs S&Ws lifetime warranty definitely steered me towards S&W wheel guns especially after a timing issue with my new Anaconda. S&W for the win!
I had timing issues with a Cold diamondback in .22LR. Colt wouldn’t warranty it so I had to take it to a local gunsmith. That was the last Colt revolver I owned. After that I sold all my snakes. That was 25 years ago. At todays prices I wish now I had not sold those at that time.
@@moobutt For their looks! I have owned several over the years cause of their cool looks. Always ended up selling or trading because they never shot as well as a S&W!
Some years ago I had to return a 317 to Smith & Wesson. It needed to be replaced and at my request they sent me a Model 63 instead. Outstanding customer service.
A few years ago, I had a 342PD with some issues. After I sent it in, they contacted me to tell me they could not repair it and where I wanted my replacement sent. They sent back A 340PD, an upgrade in my book. Thanks again S&W.
I had a 317 and the yoke cracked, production of 317s was not scheduled at that time and they offered me a model 63 instead. I accepted gladly, very friendly service. Good video as usual.
Nice! I have a 1981 Model 63 I bought used in 1985 and it has almost 35,000 rounds through it. I broke a cylinder stop at 20-some thousand rounds and the mainspring snapped later. I fixed it myself because I don't want to risk shipping it back. I had the parts on hand- they came out of a Llama .22 revolver which I had parted out. It works great; I just fired off 60 rounds this afternoon!
I have had one these for years. It's so beat up nownim embarrassed for anyone to see it. It has finished off a few hogs, and goes with me everywhere. It's more accurate than it should be.
Back in the 1990s I purchased a model 41 Smith & Wesson with a 7 inch barrel. I had accuracy issues with that barrel. I sent the entire pistol back to Smith and Wesson. A few weeks later, they returned it to me with the original 7 inch barrel included in the box was a test target from 25 yards with five shots into an area the size of a dime the ammunition used CCI standard velocity. I don’t know exactly what they did to it but it sure is accurate now
Wow! How much did YOUR groups improve? If you got the same barrel back all I can think of is that it was a crown issue. You don't have to ding a muzzle up much at all to lose accuracy.
I have an S&W 22lr Revolver that I bought from a plumber on a construction job I was on in Vancouver Washington State back in 1982. I have been shooting ever since with no issues at all, I presently did the research on it and found out it was shipped from the factory to a sporting goods store in New York in 1915, how it made its way out here to the West coast I have no idea but I'm sure glad it did. I will be picking up my new 617 next Tuesday after the ten-day waiting period is over here on the Left Coast. I'll be leaving it up to my great-grandkids to see if the 617 lasts as long.
I have had a 617 6-inch for 12 years shoots like a Dream, no issues. The only problem is if using SK ammo, they stick in cylinder. CCI ammo, no problem.
I bought a 617 a few years ago it works flawless and I've put a ton of ammo through it. I use it for steel challenge iron sites it's not competitive but it is fun.
Great, thanks for sharing. I've had to send 2 back for warranty and have had fantastic service. Another went back twice. In the end it was corrected, frustrating but shtuff happens and they handled it quickly and politely. Smith and Wesson service gets an A+ from me.
A few years back I purchased a S&W model 629 classic in 5 inch and the cylinder locked up on my first day. S&W was very good with their service fixing it and making it right.
Thanks for all of your contents, just because you don't put out video after video doesn't mean i/we have a problem with it, you like many of us have a life we need to tend too. ( This response is from watching a previous video on 22 freedom seeds) Thank you for what you do and God Bless.
Great to have good customer service. That's such a sweet revolver. I have the older 17-2 & 14-2 which are very accurate & smooth. Glad S&W has'nt gone under like others. Thanks for your time. 👍🙏
S&W has always had good customer service, nice to see the legacy continue. Some companies are shifting to "the customer is stupid" mode, evidenced by other channel's experiences. Most are stellar in taking care of the customer, there is one I no longer have confidence in, though I own several of their pistols I will not purchase more. Experiences shared by guys we know we can trust is valuable. Thanks Buffalo.
I'm glad they got your revolver sorted out. They fixed my dad's 686 plus quickly. And when I sent them my 442, years ago, they fixed it and upgraded it a bit with a very fast turnaround time.
@@SuburbanRifleman like you said in your video, they seem to fix them and take care of the customer, but why let them out of the factory like that in the first place.
I’ve owned four S&W revolvers and have generally been very pleased with them. However, I did have to send them my model 629 a few months after purchasing it because of timing issues. I sent it in, and they fixed it under warranty and got it back to me within 2-3 weeks. It has worked flawlessly since that time. Overall, my experience with their product support was good.
I had a guide rod snapped on my Shield performance center 45 acp... They replaced it no problem no questions asked.... Keep them videos coming. Thanks again,,, from all of us in Auburn Hills, Michigan..
I bought a used 360 PD a few years back, and I noticed that there was some erosion on the front of the chambers of the titanium cylinder. I contacted S&W and they asked me to send some pics. They had me send it in, and I had it back in under two weeks with free shipping both ways. They replaced the cylinder and made a few other minor adjustments for no charge.
