Think I'm done with S&W for good!

[Pants]

I feel like every new Smith I buy has to go back for warranty service and I'm really getting sick of this! First it was my M&P, then it was my 642. Now...my brand new 1911TA - I only have 300 rounds through the gun and the GD plunger tube needs to be re-staked! I just can't win when it comes to their guns. What pisses me off even more is the fact a gun I've been lusting after for months finally got approved in MA. I could have used the money I spent on this thing to buy that!

When I was at the range last weekend the strangest thing happened while shooting a box of +P rounds out of a Wilson mag. After the last round had been fired, instead of locking back properly, the slide stop moved and caused the gun to lock at the take down notch. The only mag it was doing this on was the Wilson. Flash forward to this week - I deceided to swap out the grips and that's when I noticed the plunger tube. I'm guessing the plunger tube being loose caused the slide stop to move, but who knows really. I shot the gun yesterday and there were no issues, but I didn't use the Wilson mag.

So, here's my dilemma - should I send this back or have a competent local gunsmith re-stake the plunger tube for me?

 

[usp45ct]

I too have a 1911ta and have no trouble with it. I have not looked but does the manual say not to shoot +p rounds. Admittedly, I would not expect the plunger tube to come off, but I have heard on some other 1911 the manual states Not to shoot +p

as for who should do it! pretty easy! cost and time of getting it to SW vs cost and time of having a local competent gunsmith do it.

where are you located

 

[Pants]

I too have a 1911ta and have no trouble with it. I have not looked but does the manual say not to shoot +p rounds. Admittedly, I would not expect the plunger tube to come off, but I have heard on some other 1911 the manual states Not to shoot +p

as for who should do it! pretty easy! cost and time of getting it to SW vs cost and time of having a local competent gunsmith do it.

where are you located

The manual only says not to use +P+, which makes perfect sense. Anyway, I just think S&W did a half-assed job staking it.

I'm on the North Shore and yes - good point! Send it to S&W for free and wait months or find someone local, pay a little and get it back in a couple days. Leaning toward going local at the moment!

 

[MA_Shooter]

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...tools/plunger-tube-staking-tool-prod9489.aspx

 

[Pants]

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...tools/plunger-tube-staking-tool-prod9489.aspx

I saw this! Might be a good $30 investment.

 

[drgrant]

The manual only says not to use +P+, which makes perfect sense. Anyway, I just think S&W did a half-assed job staking it.

Usually the problem used to be on S&Ws the tube itself was a poor quality part and the "legs" would just shear right off, usually one and then the other. This hasn't been seen as "endemic" though for a few years now.

I'm on the North Shore and yes - good point! Send it to S&W for free and wait months or find someone local, pay a little and get it back in a couple days. Leaning toward going local at the moment!

Bring it to Lou @ BEC and have him take care of it for you. I'd much rather bring a 1911 to him than bother sending it back to the factory, regardless of who makes it.

-Mike

 

[Pants]

Bring it to Lou @ BEC and have him take care of it for you. I'd much rather bring a 1911 to him than bother sending it back to the factory, regardless of who makes it.

Yep - agreed! He's worked on all my M&P's. I ended up buying that tool from Brownells and will attempt it myself - it looks fairly easy. If that doesn't do it, I'll have Lou replace it.

 

[dcmdon]

Send it to S&W for free and wait months or find someone local, pay a little and get it back in a couple days. Leaning toward going local at the moment!

Sadly I've had to send 2 guns back to S&W in the last year. They couldn't be more different. A .460 XVR revolver and a M&P 15-22.

Both were shipped back to my home within TEN DAYS of when they left. The service is quick. And solved the problem in both cases.

Don

 

[bill o]

The plunger tube is kind of a weak spot on 1911s. They get loose sometimes. I bought the tool for $25 or so at Brownells so I can do my own.

 

[Gammon]

I need one of these tools. Thanks for the post.

 

[Gammon]

PS My experience with S&W CS has not been good lately. When the front sight on my 9mm M&P Pro fell out of its dovetail they told me to fix it myself.

 

[Pants]

Sadly I've had to send 2 guns back to S&W in the last year. They couldn't be more different. A .460 XVR revolver and a M&P 15-22.

Both were shipped back to my home within TEN DAYS of when they left. The service is quick. And solved the problem in both cases.

Don

Well, with your guns, I would send those back for sure. Part of the reason I wanted a 1911 was so I could do work on it myself. Any other gun I would probably send back to them. I read on another forum about someone waiting over 3 months to get there 1911 back and it was just to have the plunger tube re-staked! Unreal!

 

[Pants]

PS My experience with S&W CS has not been good lately. When the front sight on my 9mm M&P Pro fell out of its dovetail they told me to fix it myself.

That's just messed up! Every time I have to call them I get an attitude. I called for replacement springs on all my M&P 45 mags and the guy was acting like I was bothering him. It's like buddy - maybe if you guys QA'd and tested these mags a little better, I wouldn't be calling to get new springs and followers. They're on their THIRD mag spring upgrade at this point.

 

[dcmdon]

One of the benefits of investment casting is that you can create highly detailed parts right out of the mold. This allows you to do things you can't do with forging, at least not on a practical level.

The Ruger SR1911 has a cast in plunger tube that can never come loose. Its cheaper to make and more reliable.

In case anyone doesn't know, Ruger is new to the 1911 market, but is an old hat at casting 1911 frames. They have been making the castings for Caspian Arms for decades. And the plunger tube has been a part of the casting on Caspian guns also.

Just an interesting bit of trivia.

Don

 

[ColdDayInHell]

One of the benefits of investment casting is that you can create highly detailed parts right out of the mold. This allows you to do things you can't do with forging, at least not on a practical level.

The Ruger SR1911 has a cast in plunger tube that can never come loose. Its cheaper to make and more reliable.

In case anyone doesn't know, Ruger is new to the 1911 market, but is an old hat at casting 1911 frames. They have been making the castings for Caspian Arms for decades. And the plunger tube has been a part of the casting on Caspian guns also.

Just an interesting bit of trivia.

Don

View attachment 106643

Yeah I love the SR1911.

 

[Philly3458]

Move on from S&W. There quality is very inconsistent but this is true for most mass produced guns. Just not worth greeting the defect rate below a certain level.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mark056]

S&W history is cyclic: when production goes up QC goes down. It's happened before.

 

[Pants]

Move on from S&W. There quality is very inconsistent but this is true for most mass produced guns. Just not worth greeting the defect rate below a certain level.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep! This 1911 was the last one. I really like the gun and it shoots great - but I've already spent $200 on extra crap for it. It's just crazy!

 

[tuna]

Yup, I'm done with NEW S&Ws. All the ones I've had have been crap, and the customer service sucks.

If the gun isn't old enough to be in a bar legally, I don't trust it from them.


Yet Taurus gets a bad rap...

 

[Pants]

UPDATE: Well I received the Gun Runners plunger tube staking tool. Verdict: It works GREAT! Really easy to use.

One thing I noticed is I think the plunger tube is a hair smaller in diameter to other 1911's. I compared mine to a buddy's over the weekend. Next time it fails I'll replace it with a custom part. Right now, I think I have staked in reaaaall tight and it won't be moving for a while.