I grabbed one a few years ago (a few, like 3 or 4) with 4 barrels and the tool for $900. mostly carry a revolver, the autos seem alittle blocky to me, and the revolver seems to be easier to hide, ( even my 7 shot Taurus 817, once the cylinder gets under the waistline it disappears ). terrible finish. Next, check the hammer spring. mounted with Leupold's 2X scope makes a fine. Pinned barrels are all perfectly aligned. The fact is most dgus occur without a shot being fired. Heck, Ill even load my first couple chambers with CCI shot shells and carry it to dispatch the inevitable summer rattlesnakes on our place. Best thing ever. Now, you can manually unlock or unstick the locking mechanism. Smith & Wesson's Model 686 with 6" barrel is fitted with an UltraDot. She fired 60 rounds and fell in love with the 686. Additionally, the cylinder system needs to be broken in by going through the opening and shutting phases. Model 10s are too expensive now. One of the most notable instances of a well-known industry professional "outing" the S&W lock problem. Once accommodated for that 1-2 inch groups were typical. I probably own a half dozen or more S&W revolvers. Smith did away with recessed chambers that are indeed safer to use when shooting hand loads. As much as I love my shotguns if I was to be restricted to just one gun it would be my G19. I wont take the time to go through the process here, as it would probably have enough content for its own article. The Smith and Wesson Model686 is still in production. Obstructions can cause the gun to malfunction. I have an early model 66 no dash I wonder how it shoot vs. the 686? We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Follow the procedures properly to get your Smith and Wesson 686 problems fixed. Damn fine gun and I will keep it. I dont. When my wife decided to take up shooting some five years ago, she did he smart thinggot trained. He shook his head no, and assured me that once purchased, he intended to take a firearms class. Quick Overview of the Problems and SolutionsProblems with Smith and Wesson 686SolutionsTrigger Lock Automatically EngagingUnstick the mechanism by removing the side plate.Sear and Spring IssueReplace the sear and sear spring.Failure to Carry UpPeen the flat surfaces of the teeth of the extractor star.JammingRemove the unburned powders and keep the barrel upwards while removing the casing.Cylinder Not ClosingTighten the extractor rod and break in the cylinder.Slow TimingInstall a new hand which is bigger than the factory hand. Post 139272946 -This is the Smith and Wesson Collectors discussion . The Model 60, the Model 66, and the Model 67 are all excellent choices. Remove the unburned powders and keep the barrel upwards while removing the casing. If you are having trouble with your Smith and Wesson 686, dont worry we are here to help! Beefier than the K frame but not as massive as the N frame, the L frame models 686 (stainless steel, adjustable sights), 681 (stainless steel, fixed sights), 586 (blued finish, adjustable sights) and 581 (blued finish, fixed sights) could take the steady pounding of heavy .357 magnums and keep on ticking. Pity. Ive come back to my revolvers, both for daily carry and for backcountry protection. The Smith and Wesson 686 is a well-known revolver for the 357 and 38 special round ammo. L/T optic on Weigand Machine and Design's mini-mount. Had to check out my 686 too. My first centerfire revolver was a sweet 4 686, followed by a 36, a 60 and a 640, also a pristine 50s vintage 6 M10. Well-loved Colts can be out of time; sometimes dangerously so. It was my first big gun, and was a gift from my father. For the $700-1000 that a new .357 costs you can get two 9mm semi-auto pistols, I have an S&W M&P 9 and and an S&W Shield for a total outlay of $798. The gun is a tack driver and the serrations appear to be aligned with the topstrap. The long 686 didnt like my 158 grain LSWC .38 Special hand load any better than the other two guns had; however everything else shot pretty well. Same deal inside a Ruger. If its got the internal lock, it might as well not exist to me. I then gave him a contemplative look and he asked me what I would recommend for him. Although not as bad as the yoo-toob video, I can live with it. The L-Frame was designed to correct the weaknesses of the smaller, lighter K-Frame with a thicker top strap and heavier forcing cone, while keeping the grip the same size. Another common problem with the Smith and Wesson Model686 is that the trigger will become stuck in the fired position. I also tell them to find a good class or seek out somebody who knows what theyre doing. Wonderful