Always disappointing to buy "new" and find things that make you wonder what someone at the factory was doing/thinking when they boxed that thing up to get it ready to ship out.
I've not bought a new S&W revolver since about 1983 or 84. For those that say "quality has slipped over the years," I will say this:
M586, 6", bought new, would only get a partial box of .357 magnum ammo through it before it would begin to lock up as the trigger was pulled/hammer cocked. Wipe the crud off the front of the cylinder/barrel throat and it was fine, for about another box. Found the clearance between the barrel and cylinder was about 0.018". Way to darn tight. Being me I took a file to it, carefully, then a little sharpening stone work, carefully and cured it. Don't remember the final clearance number but it was still tighter than what I saw listed in magazine articles at the time. It, to this day, is the most accurate center fire magnum revolver I've ever fired. Awesome shooter.
M29 4", bought new. Started shooting it Saturday morning, shot is some more Sunday and we got right at 650 rounds through it those two days before the little square headed nut in the frame slot that the rear sight elevation screw threads into stripped out and the rear sight popped up. Had to replace that little square headed nut and no issues with it at all after that.
Two brand new S&W revolvers, made in the "good old days" and both had issues within a couple days of buying them.
OP, only had to send one S&W back for work. A new .380 EZ Shield, for that safety issue they had the recall over. Never even fired it as I only found out about the recall after I'd bought the pistol. Called, gave them the serial number, they sent me a return authorization number/form and I shipped it back. Got it back a couple weeks later. Seemed to be very nice folks on the phone and a decently short turn around time.
Now, of course, hope the first post/report about it when you get it back shows nice groups on the paper. 'Cause that's what a good S&W does.
