
Originally Posted by
dmcmanus
Hey Everyone,
A few of you asked me to update this thread and keep everyone informed about the progress regarding solving these extraction failures. I would like to thank IraqGunz for the personal correspondence he offered, and his suggestions.
Update:
After this thread I contacted S&W through email explaining the problem. I explained everything, however I left out the fact that I was shooting Wolf Ammo. After about a day without a reply, I was sent a message that simply stated that I call CS and have them send out a shipping label. Thus began the great: "Gun Box Hunt of 2009" (which is another story all together, lesson learned: save my box).
While I was looking for the box and waiting on the shipping label I decided to take the gun to the range to try and repeat the failure. I wanted pictures for this board, and possibly for SW, however I wasn't able to get the gun to fail again.
After finally sending the gun back last week, it arrived at my house this morning in a new shipping box (that I will collapse and save). I took the gun out and before opening the letter from S&W I wanted to look everything over and see if I could notice if anything was changed. The first thing I noticed was that they had oiled the hell out of the trigger group, and that my front BIS was deployed, meaning they had to have test fired it prior to shipping it back.
I opened up the gun, and smelled fresh powder but noticed that the rifle was clean. After pulling the BCG, I noticed that the ramps were polished, and that the chamber actually looked brand new. I knew they hadn't just glanced over it and thrown it in the box and shipped it back (which is what I was worried about since the rifle was only at their shop for a total of three days maximum).
After opening the letter this is what SW listed as their repairs:
1. "Replaced Recoil Spring" I am assuming this is the buffer spring. After reading this I noticed that they had actually removed the buffer tube, and my stock (and re-pinned the stock). There were no old staking marks on the carrier key so I am assuming they replaced this too. My only complaint on this end is that when the re-staked everything they hit my upper slightly and went through the anodized finish. They should have staked your end-plate to the castle nut. It would have been a MAJOR FAIL if they marred your upper since the the end plate only contacts the lower.
I have never pulled a buffer spring out. I am wondering if they put in an H buffer? How can I tell this? The H buffer will have "H" stamped on the face (the part that gets hammered by the bolt carrier).
2. "Adjust Gas Ports" Not sure what they mean by this. The Gas Key looks the same on the BCG. There is a gas port (singular) in the barrel under the front sight base or gas block. The only way to "adjust" this is to drill the port larger. Not sure if this is a common "repair". I'd assume it's a bit more labor/technique intensive for most warranty repairs, but would probably improve reliability if the port was undersized to begin with. I'm not a gunsmith or armorer so I may be completely wrong on this.
3. "Polished Ramp on BBL" I am assuming this is the feed ramps. I noticed this when I took the gun apart.
4. "Hone Chamber" Considering that the chamber looked new, I am assuming that they reamed it to a true 556.
Other then a legal pamphlet about the Youth Handgun Safety Act, and an orange safety stopper in the chamber, this is all SW sent back to me. There was no signature of the gun smith on the form listing repairs, but there is a number to call to inquire if need be.
After re-assembling the gun I chambered two rounds and ejected them in order to see if the scratches that were on every casing, and ejected round prior to shipping the gun were there. I am happy to report that they aren't, but am aware of the fact that two rounds doesn't really mean anything. I will be going to a range either today (if I finish my freelance work) or tomorrow to see how the gun functions. I will update everyone as soon as I am back. One thing I am curious about (that is superficial and easy to fix, but I still want to know) is if gun held its zero throughout all of this.
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