S&W Warranty

[Exodus343]

[BennyAdeline]

Performance centers should be perfect IMO. If you’re not happy, it’s on them to make you so.

[Catch]

They'll fix it up, had a PC with timing issues after 5 years, 3 week turn around.

[tommyboy1966]

Have an issue with my new performance center 586 L comp. Shot 70 rds. yesterday and had about 15 failure to fire. Gunsmith at the range looked gun over and suggested a slightly longer firing pin. At $25 installed and 3 days to get done versus more than $25 to ship back to S&W, I'm wondering if having local guy work on it would it void my warranty? What say you?

[Exodus343]

[Jeepergeo]

Smith and Wesson will no doubt stand by it. My 686 had a timing issue, I called S&W, they emailed me a prepaid shipping label, and they had it back to me in two weeks from the date UPS picked it up. I did not spend a dime on it for the repair or shipping. It's been flawless since.

[alland]

A new S&W that fails to fire is likely caused by the short firing pin that is used to pass the drop test. Installing the longer firing pin is the cure.

[Gryff]

I bought a 20-year-old Model 66 and found that the barrel was canted to the right. As a result, I had to crank the sight all the way over to get the gun to hit the paper.

Called S&W, they issued a shipping label, and fixed the barrel for free.

So, yeah, I think their service is pretty good.

[Okami]

Just sent in a revolver that had a hairline crack on the frame under the barrel. S&W paid shipping and is replacing the firearm as the model isn't made anymore. I was suprised as it was made in the 80's.

Their customer service seems pretty good to me at least with this one time I've needed to use it.

[Griffdog]

That sucks but don't worry as they will take care of you.

[BajaJames83]

that sucks but their CS and warranty is lifetime and transferable easy to use.

[Win231]

You guessed right. S&W does the same thing some American car companies do - give a model a sexy, nice-sounding, quality-suggestive name like "Performance Center" to up the price & make you feel good about paying extra. I've handled new Performance Center handguns off the shelf that were already out of time. And the action was no better than their "Standard" models. S&W knows how easy it is to wow people with different finishes, different designs, etc.
Yeah...this gun "Performs" better 'cuz it's from the "Performance Center."

Both of my S&W's (500 & 460) went back to S&W twice for timing problems after a couple hundred rounds. A S&W Rep. tried to convince me that they were both "in spec." When I told him I'd need to speak to someone above him, he agreed to have me ship them to him. Both times, the "Hand" was replaced & the timing problems soon returned. Apparently, they're using metal that's too soft, or cheaper MIM parts that wear out quickly. They probably figure people will only shoot a handful of rounds per year.
None of my older S&W's from the '80's ever had any problems, with several thousand rounds.

[colossians323]

one gun does not make their guns lack quality. Even the best makers have issues with a small percentage of guns

[RollingCode3]

Performance Center Gun is crap these days. I know four guys had to send their brand new guns back after 50 rounds through the gun.

[hambam105]

After reading these posts I am a better informed about Smith & Weasal policies than I was before.

I have no intention to make light of the OPs situation. I sincerely hope all of his S&W issues are resolved forthwith.

But I tell you what, after reading these S&W related postings the price of the pre 1977 models just went up another twenty-five dollars.