I've got an M&P .22 I've had for 10 years that broke an internal spring. I contacted S&W and they sent me a shipping label. About four weeks later I got it back fixed free of charge. Their warranty may say one year, but as long as you haven't dinked with the gun they'll still take care of you.
@@UncleDanBand64 One of the reasons I bought a colt .22 over a smith was watching someone send a custom shop smith back 5 times to get 5 complaints worked on.
As you know, Smith and Wesson acquired Thompson Center Arms several years ago mostly for their barrel expertise. I have a TC Contender bought in 1986. Had a small issue with the “fire control system” and contacted S&W for warranty (TC Contenders have a lifetime warranty). About 10 years ago. S&W sent a shipping label. Repair was completed and I had it back in less than a month, no charge. Since then, S&W closed the TC line completely. Not sure what that means for warranty now but they took care of me back then. Take care!
Last year I had saved money and bought the stainless version from a dealer NIB, it would not run 8 rounds through it without locking up. After that the cylinder would not close.I sent it into Smith and it took 6 months to get it back. I emailed them and called every month I was very disappointed that I shelled out that much loot and they would not just give me another new one. They finally fixed it and gave me it back. It now shoots fine, but I think that if it was a Ruger they would have had the problem handled in less than a month.I do not think I will be purchasing another Smith product unless it is an older classic one.
A family member of mine who worked for Ruger years ago and still likes them sent his new LC-9 ( I think that was the model ) back 3-4 times before they fixed it. He could have fixed it and every time he sent it back he told them what had to be done and he use to work there. He sent his SIG 365 back 2 times over the sighs
Really good hearing they took care of you. Man that was a good turn around too. That’s been my experience with them as well, even though it’s been a decade. Hope you have a great weekend….thanks for sharing your experience!
I only ever sent one firearm in for repair. I had a Ruger revolver with an adjustable rear sight. The sight wouldn't move side to side for windage. I stupidly tried to use an AK sight pusher tool and scratched the stainless finish. Ruger not only unstuck the sight (the paperwork said a burr was found under the sight and removed), but they also polished out the scratches. IF you know where to look, you can see some faint areas that are just slightly different, but you have to know where to look and turn it just right to get the lighting correct. Didn't cost me a thing, either. Glad S&W did right by you, Buffalo, the way Ruger did for me.
I just sent a 327 back to taurus. I droped oil in around the hammer and worked the action a few times and it jammed. I took the side palte off and the sear fell out. Well they said because I removed the side plate it was shooter induced. so I had to pay to have it shipped back and a bench fee. So watch out with them.I own many S&Ws I have never had an issue yet.
I love your comment on how people will work harder to scam you than getting a real job. So true!!! I try to becareful but ya never know. Changing passwords with characters often helps etc, but also more than 15 characters on the passwords. I worked for a large company for years and they would send us a boogus emails to test us. Sad to say I got caught a couple of times. Stay safe and I really like your videos for several years.
Hey Buddy,always good to see a new video from you.I've only had to send 1 S&W firearm back to the factory,it was a 638 snubbie.I had it back quickly and the problem was fixed.No matter the manufacter,,some problems happen.Glad they fixed it for you.
I have had a fair amount of experience with S&W warranty from the first Generation M&Ps. Most of the time, my experiences were the same as yours. Usually got them back within two weeks and only had to send one back twice for the same issue. Came back the second time fixed. Never had to send back a revolver, but all of mine are post pinned barrel-pre lock. I like that 317.
I had a M317 HiViz. I sold it at the first opportunity because it was too ammo sensitive. The worst experience was shooting CCI Stingers through it. After firing an initial 8 rounds through it the subsequent casings would stick in the chamber so hard that I had to use a rubber mallet to get them out. On a positive note, the gun was very accurate and it was pleasant to pack while hiking. Still, I’ve since switched to the Ruger LCRx with a 3 inch barrel.
I have a 317-3 just like yours. My rear sight fell off and was lost in the woods. I bought another rear sight and screw but found the threads were stripped in the top strap. I had never messed with them so it must have come that way from the factory. I thought about sending it in yo S&W but then thought; they are just going to heli-coil it and send it back. I did not want a whole new frame either since this one shoots just right. So I went ahead and got a UNF 3-56 thread repair coil. It comes in a kit with drill bit, tap, and coil installation tool. Been a few years now and the rear sight stays put. Anyhow, check your rear sight screw and be careful cause the frame is aluminum.
Glad they took care of the MP 15-22, I love those! Unfortunately, I've sent multiple S&W DA revolvers back over the years. They've always took care of the issues though. Never hassled me. Ruger has also been good to deal with. I've had to send several of those in as well and they've always given me top notch CS. That's one reason I don't mind paying a little extra for those brands. Yes they shouldn't let some of the stuff out the door that they do but I know if I do have a problem they'll take care of me in a timely manner.