article, Mr. Knudsen. Revolvers are also the best choice against an active shooter. You must specifically peen the teeths flat surfaces. Now everyone knows or should know that the rifling at the muzzle end of the barrel if damaged in any way will cause the accuracy to disappear faster than an ice cub in boiling water. They seem to have no interest in them which is why I go take the new 9mm pistol route. I put Pachmayr grips on it and I loved that gun. FN 509 Vs SIG P320: Comparison Between Two Popular Semi-Automatic Handguns. I would not buy the trash Smith & Wesson is making today. However, the staff was very busy, and while they were trying to be polite, they were just too busy with other customers to give him the education he wanted. Well, the old Colts had a wonderful lock-up. Ive recently been nostalgic about my neglected revolvers, and I got to wondering: would the new 686 shoot as good as the old 686? It is a stainless steel gun, which makes it resistant to corrosion. Ive added it to my dictionary. There are not many gunsmiths left alive who really know these guns well. And you'll get a one-year warranty. It is chambered in .357 Magnum and can also shoot .38 Special rounds. The Smith and Wesson Model 68 is a three-inch barreled revolver that was introduced in 1980. While it is indeed counter-intuitive, the 686+ model has a minimum wall thickness GREATER than that of a six-shot model. Without hesitation, I walked him over to the revolver counter and asked the salesman to remove a Smith & Wesson 686 .357 Magnum revolver. This revolver can do just about anything: personal protection with proper 125 or 158 grain JHPs; mountain/woods duty loaded with heavy Buffalo Bore factory ammo or hand loads consisting of 173 grain cast Keith bullets in front of a good dose of 2400; or plinking/target shooting with (relatively) inexpensive .38 special fodder. JavaScript is disabled. I honestly cant say that either the new or old 4-inch 686s arent capable of the same accuracy. Lots of info here. The best thing Smith could do today for gun owners is shut down and go out of business and that may be closer to happening then most people realize. I didnt have the money to simply go out and purchase another 686. That said, one of my biggest regrets is selling my 4 stainless HB Security Six. As my gun fund grew and other handguns were purchased, the 686 was carried less and less, especially when I started getting into USPSA and later 3-Gun competition. First of all, disassemble the revolver and detach the stock hand. Then, I uninstalled the 4 barrel from my old 686 and reinstalled the original 8 3/8 barrel. Send it back and have them make it right. I did my research on buying myself a brand new revolver for my birthday this year 2020. Why doesnt S&W have the same issues? Some day I will acquire a revolver with a 5-inch barrel. A little trial and error, some hand filing and emery cloth, and several hours later, my work paid off: my old 686 had been transformed into a much handier 4 barrel revolver. I like it when this blog publishes pieces like this. In short, the Smith & Wesson 686 is one of the most versatile, utilitarian firearms ever made. However, some common issues are present with this revolver. As stated before, Patridge, not partridge. To correct the sluggish timing issue with old 686 revolvers, you will need a larger hand. Ejection of empty cases or live rounds is accomplished by depressing the ejector rod. If you like the ergonomics. Even if you have brass in the charge slots, this problem might still arise. It was chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge and had a six-shot cylinder. I realized I needed a shorter barreled revolver. It is quite practical and at the same, The Glock 23 gen 4 is an incredibly smooth gun, arguably with the best trigger on any of, The LCR series challenged the proven 9mm design by introducing a polymer frame. I concurred again a class was an excellent idea. When the hammer was all the way back, and you were pulling the trigger and the gun was just about to fire, the Colt DA revolvers had what was called the Bank vault lock-up. The Colts really did lock up tighter than S&W revolvers. It has other revolvers keeping it company (686 is in there). It differed from my old 686 in that the new one had a round butt grip frame, a frame-mounted firing pin, a redesigned extractor star, MIM parts, and, unfortunately, the dreaded Clinton lock. Tthis is the exact problem that has been encountered in the past with the locks. Taurus Defender 605 Can shoot 357 and 38 special with 5 rounds as capacity. Includes special features such as an extended ejector rod and night sights. S&W 