S&W AirLite exploded!

MAC702 · 03-21-2012, 07:45 PM

This WAS a daily carry gun for me, not counting a usual full-size sidearm.

Has had less than 100 rounds of Federal 158-grain Hydra-Shok, but has seen a regular diet of .38 Special, mostly non+P loads in practice. I've had students shoot this gun.

This is one of my few guns I don't reload for because it is shot so infrequently.

A friend and I were out shooting, taking his wife for her first time. She loved my big heavy Ruger .22 pistol of course, and was VERY good with the Kimber .45.

After shooting an AR and a Winchester 94, we let her shoot the AirLite at the end of the afternoon. I loaded one round of Hornady 125-grain XTP, standard .38 Special.

I was looking at the side of the gun when she fired. The sound seemed normal, but the cylinder disappeared in a flash. She dropped the gun, clenching her hand. She's fine with just bruises, swelling, and some lacerations. I can only assume that half of a cylinder bounced off her thumb, as it had to break in at least two pieces to disappear and leave the ejector rod in tact. Top strap and several fingers of the extractor star are also missing.

We were shooting in heavy brush in the AZ desert near Wickenburg yesterday. While the friend and his wife went back to care for her injuries, another one I spent 30 minutes looking for the pieces. We never found one.

I E-mailed S&W this morning. I will keep you posted. Honestly, I expect a new gun out of this. I hope not finding the cylinder isn't too big of a deal.

I usually put a lot of faith in engineers. But I'm just not sure I can ever trust this design again. I think I may go with the AirWeight version from now on, with its steel cylinder.

AE7HF · 03-21-2012, 07:52 PM

OMG. That's scary as Hell!. especially since it was your gun and someone else was shooting it. I own the S&W 442-2 Airweight. Hope that never happens to mine. I would contact S&W (wait on hold for 45 minutes) and tell them immediately. That's crazy

mbogo · 03-21-2012, 08:12 PM

I'm glad noone was injured.

Please keep us posted.

mbogo

Vegas_boy · 03-21-2012, 08:13 PM

HOLY CRAP. Thats a horrible first shooting experience,but Im glad she's okay!! And hopefully the incident doesnt turn her away from shooting again! Back when my walther p22 blew up in my face in Jan,I called S&W and my wait wasnt more than maybe 10 minutes, they emailed me a shipping label to send the gun in. I too expected a brand new P22 but they ended up just giving me a new slide. Turn around was around 10 days or so for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC702

I usually put a lot of faith in engineers. But I'm just not sure I can ever trust this design again.

It sticks with you! Still worries me everytime I shoot the walther,and even more when my gf shoots it!

MAC702 · 03-21-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AE7HF

... I own the S&W 442-2 Airweight. Hope that never happens to mine. ...

Yours is a much more time-proven design. The AirLite has the titanium cylinder. I still personally believe I can trust the AirWeight design like yours. Since mine mostly saw .38's anyway, losing .357 Magnum capability isn't a big deal. Those were mostly fired when letting friends get their recoil fix for the week!

MAC702 · 03-21-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas_boy10

... hopefully the incident doesnt turn her away from shooting again! Back when my walther p22 blew up in my face in Jan,I called S&W and my wait wasnt more than maybe 10 minutes, they emailed me a shipping label to send the gun in. I too expected a brand new P22 but they ended up just giving me a new slide. Turn around was around 10 days or so for me. ...

She's in very good spirits about it. Fortunately, it came off an entire afternoon of good training and shooting well with lots of other things and having lots of fun. She's looking forward to shooting again.

Mine will require a new gun. The topstrap is part of the entire frame.

AE7HF · 03-21-2012, 08:28 PM

good to hear.. I just wanted a small revolver for ccw backup. I bought it for $300. The thing is like brand new. I'm not even sure it's been fired. Not a scratch on it. I bought it because it looked like a great deal. I did have to call SW and have them send me 2 new keys for free. (just so I would have them) it is so light though.. the PD340 would have been nicer, but is very pricey.
I wonder how many the the rental guns the gun store has that "Blow up" and hurts a customer? This isn't normal. Maybe it had a hairline fracture or something defective all along in it. At least she has all her digits in tact and not wanting to sue hopefully.

mattbcnv · 03-21-2012, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AE7HF

good to hear.. I just wanted a small revolver for ccw backup. I bought it for $300. The thing is like brand new. I'm not even sure it's been fired. Not a scratch on it. I bought it because it looked like a great deal. I did have to call SW and have them send me 2 new keys for free. (just so I would have them) it is so light though.. the PD340 would have been nicer, but is very pricey.
I wonder how many the the rental guns the gun store has that "Blow up" and hurts a customer? This isn't normal. Maybe it had a hairline fracture or something defective all along in it. At least she has all her digits in tact and not wanting to sue hopefully.

Glad you are OK BTW what it the difference between the 340PD and the 442?

Thanks
mattbcnv

MAC702 · 03-21-2012, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbcnv

... BTW what it the difference between the 340PD and the 442?...

The 442 is an aluminum frame with steel cylinder, rated for .38 +P, 15 ounces empty.

The 340PD is a scandium-aluminum frame with titanium cylinder, rated for .357 Magnum; 11 ounces empty.

Nevada Hudson · 03-21-2012, 11:34 PM

My wife bought a 442 Airweight. Recoil hurt her hand, and she did not want it anymore after 20 rounds. I tried it too, and did not like the recoil either. Ended up selling it for quite a loss. Scheels wouldn't take it back after 30 days, but they offered me less than half what we paid for it. Have a heavier gun now, that we both like and enjoy shooting. No more very small and light guns for me. But to each his own.

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03-21-2012, 07:52 PM	#2
AE7HF Amateur Radio Operator Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 527 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	OMG. That's scary as Hell!. especially since it was your gun and someone else was shooting it. I own the S&W 442-2 Airweight. Hope that never happens to mine. I would contact S&W (wait on hold for 45 minutes) and tell them immediately. That's crazy

03-21-2012, 08:12 PM	#3
mbogo Bwana Mkubwa Join Date: May 2011 Location: SW Las Vegas Posts: 1,679 Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm glad noone was injured. Please keep us posted. mbogo

03-21-2012, 08:28 PM	#7
AE7HF Amateur Radio Operator Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 527 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	good to hear.. I just wanted a small revolver for ccw backup. I bought it for $300. The thing is like brand new. I'm not even sure it's been fired. Not a scratch on it. I bought it because it looked like a great deal. I did have to call SW and have them send me 2 new keys for free. (just so I would have them) it is so light though.. the PD340 would have been nicer, but is very pricey. I wonder how many the the rental guns the gun store has that "Blow up" and hurts a customer? This isn't normal. Maybe it had a hairline fracture or something defective all along in it. At least she has all her digits in tact and not wanting to sue hopefully.

03-21-2012, 11:34 PM	#10
Nevada Hudson Obsessed Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Timbuktu Posts: 988 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My wife bought a 442 Airweight. Recoil hurt her hand, and she did not want it anymore after 20 rounds. I tried it too, and did not like the recoil either. Ended up selling it for quite a loss. Scheels wouldn't take it back after 30 days, but they offered me less than half what we paid for it. Have a heavier gun now, that we both like and enjoy shooting. No more very small and light guns for me. But to each his own.