I love revolvers, I love revolvers way more than any semi auto handgun.....period. But I want to tell you about something I do the very last thing after I have cleaned one of my revolvers. And I do this specifically to avoid, or at least greatly forestall a ' timing ' issue, with everyone of my lovely revolvers. And what I do is I apply an ever so thin coat of Rig on the ratchet on the back of the cylinder AND on the contact part of the ' hand '.........then I fondle and admire my 'baby in hand ' for a moment, then I put her back in the safe.....till next time. Now I DO NOT slather on a .5 mm coat of Rig........nooo, I put on a thin but adequate coat of Rig so as to provide lubrication to those actuating parts so as to prolong their precise functioning. I, after putting the Rig on with a Q-tip, I use another Q-tip to wipe off any excess that might have made its way to the mouth of the cylinders. I have been doing that for maybe the last 25 years or so. And after watching one of GunBlue490's videos on how to and how not to lube/oil a gun I chuckle to myself every time as I think of him and what he has said on the subject and I get to the part where I apply a little Rig to my ratchet{s} and hand{s}. I do understand according to GunBlue490 that metal parts rubbing against each other do sort of ' marry ' to themselves, wear into themselves if you will, and probably do that initially ' with out ' and sort of lubrication. But to his point, if you apply a lot of oil and grease to a firearm and then ' crawl through the mud, the blood, the beer and the sand [ or hunt Moose in Alaska ] that oil and grease may jamb up your gun. Ah, but I don't crawl through that stuff. Oh, but if we could hunt moose in my state I would certainly do that. Moose is the finest tasting venison I have ever tasted !!!! Now I am not criticizing GunBlue, not at all. I greatly respect what he has to say about many things and I watch his channel a lot and have gleaned much from his wisdom.
If the out time caused the forcing cone to cut lead I would think they resurfaced the forcing cone just to clean it up. I am not a gunsmith just an old retired machinist. Just a thought.
I have a 43C with an issue of firing only 4 out of 8 rounds in the cylinder, and it has SOLID firing pin strikes on the rim of the cartridges. The part that really gripes me, is the cost of it, and out of the box, its a dud. S&W, you never use to be that way! S&W, it takes less than one minute to check for timing issues on these AirLite revolvers. They aren't flying off the shelves because they are very expensive, so why not take that extra minute BEFORE boxing it up and shipping it to the distributor??? In contrast, ALL of my Ruger LCR 22 and LCR 22WMR revolvers run like watches. My snubby 22LR LCR has almost 4,000 rounds through it. ZERO problems.
I purchased a used M43c. I ran 325 rounds of Federal 40gr through it with 8 hiccups. I rolled the cylinder agin and they all went bang. It had a 13 plus pound trigger pull. I sent it to my gunsmith he smooth out the action and lightened the trigger pull.
What was the approximate round count when the issue started? Just curious. A correctly aligned yoke is very important to keep the revolver in time. When the yoke starts to be canted outwards, the revolver starts to go out of time.
In 2010, my S&W Model 41 that I actually bought second hand, had an issue. I called Smith & Wesson told them what the issue was and that I bought it second hand, he told me to send it in (I was not sent a shipping label). I don’t recall how long it took, but one day out of the blue Fed Ex showed up with my good as new Model 41 with no charge.
I be used S&W warranty a few times and never had an issue. Every time was sent, repaired and returned in about a week. Should be a lifetime warranty so I don’t understand the 1 year timeframe. S&W have one of the best warranties I’ve seen.
2 years ago I finally got a 686+. To make this story short it had issues that made it unreliable. I want a 617 but after talking to some people at my gun club who also had problems with s&w revolvers bought recently I'm having a hard time justifying that purchase. I have completely lost confidence in new s&w products. Hopefully I can find an older one to purchase.
See, this is why I try to always buy good brand name products, here the proof in this. 'Good service' is a very important part of the buying process and is also the what build the maker's reputation.
I sent back a S&W revolver due to a cracked forcing cone. Like a dumbass I mentioned on my letter that I shot reloads. They responded by telling me the warranty was voided, so I had to pay $300 for the repair. Moral of the story - don’t tell them you shot reloads. As a silver lining - the repaired revolver shoots like a dream.
It’s great to know that S&W maintains a great customer service department. I’ve heard negative things regarding S&W’s QC lately. Can anyone confirm or deny these allegations?
I love my Smiths and I love my Rugers, but there is without a doubt no better warranty in the industry than Ruger. Basically forever is pretty tough to beat, especially when compared to 1 year, 5 years, only original owner, etc from most other companies.
Not happy. Sent mine back to S&w a few months ago. Came back with the heaviest trigger pull at double action that I ever felt on a .22. Useless for hunting until you have time to pull back the hammer before you shoot.
I had one just like yours snd it had similar timing issues but an additional issue in that I see as an engineering problem with the cylinder being made out of aluminum, which is way too soft and susceptible to jamming from the typical dirty powders used on 22Lr. It would jam with almost all of the brands that gave good to decent accuracy. The gun has to be kept impeccably clean in order to be reliable, which truly negated the prospect of what a true trail gun should be. If S&W used a stainless or titanium cylinder it would have been so much better. My all stainless S&W's run flawlessly as do my Rugers.
I've never had a problem with a new gun I bought, however I've bought guns off gunbroker that are gunsmith specials and it has been fun and interesting to fix them.
Spitting lead? One could say that’s what all guns do so what do you mean by that? I’m glad they fixed the timing issue and I guess this as well, but what is it?
