Lots of info here. Regarding Smith and Wesson revolvers I know the older or pre (safety) lock revolvers are generally thought of as higher quality and highly sought after by Smith and Wesson revolver aficionados or just by folks who want nothing to do with what's now known as the Clinton safety on a S&W revolver. Next came a 4 15-2, that was $356, and I found a 6 VH barrel and shroud for like $79, and finally my last one was a complete frame only for $300, no barrel, but on Ebay again, I found a 4 pitted barrel and shroud for like $120 that wasnt pitted either. If you cannot find the manual, or if the troubleshooting steps do not fix the problem, then you should contact a gunsmith. Unfortunately, even the best made guns can experience problems from time to time. I own more than a few bottom feeders as well; also practical and not practical. Dump pouches for partial reloads. If you dont need the patch and belt buckle, or even a numbers matching case, you can pick up 15-2 Pistol Packs for less than youd think. We have had a very small number or reports where a dropped pistol resulted in a broken grip resulting in a failure to fire by releasing mainspring tension. Get a shot gun. My 686 stayed in this form for a few more years, until one year while packing into mountain sheep and grizzly bear backcountry on horseback for a week of scouting, I had the bright idea to carry the 686 in an old Jackass shoulder holster rig I had found in a pawnshop. But you should still tighten it up and shoot a couple of rounds. If you are having this problem, make sure to clean your gun regularly and use high-quality ammunition. 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. My first gun from an auction was a near mint 715 6 VH, with 3 grips, custom sights, box, papers, including the original receipt, and a little bag of every part you would ever need replacing, all for $269. S&W 66-4 was my first big boy gun bought at a gun show from a lot of sheriff department trade ins. In effect, I tested 3 different S&W 686s, to see if date of manufacture and/or barrel length had any effect on accuracy. Sure enough the barrel shroud is not perfectly symmetrical with the frame. Nice balance to it too. Use the search engine: A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. Walther PDP vs Sig P320: Similar or Different? Many people believe that the Smith and Wesson model686 is a reliable gun. Here are some best alternatives for the Smith and Wesson 686: Ruger GP 100 Features a triple locking cylinder for better alignment. Supports 357, 10MM, 327, 44 special, and 22 LR cartridges depending on the model. Pressing the cylinder release forward toward the muzzle will release the cylinder, allowing it to be swung away from the frame to the left. It was an M stamp model as well. if you carry a gun, it should not be a weapon. Apparently, this only happened with one brand of ammo. After damaging the original upside-down ice cream cone target grips, I replaced them with S&W combat wood grips. The author finds the seven-shot Magnum, above, a great handling revolver. What is the action type of the Smith and Wesson 686 gun? First, make sure that you clean and oil your gun regularly. It also had never been back to the S&W factory for the M stamp modification, which is a replacement firing pin bushing in the frame to prevent primer flow with high pressure loads. 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. I rarely sell guns. The Model 60, the Model 66, and the Model 67 are all excellent choices. This can be caused by a number of things, including a dirty chamber or bad ammunition. I have one with a 6 inch barrel. I honestly cant say that either the new or old 4-inch 686s arent capable of the same accuracy. I have an old 686 Classic Hunter 6 Inch barreled and love shooting steel targets with it with 158 semi-wad cutters. Only the new Marlins offer the same level of disappointment. The 686 was my first big caliber revolver. It was less expensive (and I think just as good) as the 686. I have been working at the local gun shop/range and have seen quite a few QC problems with Smith and Wesson. Full disclosure: the 686 was my first big handgun (as in, not a .22). Im surrounded by auto lovin shooters, but new shooters love my 686 plus, especially women. They use the dreaded MIM cast parts which have a known higher failure rate than even traditional cast parts and a way higher failure rate than the older quality forged steel parts. Using other types of ammunition can damage your gun. In some rifles, this might start somewhere at 26 to 30. Also pulled the trigger on a 6 S&W 586 sometime in the 80s. Thank you for your time and effort. Im sure there must have been other, similar designs, but none which have come across my bench. Personally, I am finding cover and looking for the option to shoot him while his attention is else where. It was quite a wait to locate the one I wantedS&W 686-6 4in. Besides that, there are so many inexpensive but quality autoloaders out there. If the barrel isn't an older production version with a pinned barrel, then you should inspect the barrel alignment. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! He politely thanked me, accepted my offer, and introduced himself as Spencer.. Next, check the hammer spring. However, some common issues are present with this revolver. Wrong. However, this model is notorious for having weak firing pin springs which can cause light primer strikes, misfires, and failures to fire. Informative, personal, and gutsy on the barrel change. I think we all imprint on our first big handgun. The S&W 686 Plus probably won't satisfy a more gadget-oriented shooter. sorry you have the problem but you have learned the hard way the the Hillary Hole is a farce .. Years ago, many customers complained that the .44 caliber "N" frame revolver was too heavy and bulky for the .357 Magnum cartridge. I have heard a few novices call revolvers old, clunky and cowboy guns. Pity. Still, look back through my posts and see the pictures I posed of my install. When I was in the army a friend bought a 6 686 used. 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. S&W split the lockwork into two halves: The firing half, and the trigger rebound half. 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. It is incredibly accurate with the 125 grain FTX. Carried 35 years by a french cop? Design, quality and quality control problems have been endemic to Smith and Wesson firearms for decades. Since then I've been reading up. I then gave him a contemplative look and he asked me what I would recommend for him. Although this is a minor issue with the Smith and Wesson 686, you should get this fixed. The good old days of surplus handguns are gone. If I had only one (who would do that) it would probably be it. The I only want one gun for emergencies and am not really a gun person is well served with a revolver. I agree on the utility of the 686. For the uneducated buyer who has the money I would not suggest any specific gun. With Smith & Wesson bleeding badly, influential people in the industry tried to calm tensions and save the brand from destruction, but a large part of the gun community wasn't having it. 