S&W moved to Tennessee this year. Hopefully quality improves for the newly manufactured models.

Smith and Wesson revolvers are my favorite revolvers, but the quality control sucks these days.

The problem is we’re paying Smith & Wesson prices and getting Taurus quality.

Sadly, it is not just Smith & Wesson. It's everything.

I just bought a S&W 442 non PC and the trigger is super smooth for what it is. I can stage it very well in dry practice. It compliments my 686+

Smiths are my favorite revolver and QC is a major concern for me in the newer models. It's sad that we've come to this in American quality and workmanship from an American company.

Every S&W I’ve purchased has arrived with problems. M&P 15 Sport with a loose castle nut from the factory. M&P 2.0 10mm with front sight that was way off center from the factory. Model 627 Pro Series with rear sight bent from factory. None of these issues were that big of a deal, but they are obvious issues that S&W quality control should be catching before the guns leave the factory. Makes me think they simply aren’t doing QC.

I own 4 S&W wheel guns: 686 4.125", 637, Model 60 2.125", and my most recent a 686+ Performance Center. The Performance Center had a couple scratches on it, loose cylinder release screw, and carbon rings on the front of the cylinder. Oh and the Hillary hole wasn't bored out very well, had to file out some metal to fit the plug properly. I plug and/or disable the lock on all my S&W's... So paying extra for the PC isn't worth it, at least not IMHO. Yes I "fixed" the minor issues, but it's just the fact of it coming that way...

Just did the paperwork for my 586-L comp. Looking forward to taking it out.

I may have just bought my last smith and wesson revolver. The last model 60 Ladysmith I bought had a cross threaded side plate screw and timing issues right off the bat new from factory. Year later, last week I bought a brand new model 66 and 69 combat magnum both with a 2 3/4" barrel. Both had horrible machine marks and burrs left on the frame. The model 66 just went back today because the gun will not fire reliably. Narrowed it down to too tight of clearances. No matter what brand of ammo it binds on the rim of the case and won't allow the cylinder to spin freely. Also had horrible machine marks inside 2 of the chambers. The model 69 after cleaning up burrs fires flawlessly but just unacceptable when you are paying a $1000 a piece. If my model 66 comes back with the same issue and isn't fixed the first time I'm 100% done with Smith.

In the aerospace industry we have the FAA looking over us so every part single part has to be inspected before it leaves our facility.

I’ve owned S&W revolvers from the 50’s-present. They were all purchased in-person, and they’re all fine. I wouldn’t buy one online, but would buy a Colt Python sight unseen.

Revolvers are finicky to make. Back in the day they were made with a lot of hand fitting. A different time, different economics. Now it's all CNC stuff and nothing wrong with that, easier and cheaper to produce and often times mim parts work too. But nothing helps if QC sucks... That's sad...

Just purchased at 686 7x Performance Center and it looked like absolute garbage! The rear edges of the trigger was so chattered that it felt like a serrated knife! The worst part was an unscrewed and bent rear sight assembly. It was like pulling teeth to get Smith to respond to emails that I elected to fix it myself. Probably done with Smith for the foreseeable future.

I still like them however, ive not had any issues with mine. Ive aquired 2 629s new and a 351 pd. I have 2 36s one a newer build i bought used and another made in 79....so far so good.

I had to send 4 PC models back due to canted barrels. Another due to scratches. Once due to hideously bad finish. One because I had to beat the cylinder to get it to open. It's awful.

I own 686+ 357mag 617 Lr I paid $1,200 NIB for both in 2017. No problem, great satisfaction

Definitely a hot topic. I've been eyeing a couple from their "Classics" line for minor builds (I want a modern, shootable 27 but w/a 3.5" barrel or a 3" K), but not having the gun just right out of the box has me leery of the CS headaches before even spending the money for the upgrades. 🤷‍♂️

My first two revolvers were Performance Center 686 and a 629 Competitor and both needed to be immediately sent back for work. I had the 629 for a grand total of 4 hours because the front sight fell off and the cylinder release locked up.

I really think that moving their headquarters and COVID did a number on Smith. I purchased a 43C a little over a year ago and out of the box it was not functioning properly. I sent it back and a month later it was returned. They “repaired the yoke, cut the forcing cone, and replaced the main spring. It works fine now but occasionally the cylinder doesn’t want to go back and I just turn it a little and it’s fine. I don’t know if they have new equipment, using equipment that they didn’t use before, or the employees aren’t as qualified as before, but the problems seem to be specific to their revolvers because I don’t hear of problems with their polymer pistols. I can deal with cosmetic blemishes (I wouldn’t be happy about it) but I want it to function properly. This little 22lr was nearly $800 and it had 3 major problems with it. Unacceptable.

I've noticed a decline in quality with S&W as well as hearing/reading a bunch of complaints on their quality. Recently bought a Taurus 856 toro after Caleb Giddings said that Taurus is now producing higher quality revolvers than S&W. That Taurus was a giant turd and got rid of it immediately. When Beretta moved their factory to Tenn, their quality dropped significantly. I'm concerned that S&W quality will suffer even more after they move to Tenn.

I Am Partial Too The Old School S&W Revolvers 😎

Well, this is sad... I've been wanting a M66 4.25" Now that Colt has a Matte 4.25" I'll go with that instead.

Now adays all brands have problems. I can say from expirience.

You can pay hundreds less and get a Taurus. Taurus’s QC has come a long way and their revolvers are actually really good. But I have heard their customer service is subpar compared to Smith and Ruger

I've had a slew of s&w revolvers trying to create a basic 38/ k frame set .Had problems with rimfire k frames lately. If I bought my collection over again I would go all ruger .

Recently On my SW 15-22 the feed ramp popped off during routine cleaning. Smith refused to tell me why and charged me $270 to have my upper and barrel repaired

Dan Wesson > Ruger > Smith & Wesson. i.m.o.

I think their QC is hit or miss right now. I ordered a 327PC and noticed that the yoke was scalloping out the frame below the forcing cone. It had to go back, but I am glad that it went back before I did the paperwork for it. I also have a 19 carry comp that was ok but the finishing was questionable but not something that I felt was worth sending back. I love the older pre-lock guns but don't mind the newer ones that might not have the best finishing as guns that I can "beat up" and really use without feeling bad.

Just bought a 610 4" N-frame and I'm highly disappointed. I had to special order from the distributor since it wasn't in stock. Get it in and the front of the yoke to the trigger guard wasn't properly finished with a brush finish like the rest of the revolver. The inside of the frame around the cylinder had a black residue that was like polishing compound left inside along the top, front, bottom and blast shield. The shroud has a small dent, there is a small scratch on the side near the yoke screw. The double action is inconsistent, three cylinders feel normal and the other three take extra effort and suddenly cam into place. Looking at the ratchet on the cylinder, it's rough. I don't know if they needed to replace the cutter for the machinery or what. Anyway, it's a big shock to find this when you drop $1000 on a gun.