Good question. It’s when tiny fragments of lead get sheared off of the bullet as it enters the forcing cone. These tiny fragments fly out the side of the gun and many times hit the shooter on the arms and even the face
I wore the hand out in a big bore Smith years ago. Everything mechanical wears eventually. I did the math at the time and I had over 10,000 rounds through it. Enough miles on a car and it needs work. Same for firearms.
it would have been nice if you were able to have an M63 side by side with this gun and shoot the same amount of ammo ( which would be double the fun) to see if the all stainless version would hold up better than the airweight version.
👍 “If someone asks you to give up a little bit of your freedom for the greater good, remember freedom is the greater good.” Buffalo’s Outdoors. 👍
Love it!
Hi Friend! GunBlue490 here to answer your question about the reason for cutting the forcing cone. It's not an uncommon repair, especially for alloy framed models that see lots of DA use.
As the hand travels upward, two opposing lateral forces are acting on it: the inside edge is engaging the cylinder ratchet that resists it, while the outside edge bears on the outer side of the window.
The timing is perfect on a given charge hole when the passageway between its ratchet and the outside edge of the hand window just allows the hand to slide upward snuggly, without binding, while the cylinder locks. Of course, this must occur with every ratchet, which, as you described, was not the case. If even one fails out of the group, it's time for an oversize, thicker hand. As you can see, the oversize hand now pushes the previously untimed ratchet to its lock point, but it will not pass by or will jam the other ratchets. The fitter then hand cuts each of the ratchets with his trusty Nicholson Barret file and all is well for the timing... But now, the oversize hand may be advancing the chambers beyond alignment with the bore, which will cause the edge of a bullet to clip the forcing cone, a spitting lead condition, which is what poor timing also causes.
A very light reaming of a thousandths or so with a hand held chamfering tool is all that's necessary to open the forcing cone to accomplish what its name implies, and provide bullet alignment.
Like me, you are a lover of the DA revolver. Because it's a more aggressive mechanical force on the aforementioned parts than thumbing the hammer, wear can be expected over a great period of firing with steel frame guns. Of course, the interplay between a steel hand and an alloy frame is more subject to causing wear on the window and another oversize hand, etc. There's a limit to refurbishing, where the cylinder will no longer be in satisfactory alignment.
Alloy is terrific for weight reduction, and they are remarkably durable but, as with most things in life, there are tradeoffs, and with revolvers, its simply that they cannot be expected to be as durable as steel.
My daughter just got a beautiful 4.2" Ruger SP101 .22 long rifle last month, which I hope to pry out of her hands to do a video with as soon as my knee replacement recuperation allows.
Great video. S&W treated you right. God bless.
Both you and Buffalo makes some great videos. Can’t wait to see your review on the Ruger .22. All love for old revolver heads (said with the utmost respect).
In a video showing the new Smith and Wesson Revolver. You said the newest made Smith and Wesson Revolvers are superior in design as every subsequent number after the dash is a new improvement.
My Department gave us a choice, Ruger Security Six or a Smith and Wesson Model 64. When the Glock 19 was chosen to replace the service revolver. The local news did a story while at the range. The Smith and Wesson revolver vs the Glock 19. The S&W malfunctioned during a reload. The ejection rod became loose, one of the issues with S&W revolver.
The issue with the new S&W 19, 27 revolver is the blued finish. I would hope S&W will come out with a nickel finish in those models again.
Great answer. Thank you for the information. It's nice to hear from a former Smith and Wesson employee answering, in detail, a question asked about a S&W revolver. Thank you.
Good luck with the knee and thank you for the interesting information. Very impressive detail from a craftsman. Two of my favorite channels in one, can't be bad.
@@boostimalaka1I would never get rid of my model 64 that I carried for many years. My department also switched to the glock and i understand the reasons.
Nice to see a company stand by their work, and customer.
Exactly!!
My experience with S&W was terrible. Sent the same gun back 3 times and they failed to resolve the issue which was a magazine dropping out during firing. Unacceptable for a brand new defensive weapon. I will never buy from them again.
That's because the problem was the way you were gripping the gun. Not the magazine release. I work at a range and every time someone's Smith is dropping mags it's because they have a crappy grip on the gun while shooting. Get some training@@WinterInTheForest
Awesome they took care of it!
Say what you want about Ruger ,but I have a GP-100 that I've fired thousands of full power .357 it stopped being a double action and would only fire in single action mode. Sent it back to Ruger ,they fixed it (No questions asked) charged me ZERO ,and even returned it in a cool case.
It works flawlessly
Rugers are built to last forever. I've had a Ruger MK1 and a 10/22 22lr autos for 45 years . A Super Blackhawk 44 mag and a Super Redhawk 454 Casull as well. None have ever needed repair and still run like new.
No one wants to have to deal with support but when you need it this is the way it should be.
Colts one year warranty vs S&Ws lifetime warranty definitely steered me towards S&W wheel guns especially after a timing issue with my new Anaconda. S&W for the win!
Colts are such a terrible deal imo
Had trouble with every Colt revolver I ever owned. Never a problem with S&W
I had timing issues with a Cold diamondback in .22LR. Colt wouldn’t warranty it so I had to take it to a local gunsmith. That was the last Colt revolver I owned. After that I sold all my snakes. That was 25 years ago. At todays prices I wish now I had not sold those at that time.