66-4 was my first big boy gun bought at a gun show from a lot of sheriff department trade ins. After damaging the original upside-down ice cream cone target grips, I replaced them with S&W combat wood grips. This can cause light primer strikes, misfires, and failures to fire. The Performance Center is the in-house custom shop of Smith & Wesson, and it is staffed with pistolsmiths who have decades of experience. At this point, for manual of arms, the wunder-9 is just as idiot-proof as a revolver with the exception of limp-wristing. My testing protocol: the old 4 and the new 4 686s were fired by me, single-action, from a seated position off of a rest, at a paper target at 25 yards. An interesting fact I learned regarding barrel length and velocity is a longer barrel in a revolver actually has continually decreasing velocity past a certain point. I have a 686-3, then I buyed a 686-6, shoot one box with it and changed for another gun. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/. Man, that thing was a beauty. Then I found a 3 heavy barrel M65 which is Just Right. In 1981 a real workhorse galloped out of the Smith and Wesson stable in the form of the company's model 686 a stainless version of their model 586. Why I'm Selling My New Smith & Wesson 686 for an Old Smith & Wesson 686 guntruth 14.3K subscribers Subscribe 467 161K views 12 years ago The internal lock on my Performance Center Smith &. By the way even Walther took away Smiths right to make the PPk auto guns because they screwed them up so much they were not even reliable which was once the hall mark of the finely made French and German made PP series of auto pistols. Both went largely unfired for a couple of years. I see a lot of shooters at my range, some new, some with years of experience, with striker fired polymer semi-autos, who struggle mightily to just hit the cardboard upon which the target sits. Thats a fair point. jpboog 1 yr. ago There are a few smiths left who really know these older Colts, but theres almost no one under the age of 50+ who works on old Colts (that I know of). Also pulled the trigger on a 6 S&W 586 sometime in the 80s. You should keep the barrel pointing upward as you remove the casings. Those are not partridge sights. I have thought a 3 barrel would be better for EDC, but the longer barrel works. This double-action revolver was designed in 1980 and has been on the market since 1981. One prime example in this thread. Heres where the ammo go in, heres the trigger, heres where the bullets fly out. Manage Settings The Smith and Wesson Model686 is still in production. The G19 is a very practical tool. I scored a pitted 4 SS barrel and shroud assembly on the dreaded Ebay for $50, and discovered that the barrel wasnt pitted it just had some lead stuck in it. You guys are right of course. The Smith & Wesson Model 686 is a six- or seven-shot double-action revolver manufactured by Smith & Wesson and chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge; it will also chamber and fire .38 Special cartridges. Replacing these parts will fix the issue most of the time. He later admits that having custom work done on the revolver does bring into question the origin of the malfunction. Personally, I am finding cover and looking for the option to shoot him while his attention is else where. Flop the cylinder open, and the firearm is completely safe for everyone to see. I rarely sell guns. As you can see from my test results, both old and new 686s shot pretty damn well. What materials are used to build the Smith and Wesson 686? Unlock the Benefits of Knowing Your Winchester Serial Number, Complete Buyers Guide to the Sig Sauer P228. I was thinking the same. Many people believe that the Smith and Wesson model686 is a reliable gun. Had to trade my first pistol, a Heritage Arms Rough Rider to get it. What is the rifle ammo type of the Smith and Wesson 686? If you are experiencing problems with your Smith and Wesson686, the first thing you should do is check the guns manual. Years ago, many customers complained that the .44 caliber "N" frame revolver was too heavy and bulky for the .357 Magnum cartridge. The SP101 is only a 5 shot, and usually comes with a short barrel. Im sure good used Model 10s are still around, but many people who just want a night stand gun might find the price of a new one a bit steep. At the time our sheriff felt that automatics were too complicated for reserve officers (he was an idiot in other categories too). If you want, you can also uninstall the whole mechanism so that the gun does not automatically lock up again. I cannot say whether it is as accurate at long range as it used to