Time to try out S&W's legendary customer service

[swatmedic]

Today I went to the range and put about 200 rounds thru my 1911pd, Tonight while cleaning it, the plunger tube broke off, both posts sheared off. I don't know if this is one of the MIM parts people bitch about. My question is should I send it back to S&W to replace the part, or should I buy a quality after market part, and have Greg Derr install it for me?

 

[Lugnut]

That's a no brainer... sent it back to S&W. It's free.

 

[vellnueve]

Plunger tube?

 

[Lugnut]

Plunger tube?

The tube the has the spring and detent pins for the thumb safety and slide stop... left side of gun.

 

[tele_mark]

Let me know how it goes -- the rear tube broke off on my S&W 1911PD. I'm waiting until after the tactical shotgun course to send it in.

 

[sdavid]

I'm on my third one, hopefully S&W has figured it out and used quality replacement parts. As a side note the first time I sent it back for repairs it came home with a new set of grips, screws, and a beat up magazine that they used to test fire it.

 

[JimB]

back

Definitely send it back. takes about 2 weeks or so.


JimB

 

[vellnueve]

Ah...

Yes, S&W will send magazines back if you don't send one with it.

 

[swatmedic]

I'm on my third one, hopefully S&W has figured it out and used quality replacement parts. As a side note the first time I sent it back for repairs it came home with a new set of grips, screws, and a beat up magazine that they used to test fire it.

that's what I wanted to avoid, if they are going to rplace the plunger tube with the same problematic part, I should just buy a quality part form EGW or C&S and solve the problem.
I did call this morning for a call tag. I suppose I should take the aftermarket grips off it.
The extra mag will be nice, although I generally use only Wilson mags.

 

[vellnueve]

If you have aftermarket accessories on the gun that aren't part of the problem, they'll send it back with the gun as is.

 

[Twigg]

This seems to be a recurring issue with the 1911PD. The same thing happened to MrsTwigg's 1911 several weeks after she bought it.

S&W did fix it for free, I dropped it off sans mag and found a spiffy new Wilson in its place when I picked her sidearm up.

Haven't had any issues since. Knocks on wood.

 

[drgrant]

My friend has a 1911SC, this happened on his gun. One of the
stakes broke off... S+W fixed it, but IMO this isn't a part that
should break to begin with.

Those kind of problems don't exactly inspire confidence on something which is generally marketed as a carry gun.... I'm not saying its an epidemic of sorts, but hearing this from another person somehow does not surprise me....

Mike

 

[rscalzo]

I've sent personal and departmental firearms back for service without magazines. Never was one returned when repaired. Sounds like someone just forgot to remove it.

 

[rscalzo]

The recoil spring plug broke on my Springfield 1911. I just ordered a new one from Brownell's instead of tying up the gun for a few weeks.

 

[Supermoto]

I would take it to Greg Derr. When mine broke, I called Greg, he fixed the gun while I waited and for cheap. I rather pay a few bucks and be shooting than waiting 2 weeks for a free fix

 

[hk-sigman]

Plunger tubes falling off is pretty common to the 1911 platform. It's not something that is limited to just S&W 1911's.

 

[swatmedic]

Well my gun came back today, it took only a week. We will see how long this part holds up.

No extra goodies though.

 

[tele_mark]

I went the other route. I didn't think it would be that fast, and wanted to avoid a repeat if it was a S&W part-specific problem. I dropped it off up in NH at a gun shop. Let's see which one lasts longer.....

 

[swatmedic]

I went the other route. I didn't think it would be that fast, and wanted to avoid a repeat if it was a S&W part-specific problem. I dropped it off up in NH at a gun shop. Let's see which one lasts longer.....

If this happens again, thats exactly what I am going to do. I never paid much attention to the internet noise about MIM parts, maybe there is something to it afer all.

 

[tele_mark]

Well, that backfired -- I called them up to check, and they sent the gun to S&W to have it serviced.....

 

[Mike-Mike]

Keep in mind if you use this as a duty gun you can put "Attention DG" when you send it and you will get it back quicker.

--Mike

 

[Pilgrim]

If this happens again, thats exactly what I am going to do. I never paid much attention to the internet noise about MIM parts, maybe there is something to it afer all.

I don't believe that particular part is MIM, just rolled steel.