I have never understood why people liked Colts anyway 🤷♂️
@@moobutt For their looks! I have owned several over the years cause of their cool looks. Always ended up selling or trading because they never shot as well as a S&W!
Some years ago I had to return a 317 to Smith & Wesson. It needed to be replaced and at my request they sent me a Model 63 instead. Outstanding customer service.
A few years ago, I had a 342PD with some issues. After I sent it in, they contacted me to tell me they could not repair it and where I wanted my replacement sent. They sent back A 340PD, an upgrade in my book. Thanks again S&W.
I had a 317 and the yoke cracked, production of 317s was not scheduled at that time and they offered me a model 63 instead. I accepted gladly, very friendly service. Good video as usual.
Nice! I have a 1981 Model 63 I bought used in 1985 and it has almost 35,000 rounds through it. I broke a cylinder stop at 20-some thousand rounds and the mainspring snapped later. I fixed it myself because I don't want to risk shipping it back. I had the parts on hand- they came out of a Llama .22 revolver which I had parted out. It works great; I just fired off 60 rounds this afternoon!
Good to hear when the company treats the customer right.
I have never known Smith & Wesson or even Ruger to not do the right thing. Both companies are excellent.
I'm glad S&W treated you right, and a quick turn around to boot. You can't ask for better service. Good job S&W.
I have had one these for years. It's so beat up nownim embarrassed for anyone to see it. It has finished off a few hogs, and goes with me everywhere. It's more accurate than it should be.
I'm glad they fixed it for you, brother. For them to take care of it after the warranty period looks good on them. 👍
Good on S&W. Glad that they took care of it.
Back in the 1990s I purchased a model 41 Smith & Wesson with a 7 inch barrel. I had accuracy issues with that barrel. I sent the entire pistol back to Smith and Wesson.
A few weeks later, they returned it to me with the original 7 inch barrel included in the box was a test target from 25 yards with five shots into an area the size of a dime the ammunition used CCI standard velocity. I don’t know exactly what they did to it but it sure is accurate now
Wow! How much did YOUR groups improve? If you got the same barrel back all I can think of is that it was a crown issue. You don't have to ding a muzzle up much at all to lose accuracy.
I have an S&W 22lr Revolver that I bought from a plumber on a construction job I was on in Vancouver Washington State back in 1982. I have been shooting ever since with no issues at all, I presently did the research on it and found out it was shipped from the factory to a sporting goods store in New York in 1915, how it made its way out here to the West coast I have no idea but I'm sure glad it did. I will be picking up my new 617 next Tuesday after the ten-day waiting period is over here on the Left Coast. I'll be leaving it up to my great-grandkids to see if the 617 lasts as long.
Prepare yourself. Lots of wheelgun fans are finding they really don't make them like they used to.
@@TUKByV1 That's what I'm afraid of.
@@powderguy8435 There's a S&W forum. Lots of good guys who love wheelguns there. Good place for advice, imho.
I have had a 617 6-inch for 12 years shoots like a Dream, no issues. The only problem is if using SK ammo, they stick in cylinder. CCI ammo, no problem.
I bought a 617 a few years ago it works flawless and I've put a ton of ammo through it. I use it for steel challenge iron sites it's not competitive but it is fun.
S&W has always taken good care of me.
I've sent a few guns back to Smith and Wesson and they are always good to stand behind their product. Ruger has also been really good to me.
Great, thanks for sharing. I've had to send 2 back for warranty and have had fantastic service. Another went back twice. In the end it was corrected, frustrating but shtuff happens and they handled it quickly and politely. Smith and Wesson service gets an A+ from me.
Awesome to hear about great customer service from Smith and Wesson. Especially these days and times .
Wow. Smith fixed your guns really well. Colt has been absolutely hell with their customer support and my Cobra. Completely regret buying Colt.
Kudos to S&W for great customer service.
A few years back I purchased a S&W model 629 classic in 5 inch and the cylinder locked up on my first day. S&W was very good with their service fixing it and making it right.
Glad they got it fixed! Good to see a company with some focus on customer service!!!
I love the way the clicks spell out Smith and Wesson. 😊
Buffalo. Thanks for sharing your experience with S&W. Take care.
Thanks for all of your contents, just because you don't put out video after video doesn't mean i/we have a problem with it, you like many of us have a life we need to tend too. ( This response is from watching a previous video on 22 freedom seeds) Thank you for what you do and God Bless.
Thanks so much! I love making the videos. It means a lot to me that folks enjoy them!
Great to have good customer service. That's such a sweet revolver. I have the older 17-2 & 14-2 which are very accurate & smooth. Glad S&W has'nt gone under like others. Thanks for your time. 👍🙏
S&W has always had good customer service, nice to see the legacy continue. Some companies are shifting to "the customer is stupid" mode, evidenced by other channel's experiences. Most are stellar in taking care of the customer, there is one I no longer have confidence in, though I own several of their pistols I will not purchase more. Experiences shared by guys we know we can trust is valuable. Thanks Buffalo.