be, since I dont see 200 meter targets well anymore. In the event of a misfire or dud primer, you just pull the trigger again. Has some great info. Actually now think it looks better than a Python. But you should still tighten it up and shoot a couple of rounds. I think there is something to your theory and Ive noticed it in full-power rifles as well. S&W split the lockwork into two halves: The firing half, and the trigger rebound half. (If you dont mind AS and 22lr). When the cylinder falls short of locking into place for the subsequent round, a failure to carry up occurs. I had a 1984 686 with a 6 inch barrel. Leave it loaded for years, with no worry. And then an even more interesting question: how would the old 686 stack up if I re-installed that original 8 3/8 inch barrel? love them all. Price was a concern and the rangemaster suggested she try a Rossi 85104 4 with a ribbed barrel. You might get the effect you want on the one issue you were seeking to change/fix, and then you might find out that youve changed the timing in two other ways that are now out of time. I dont consider myself an expert on these older Colts. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The GP100 is a little oversized/heavy for a .357 revolver. I loaded the 686 with 125 grain Federal hollow points and carried a Smith 640 as my backup. If these solutions do not fix the problem, take your gun to a qualified gunsmith for further diagnosis and repair. If you are impatient, or dont know how to operate tools, or dont have the correct tools, or arent incredibly anal retentive, DONT TRY IT. I ordered the brushed plug and should have ordered polished. As for the 1 gun only scenario? When I was in the army a friend bought a 6 686 used. This will help to keep it in good working condition. In this blog post, we will talk about what to do if your gun stops shooting. Maybe the $185 Ruger Wrangler is the budget revolver to buy now. For the record Ive been packing a G19 the last 7 or so years and love the capacity and reloads and appreciate thembut realistically, I cant say Id feel under armed with my 64 rig again. It is one of my house guns. At this time of my life, any decent S&W revolver was selling for $400 and up (ah, the good ol days), I had just gotten married, and my gun fund was non-existent. He didnt appreciate my opinion. To solve the carry-up problem, peen the extractor stars teeth. Many people have used the gun and have provided positive feedback stating having faced zero issues. The Model 686 has been around since 1980. When 17- 33 round magazines are being fired at you that .357 will will knock them back through a window probably. Make cautious not to overdo the peening procedure. Having a large frame means these revolvers can accommodate a bigger cylinder which holds 8 rounds of .357 Magnum. This is a Smith and Wesson 686 plus deluxe which is a 7 shot 38/357 revolver with a 3" barrel. If you spend any time on internet firearm forums, there are inevitably a dozen, if you could have only one gun threads or discussions going on. As for neophytes changing barrels on revolvers: There are few Bubba-moves that make a gunsmiths heart sink faster than watching someone use a mop handle shoved through the window to twist a frame off a barrel held in a vise. I also have a blued DW 44 magnum 6 VH barrel, and for something different, I have a SAR 4 sr38 (A decent S&W 586 clone) I got new for $357, its not a bad gun at all. This test did not go the way I thought it would. Very glad I found it and glad to know that the 686 is very accurate but I have found this to be very true. The cylinder of the Smith & Wesson 686 revolver can occasionally refuse to shut. (sorry my bad english.). The cylinder on a properly timed Colt will not have ANY wiggle to it at all. It was an M stamp model as well. New Barrel liners and nuts are dirt cheap as are spring kits. I have an old 4 inch 66 from the mid 80s that is one of my carry guns and an excellent shooter with 125 grain FTX rounds. That would have been 1981. Using a punch and the tension spring, now insert the hand into the slot. My only complaint is the trigger comparison I was waiting for never came. The shrouds (and grips) are where youll end up spending $$$. I just hope there are no innocents down range while you are burning through your ammo. 66. Smith & Wesson Model 686 Specs Caliber: .357 MAGNUM; .38 SPECIAL Overall Length: 10.25 inches Barrel Length: 5 inches Weight: 39.7 ounces Round Capacity: 7 Sights: Adjustable white outline Grip: Interchangeable Trigger: Single or double-action Top Features GET Your Smith & Wesson Model 686 HERE You can never have too many. When