Smith & Wesson Revolver Locks

[stanr5686]

I understand that the lock on S&W revolvers is probably the most hated thing to come along. Now that they have been around a while have they actually caused any real problem other than the sight of them on the guns. I'm interested in a new double action .44 Mag. and I'd really like to know if the 29 or 629 are as good as I would expect. I am interested in the function of the revolver. I don't expect I would be ever using the lock.

 

[jds holler]

I've got a 686 with lock (Hillary Hole) that dates back to the early 2000's. Probably not long after they started them. I've used the handgun A LOT, and it's never been a problem. I've never locked the system since I've had it either. If I had to find the key, it might be a problem. Nicest handgun I've ever owned - my second one of that model. First one - no lock. jd

 

[1911nut]

I wondered the same. I have several pre-Hillary Hole revolvers.

I asked Gemini:


Has the Hillary hole caused problems in smith and Wesson revolvers ?


The "Hillary Hole" is a colloquial (and often derisive) term for the Internal Locking System (ILS)found on most Smith & Wesson revolvers manufactured since 2001.

While the vast majority of owners never experience a mechanical failure, the lock has been a source of significant controversy for both political and functional reasons.

Does it actually cause mechanical problems?​

The short answer is: Rarely, but it is documented.

• Self-Activation Under Recoil: The most credible reports of failure involve the lock "self-engaging" due to heavy recoil. This is almost exclusively reported in lightweight, scandium-frame revolvers (like the 340PD or 329PD) firing high-pressure .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum loads. The violent vibration can cause the internal locking "flag" to jar upward, freezing the action and rendering the gun inoperable.
  
  
  
  
  
• Action Lockup: In rare cases of failure, the gun doesn't just "not fire"—the entire action can seize. This means the hammer cannot be cocked, the trigger cannot be pulled, and sometimes the cylinder cannot even be opened to unload the firearm.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
• General Reliability: For standard steel-frame revolvers (like the 686 or Model 10) and those firing lower-pressure rounds like .38 Special, reports of spontaneous activation are extremely rare. Many high-volume competition shooters use "locked" guns for years without a single issue.
  
  Why is it so hated?

The backlash usually falls into three categories:

1. Political History: The nickname "Hillary Hole" comes from S&W’s 2000 agreement with the Clinton administration to add safety features to avoid lawsuits. Many enthusiasts viewed this as "selling out" to anti-gun politicians, and the hole remains a visual reminder of that era.
   
   
   
   
2. Aesthetics: Collectors often feel the hole ruins the classic lines of the revolver frame.
3. The "Pre-Lock" Premium: Because of these concerns, older "pre-lock" S&W revolvers (those without the hole) typically command a higher price on the used market.

Current Status​

As of 2025–2026, Smith & Wesson has begun responding to decades of customer feedback by re-releasing several "Classic" and "Ultimate Carry" models without the internal lock.

Note: If you own a revolver with a lock and are worried about reliability, many owners use a "Lock Delete" kit (often called a "Plug"). This involves removing the internal locking hardware and filling the hole with a color-matched metal plug, effectively turning it into a pre-lock style frame.

 

[David Milisock]

I have a model 29 pre hoe hole. It's a wonderful handgun. The lock is stupid.

 

[shoot4fun]

First, it seems I saw somewhere locks are slowly going away.
Now, I read this from AI:
Self-Activation Under Recoil: The most credible reports of failure involve the lock "self-engaging" due to heavy recoil. This is almost exclusively reported in lightweight, scandium-frame revolvers (like the 340PD or 329PD) firing high-pressure .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum loads. The violent vibration can cause the internal locking "flag" to jar upward, freezing the action and rendering the gun inoperable.
We must remember that AI is a Google search engine and just scoops up what has been written and regurgitates it. If anyone went to a forum like this and made that statement then AI accepts it as fact.
I will say I have shot many rounds (a good many unhappily for my wrists) through various S&W scandium revolvers, X-Frame 460 & 500, etc. I still own a 329. It has never failed to function and fire even under extremely stout 44 Magnum loads. I also maintain a "pocket rocket" scandium/titanium revolver and it too has been 100%.
Having some insight into the history of "failure" where the lock actually failed rendering the gun inoperable I can say, while possible I imagine, one that has been UNMOLESTED internally has never failed.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

I wouldn't buy a Smith with a lock for the same reason I world not
wear Levi jeans!

 

[shoot4fun]

I wouldn't buy a Smith with a lock for the same reason I world not
wear Levi jeans!

Is there a Hillary Hole in Levi's too?!
I don't wear Levi's either.

 

[Knotwild]

I wouldn't buy a Smith with a lock for the same reason I world not
wear Levi jeans!

Did you say jeans?

All American Clothing

Better than Carhartt and all USA

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Levi is a big donator to anti gun groups. Big San Francisco liberals.

 

[nfa1eab]

No revolvers with locks for me. You should look at the classic models S&W has recently released.

 

[snowsnake]

I have the 357PD scandium-framed .41 mag that has the lock. So far it has never self-applied itself. I would much prefer it not have the lock, but S&W never produced them without.

 

[mike mccormick]

I have had a LOT of smith's, with and without the hole. Never had the lock( which is a horseshit feature)cause any issue, except when it was time to trade it off for something else. That's when you take a hit in value. Which is also horseshit, imo.

 

[Sniper338]

Gosh I wish they would do away with that crap!! I want to say winchester did it too. Ruined their appeal.