I had a similar experience with a used Taurus 605 I bought. They fix it quick, no charge, shipping paid.
I'm glad they got your revolver sorted out. They fixed my dad's 686 plus quickly. And when I sent them my 442, years ago, they fixed it and upgraded it a bit with a very fast turnaround time.
@@SuburbanRifleman like you said in your video, they seem to fix them and take care of the customer, but why let them out of the factory like that in the first place.
I’ve owned four S&W revolvers and have generally been very pleased with them. However, I did have to send them my model 629 a few months after purchasing it because of timing issues. I sent it in, and they fixed it under warranty and got it back to me within 2-3 weeks. It has worked flawlessly since that time. Overall, my experience with their product support was good.
I had a guide rod snapped on my Shield performance center 45 acp... They replaced it no problem no questions asked.... Keep them videos coming. Thanks again,,, from all of us in Auburn Hills, Michigan..
I bought a used 360 PD a few years back, and I noticed that there was some erosion on the front of the chambers of the titanium cylinder. I contacted S&W and they asked me to send some pics. They had me send it in, and I had it back in under two weeks with free shipping both ways. They replaced the cylinder and made a few other minor adjustments for no charge.
I got one. Been a good piece for a long time
Glad ya got your gun back fixed.
Awesome Video Buffalo Brother. Have a Great Weekend.
I've got an M&P .22 I've had for 10 years that broke an internal spring. I contacted S&W and they sent me a shipping label. About four weeks later I got it back fixed free of charge. Their warranty may say one year, but as long as you haven't dinked with the gun they'll still take care of you.
That’s wonderful. S&W should give excellent customer service and they did. Nice to know thanks for the video.
Glad they fixed it. I remember when you could shoot a S&W or a Colt revolver for decades with no timing issues though.
It's the nature of this model, made to carry a lot and shoot a little.
@elund408 Yeah, I think it is mostly aluminum but, S&W's quality seems to have slipped a bit.
@@UncleDanBand64 One of the reasons I bought a colt .22 over a smith was watching someone send a custom shop smith back 5 times to get 5 complaints worked on.
@elund408 Yep, I hate to say it because I was S&W to the core. They have went down hill.
Good stuff Buffalo. Real stand up company.
Good to see ya on here brother.
Man! That’s one accurate little revolver.
@@robertwest3093 it shoots straight! Thanks for watching.
As you know, Smith and Wesson acquired Thompson Center Arms several years ago mostly for their barrel expertise. I have a TC Contender bought in 1986. Had a small issue with the “fire control system” and contacted S&W for warranty (TC Contenders have a lifetime warranty). About 10 years ago. S&W sent a shipping label. Repair was completed and I had it back in less than a month, no charge. Since then, S&W closed the TC line completely. Not sure what that means for warranty now but they took care of me back then. Take care!
I'm glad that they did well by you. Timing issues are no joke, even with a 22lr.
Last year I had saved money and bought the stainless version from a dealer NIB, it would not run 8 rounds through it without locking up. After that the cylinder would not close.I sent it into Smith and it took 6 months to get it back. I emailed them and called every month I was very disappointed that I shelled out that much loot and they would not just give me another new one. They finally fixed it and gave me it back. It now shoots fine, but I think that if it was a Ruger they would have had the problem handled in less than a month.I do not think I will be purchasing another Smith product unless it is an older classic one.
I'm so sorry. Smith and wesson moving to their new location along side the supply chain issues cause a lot of delays.
A family member of mine who worked for Ruger years ago and still likes them sent his new LC-9 ( I think that was the model ) back 3-4 times before they fixed it. He could have fixed it and every time he sent it back he told them what had to be done and he use to work there. He sent his SIG 365 back 2 times over the sighs
@@alrbredwall Revolver is staying in Springfield unless Massachusetts comes up with some new laws. I worked in Revolver frame ( CNC ) 5 years
Good to see they repaired it without issue. But i was always under the impression S&W had a lifetime warranty.
It looks like it's running good, I remember the video where you talked about it having issues. I'm glad they fixed it for you Buffalo.
thanks for the update Buffalo. a moment of memory lane when I heard the rooster crowing (★‿★)
Really good hearing they took care of you. Man that was a good turn around too. That’s been my experience with them as well, even though it’s been a decade. Hope you have a great weekend….thanks for sharing your experience!
I only ever sent one firearm in for repair. I had a Ruger revolver with an adjustable rear sight. The sight wouldn't move side to side for windage. I stupidly tried to use an AK sight pusher tool and scratched the stainless finish. Ruger not only unstuck the sight (the paperwork said a burr was found under the sight and removed), but they also polished out the scratches. IF you know where to look, you can see some faint areas that are just slightly different, but you have to know where to look and turn it just right to get the lighting correct. Didn't cost me a thing, either.
Glad S&W did right by you, Buffalo, the way Ruger did for me.
I REALLY ENJOYED. YOUR VEDIOE ON. S& W 317 . 😊😊😊😊😊😊
I just sent a 327 back to taurus. I droped oil in around the hammer and worked the action a few times and it jammed. I took the side palte off and the sear fell out. Well they said because I removed the side plate it was shooter induced. so I had to pay to have it shipped back and a bench fee. So watch out with them.I own many S&Ws I have never had an issue yet.