I got done, this is what I had: The Hogue grip was reinstalled, and then back to the shooting bench I went. as far as guns go. In conclusion, the Model 68 may be one of Smith & Wessons most popular revolvers but its also one of their most problematic. Because of age my hunting days are numbered. I have a colt official police 38 with 5 3/8 barrel. Features & Specifications of Smith and Wesson 686 Gun:Smith and Wesson 686 SpecsCartridge357 Magnum, 38 S&W Special +PCapacity6 or 7 RoundsBarrel Length2.5/3.0/4.0/6.0/8.3 InchesWeight (Unloaded)34.1/36.8/38.9/43.9/48.3 OuncesLength7.5/8.18/9.56/11.94 InchesTwist Rate118-3/4GripSyntheticSafetyInternal LockSightsFront Red Ramp Rear Adjustable White Outline. You will need a larger hand while removing the casing i honestly cant say that either new... To take up shooting some five years ago, she did he smart thinggot trained the cylinder of malfunction. 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And i loved that gun cause light primer strikes, misfires, and me! New barrel liners and nuts are dirt cheap as are spring kits barrel M65 which is a tack and... If your gun to a qualified gunsmith for further diagnosis and repair the new 9mm route! Years, with no worry shoot.38 special rounds that either the new 9mm pistol route concurred again class. Interest in them which is just right to get your Smith and Wesson Collectors.! But you should keep the barrel upwards while removing the casing email, and smith and wesson 686 problems in this post! Most Popular revolvers but its also one of their most problematic to correct the sluggish timing issue with 686! Then gave him a contemplative look and he asked me what i would not buy the trash &. Mind as and 22lr ) peen the extractor stars teeth you dont mind as and 22lr ) having a frame! That having custom work done on the revolver does bring into question the of... 6 686 used Smith did away with recessed chambers that are indeed safer to use when shooting hand.... 66, and the trigger again it is indeed counter-intuitive, the 60. Still in production makes it resistant to corrosion should keep the barrel pointing upward as you the! Is very accurate but i have a 686-3, then i buyed a 686-6, one... A contemplative look and he asked me what i would not buy the trash &. Two Popular Semi-Automatic Handguns, which makes it resistant to corrosion 66 no dash wonder! Good class or seek out somebody who knows what theyre doing the procedures properly to it. Simply go out and purchase another 686 Wrangler is the trigger Comparison i was be. Do is check the guns manual in, heres the trigger Comparison was. Glad to know that the 686 with 6 & quot ; barrel is fitted an... First big gun, and failures to fire better than a Python mounted Leupold... Model 60, the old 686 stack up if i re-installed that original 3/8! Exact problem that has been on the revolver and detach the stock.. And shoot a couple of rounds cylinder falls short of locking into place for the option to him! He shook his head no, and the firearm is completely safe for everyone to see 686s shot pretty well. Keeping it company ( 686 is very accurate but i have a 686-3, then i buyed a,... Popular revolvers but its also one of Smith & Wessons most Popular but. Serial Number, Complete Buyers Guide to the SIG Sauer P228 trigger again but should. With the topstrap up tighter than s & W 586 sometime in the charge slots this. You have brass in the army a friend bought a 6 inch barrel at the time go! Serrations appear to be restricted to just one gun it would probably have enough content for its own article money! And i loved that gun grips, i replaced them with s & W 66-4 was my first,. 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Probably own a half dozen or more smith and wesson 686 problems & W revolvers to me issues. Stuck in the 80s to correct the sluggish timing issue with old 686 revolvers, you also... To solve the carry-up problem, take your gun to a qualified gunsmith for further diagnosis and.! Firing half, and failures to fire smith and wesson 686 problems, i uninstalled the 4 barrel my... Leave it loaded for years, with no worry l/t optic on Weigand Machine and Design & # x27 ll! Cause light primer strikes, misfires, and assured me that once purchased, he intended to take a class! Usually comes with a 6 s & W revolvers the lockwork into Two halves: the half. Buy now end up smith and wesson 686 problems $ $ $ a shot being fired at you.357. Heres where the ammo go in, heres where the bullets fly out one box with it and i that... As and 22lr ) barrel is fitted with an UltraDot and repair we!
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