317: bad from the factory

[retrosub]

I bought a S&W 317, 8-shot 22LR revolver and took it to the range once. Couldn't get the darn thing to sight in, then I noticed the barrel is on wrong. When the barrel was installed it was over-rotated so that the front sight isn't on top of the gun, it's below and to the side of where it should be. It's obvious just by looking at it, it doesn't line up, and there's no amount of rear-sight adjustment that can correct it.


My gun store sent it back on 4/19 and I called S&W support and they have no record of it in their system. I had to get the tracking number and I find out it was delivered on 4/26. Contacted support again and they said that it must be in the mail room and they can't give me an estimate on when it'll be fixed because it hasn't been logged into the computer. It's been sitting there for 2 weeks and I wonder how much longer it'll sit in the mail room? After that they said it'll be 2-3 weeks, but I'm skeptical.


One of the reasons I bought a S&W is because of the expected quality. Another is for the warranty. This is my second new S&W in the last year, both of which have problems. Is quality going downhill or am I just unlucky? Realistically, how long am I going to wait for them to fix or replace my 317?

[demented]

I bought two M&P's, a 9mm that had to go back tp S&W due to a messed up extractor causing it to feed rough.  The .45 M&P itself has been OK, its just that about half the time I try to load a ten round mag with ten rounds, I bend the magazine spring.   I don't think S&W's quality is anywhere near as good as it once was.  I have several revolvers and third gen. semi auto's that came from the box ready to run, alas those days seem over.

[jcn59]

My 317 worked perfectly.  'Course it didnt have a 'clinton hole" on the side.  What does that tell you about the people who make the decisions at S&W?

[retrosub]

It's not just the hardware that's the problem. When a company has so many returns/repairs that a gun can sit in the mailroom for 2 weeks (and counting) is a problem. The fact that the service reps have no idea what's been delivered to the mailroom is a problem. The fact that it takes a customer to follow up with a tracking number before they'll acknowledge receipt of the item is a problem. I have no idea how long it'll take to get repaired because they have no idea how long it'll be in the mailroom.


If this was a faulty brand new car, it would be unacceptable.


Me: "Hey, I was calling to find out when my car will be fixed or replaced"
Service Dept: "What's your VIN"
Me: "It's xxxx45432."
Service Dept: "We don't have that in our computer. We don't have your car."
Me: "I dropped it off 2 weeks ago."
Service Dept: "We have no record of it"
Me: "Here's the service request with a signature"
Service Dept: "Oh, it must be in the lot"
Me: "OK, so when will it be fixed"
service Dept: "2-3 weeks after we move it off the lot and into the shop"
Me: "When is that? Can you take it out of the lot?"
Service Dept: "No, I can't do anything until it's in my computer"
Me: "So you have no idea when I'll get my car back"
Service Dept: "No, I don't"


Like I said, it's not just the hardware that's the problem.

[Tom C.]

My 317 was made with a slight uneven barrel/cylinder gap. The unevenness caused a gas jet to be produced to ablate away the face of the cylinder. I sent the gun back twice to get fixed. The second time they replaced the aluminum cylinder with a stainless cylinder of the model 63 and put in a new barrel and made sure the gap was even. It now works fine. I prefer the steel cylinder. It adds a couple of oz. of weight, which isn’t a bad thing with this gun.

[gunnut69]

S&W isn't the same and neither are their warrantees...

[S.B.]

When you get it back, send that cantangerous thing out to Illinois and send plenty of ammo too. I been wanting to test fire one of these forever. Thanks.
Steve