Good on S&W, I really like to hear good things because I really love S&W. 👍
Thanks for that update and report on the SW Warranty work. Good to know.
I love your comment on how people will work harder to scam you than getting a real job. So true!!! I try to becareful but ya never know. Changing passwords with characters often helps etc, but also more than 15 characters on the passwords. I worked for a large company for years and they would send us a boogus emails to test us. Sad to say I got caught a couple of times. Stay safe and I really like your videos for several years.
Hey Buddy,always good to see a new video from you.I've only had to send 1 S&W firearm back to the factory,it was a 638 snubbie.I had it back quickly and the problem was fixed.No matter the manufacter,,some problems happen.Glad they fixed it for you.
Even S&W seems to have quality control issues which is a bit sad.
He said He's had it and shot the snot out of it for 3 years.
3 week turn around not too shabby. Hope yall had decent winter down there
Glad to hear sw still doing good things!
I have had a fair amount of experience with S&W warranty from the first Generation M&Ps. Most of the time, my experiences were the same as yours. Usually got them back within two weeks and only had to send one back twice for the same issue. Came back the second time fixed. Never had to send back a revolver, but all of mine are post pinned barrel-pre lock. I like that 317.
I have a 317 also. I hate you had issues but so far mine has been fine. The good thing is S&W will stand behind it.
It's a sick feeling when you have to send one in
Thanks for sharing brother! Thats fantastic. Great customer service is the necessary base for a sucessful company/business.
God bless all here.
I had a M317 HiViz. I sold it at the first opportunity because it was too ammo sensitive. The worst experience was shooting CCI Stingers through it. After firing an initial 8 rounds through it the subsequent casings would stick in the chamber so hard that I had to use a rubber mallet to get them out. On a positive note, the gun was very accurate and it was pleasant to pack while hiking. Still, I’ve since switched to the Ruger LCRx with a 3 inch barrel.
I have a 317-3 just like yours. My rear sight fell off and was lost in the woods. I bought another rear sight and screw but found the threads were stripped in the top strap. I had never messed with them so it must have come that way from the factory. I thought about sending it in yo S&W but then thought; they are just going to heli-coil it and send it back. I did not want a whole new frame either since this one shoots just right. So I went ahead and got a UNF 3-56 thread repair coil. It comes in a kit with drill bit, tap, and coil installation tool. Been a few years now and the rear sight stays put. Anyhow, check your rear sight screw and be careful cause the frame is aluminum.
This WAS a review ..... Of S&W customer service thanks so much for sharing your experience.
👍👍Glad it worked out for you Buffalo, hope you’re having a great day.
So glad they got it fixed. Have only sent 1 gun to SW and it was my MP 15-22. Took them around same time frame and it's been good to go
Glad they took care of the MP 15-22, I love those! Unfortunately, I've sent multiple S&W DA revolvers back over the years. They've always took care of the issues though. Never hassled me. Ruger has also been good to deal with. I've had to send several of those in as well and they've always given me top notch CS. That's one reason I don't mind paying a little extra for those brands. Yes they shouldn't let some of the stuff out the door that they do but I know if I do have a problem they'll take care of me in a timely manner.
Great video with great results. It good to see S&W stand behind their products.
Glad to hear they took good care of you. I would like to do the tour at the plant someday. 😀👍
I love revolvers, I love revolvers way more than any semi auto handgun.....period. But I want to tell you about something I do the very last thing after I have cleaned one of my revolvers. And I do this specifically to avoid, or at least greatly forestall a ' timing ' issue, with everyone of my lovely revolvers. And what I do is I apply an ever so thin coat of Rig on the ratchet on the back of the cylinder AND on the contact part of the ' hand '.........then I fondle and admire my 'baby in hand ' for a moment, then I put her back in the safe.....till next time. Now I DO NOT slather on a .5 mm coat of Rig........nooo, I put on a thin but adequate coat of Rig so as to provide lubrication to those actuating parts so as to prolong their precise functioning. I, after putting the Rig on with a Q-tip, I use another Q-tip to wipe off any excess that might have made its way to the mouth of the cylinders. I have been doing that for maybe the last 25 years or so. And after watching one of GunBlue490's videos on how to and how not to lube/oil a gun I chuckle to myself every time as I think of him and what he has said on the subject and I get to the part where I apply a little Rig to my ratchet{s} and hand{s}. I do understand according to GunBlue490 that metal parts rubbing against each other do sort of ' marry ' to themselves, wear into themselves if you will, and probably do that initially ' with out ' and sort of lubrication. But to his point, if you apply a lot of oil and grease to a firearm and then ' crawl through the mud, the blood, the beer and the sand [ or hunt Moose in Alaska ] that oil and grease may jamb up your gun. Ah, but I don't crawl through that stuff. Oh, but if we could hunt moose in my state I would certainly do that. Moose is the finest tasting venison I have ever tasted !!!! Now I am not criticizing GunBlue, not at all. I greatly respect what he has to say about many things and I watch his channel a lot and have gleaned much from his wisdom.
If the out time caused the forcing cone to cut lead I would think they resurfaced the forcing cone just to clean it up. I am not a gunsmith just an old retired machinist. Just a thought.
I have a 43C with an issue of firing only 4 out of 8 rounds in the cylinder, and it has SOLID firing pin strikes on the rim of the cartridges. The part that really gripes me, is the cost of it, and out of the box, its a dud. S&W, you never use to be that way! S&W, it takes less than one minute to check for timing issues on these AirLite revolvers. They aren't flying off the shelves because they are very expensive, so why not take that extra minute BEFORE boxing it up and shipping it to the distributor???
In contrast, ALL of my Ruger LCR 22 and LCR 22WMR revolvers run like watches. My snubby 22LR LCR has almost 4,000 rounds through it. ZERO problems.
I purchased a used M43c. I ran 325 rounds of Federal 40gr through it with 8 hiccups. I rolled the cylinder agin and they all went bang. It had a 13 plus pound trigger pull. I sent it to my gunsmith he smooth out the action and lightened the trigger pull.
I had a 2” 317 but my bud had to have it. 😢good news is I got a 3” one to replace it. Both are good shooters. 😊
What was the approximate round count when the issue started? Just curious.
A correctly aligned yoke is very important to keep the revolver in time. When the yoke starts to be canted outwards, the revolver starts to go out of time.
In 2010, my S&W Model 41 that I actually bought second hand, had an issue. I called Smith & Wesson told them what the issue was and that I bought it second hand, he told me to send it in (I was not sent a shipping label). I don’t recall how long it took, but one day out of the blue Fed Ex showed up with my good as new Model 41 with no charge.
I be used S&W warranty a few times and never had an issue. Every time was sent, repaired and returned in about a week. Should be a lifetime warranty so I don’t understand the 1 year timeframe. S&W have one of the best warranties I’ve seen.
2 years ago I finally got a 686+. To make this story short it had issues that made it unreliable. I want a 617 but after talking to some people at my gun club who also had problems with s&w revolvers bought recently I'm having a hard time justifying that purchase. I have completely lost confidence in new s&w products. Hopefully I can find an older one to purchase.
See, this is why I try to always buy good brand name products, here the proof in this.
'Good service' is a very important part of the buying process and is also the what build the maker's reputation.
I sent back a S&W revolver due to a cracked forcing cone. Like a dumbass I mentioned on my letter that I shot reloads. They responded by telling me the warranty was voided, so I had to pay $300 for the repair.
Moral of the story - don’t tell them you shot reloads.
As a silver lining - the repaired revolver shoots like a dream.
👍😊 good it’s fixed and everyone has a camera and can make a video for bad press with some having a lot of folks listening.
Looks like they went above and beyond to fix it
Mine is also out of time - shaves and spits, but it's 5-6 yrs old. full sized 6 inch 617. I may see what they say now.
It’s great to know that S&W maintains a great customer service department.
I’ve heard negative things regarding S&W’s QC lately. Can anyone confirm or deny these allegations?
I love my Smiths and I love my Rugers, but there is without a doubt no better warranty in the industry than Ruger. Basically forever is pretty tough to beat, especially when compared to 1 year, 5 years, only original owner, etc from most other companies.
Thanks for the update .
Not happy. Sent mine back to S&w a few months ago. Came back with the heaviest trigger pull at double action that I ever felt on a .22. Useless for hunting until you have time to pull back the hammer before you shoot.
Glad to hear S&W made it right..I've had a 317 on my list for some time..but for me, it's 2x the cost it should be...
Had to send a 329pd back and they serviced it an no problem since
Awesome thanks buffalo
Good service
I love your birds
I had one just like yours snd it had similar timing issues but an additional issue in that I see as an engineering problem with the cylinder being made out of aluminum, which is way too soft and susceptible to jamming from the typical dirty powders used on 22Lr. It would jam with almost all of the brands that gave good to decent accuracy. The gun has to be kept impeccably clean in order to be reliable, which truly negated the prospect of what a true trail gun should be. If S&W used a stainless or titanium cylinder it would have been so much better. My all stainless S&W's run flawlessly as do my Rugers.
I've never had a problem with a new gun I bought, however I've bought guns off gunbroker that are gunsmith specials and it has been fun and interesting to fix them.
Spitting lead? One could say that’s what all guns do so what do you mean by that? I’m glad they fixed the timing issue and I guess this as well, but what is it?
Good question. It’s when tiny fragments of lead get sheared off of the bullet as it enters the forcing cone. These tiny fragments fly out the side of the gun and many times hit the shooter on the arms and even the face
@@BrokenBarBox thanks, not much of a revolver guy so I’ve never heard of this.
Looks like a good deal, 👍
I wore the hand out in a big bore Smith years ago. Everything mechanical wears eventually. I did the math at the time and I had over 10,000 rounds through it. Enough miles on a car and it needs work. Same for firearms.
Hopefully you have some velocity saved from before this got "fixed" just incase the change in the forcing cone changed it.
it would have been nice if you were able to have an M63 side by side with this gun and shoot the same amount of ammo ( which would be double the fun) to see if the all stainless version would hold up better than the airweight version.