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. 357 is a wonderfully versatile handgun. terrible finish. My 686 sported a 8 3/8 inch barrel with a partridge front sight, square butt frame, wide serrated target trigger, and original S&W target wood grips, aka cokes. This picture is a pretty close representation: I carried and shot my 686 in this form for a couple of years on the ranch, shooting pests and targets with bulk .38 special rounds until I was, without bragging, a pretty decent long-range shot with it. Spencer gasped when I said .357 Magnum. However, I explained to him that this revolver could also fire the lower power .38 Special cartridge, which is ballistically very similar to the 9mms he had been considering. Resultant testing and review have shown that a pistol dropped at a specific angle can cause a fracture of the grip. You cant just replace some parts in these older Colt DA revolvers. This can be caused by a number of things, including a dirty chamber or bad ammunition. Good riddance if they do nobody will miss them. Lets be real. The glock would cover all my self defense needs and still be cheap enough to shoot regular. So, it is best to send the gun to Smith and Wesson for repair. Good article. Some people just go around all the forums with their incessant whining about S&W products. I didnt have the money to simply go out and purchase another 686. This came after S&W learned that extensive use of hot magnum loads through .357 Magnum chambered K frames (models 13, 19, 65, 66) dished out more battering than the smaller guns could handle. Well I was wrong. Just a great old gun that works every time. MOSSBERG 835 REVIEW: PUMP ACTION SHOTGUN SHOWDOWN, EEA WINDICATOR 357 REVIEW: PROS AND PROBLEMS, This div height required for enabling the sticky sidebar, 2022 Yestactical.com We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. While the rig definitely looked cool in the bathroom mirror with my long-barreled 686 strapped into it a la Dirty Harry, a week on horseback and climbing mountains spotting for sheep taught me that packing a 8 3/8 barreled howitzer in a shoulder holster was a miserable experience and not for me (that was the first and last shoulder holster Ive ever purchased). Thats a fair point. I just hope there are no innocents down range while you are burning through your ammo. SMITH & WESSON 686 .357 MAGNUM - YouTube 0:00 / 16:53 REVOLVER FAIL! To a person, they want to buy the blackest, coolest-looking semi-auto in the gun shop case. Id be happy to talk about guns, answer questions, explain some basics. Is the Smith and Wesson 686 still in production? But if it gets stuck, you have to disassemble the gun by taking out the side locking plate (Fig 1). Your support is critical to our mission and c. A gunsmith will be able to diagnose and fix the problem. On my 18th birthday, my dad presented me with a new-in-the-box 686 that had been sitting in the local hardware stores display case for over 15 years. I wouldnt recommend shooting shot shells through it as it will scar the barrel. 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 Love my 686 with a 6 inch barrel. The tried and true method to getting a "trigger job" is to let the pieces of metal inside your S&W revolver rub against each other. If I have a S&W and Colt in my shop at the same time in the future, Ill take some pictures or video and try to explain why theyre so different and why you should shoot S&W, and collect old Colts. Done. Revolvers are fun, and mostly practical but pricey. Worked for my 627 and 632 Smiths. Well said but the fact remains, 6-7 or 15- 20? Although the probability of this issue occurring is thin, you should be aware. 5 inches is probably the ideal barrel length for a .357 revolver. The experimentation has led to, The revolutionary Ruger SR45 gun is unmatched because of its beautiful design and outstanding mechanism. No regrets. I coveted it, but he would not let it go. Her most excellent instructor lent her her fathers 4 S&W 686 to shoot with. Ive been doing mostly rifle shooting for quite a wile now I live on a smaller island and going back to the 686, probably the best and most fun hand gun I ever owned. Replacing these parts will fix the issue most of the time. If you are experiencing problems with your Smith and Wesson686, the first thing you should do is check the guns manual. Ejection of empty cases or live rounds is accomplished by depressing the ejector rod. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Premium Leather Paddle Holster Open Top Fits, Smith Wesson Model 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7-Shot 6'' BBL, Right Hand Draw, Brown Color #1511#, Premium Leather Vertical Shoulder Holster System with Double Speed Loader, Smith Wesson Model 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7-Shot 6'' BBL, Right Hand Draw, Brown Color #1511#, Premium Leather Vertical Shoulder Holster System with Double Speed Loader, Smith Wesson Model 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7-Shot 4'' BBL, Right Hand Draw Brown Color #1509#, The Taurus TX22 Competition is a full-size, semi-auto rimfire pistol. My daughters, thankfully, shoot them all with the right loads. Before the cylinder is in place, the hammer may get cocked when you pull it. Ive been a cop for the past 21 years and I carry a Glock Model 45 (9mm) now. Wonderful article, Mr. Knudsen. Semi autos are just a newfangled fad thats going to pass any day now. The G2C seems decent, and only runs around $200 as does the EC9s. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I was a crack shot with it, and had more than once made outstanding long-range shots that were witnessed by others. So I corrected the spelling, which is, of course, wrong. And frankly, I think the new 4.2 Ruger GP100 with 7-round capacity is the top contender over a new 686 these days. Without hesitation, I walked him over to the revolver counter and asked the salesman to remove a Smith & Wesson 686 .357 Magnum revolver. Send it back and have them make it right. However, they both shot everything else pretty well, and both guns had definite favorites. 15- 20 this revolver or old 4-inch 686s arent capable of the Smith and Wesson for.... Cartridges depending on the barrel change the best made guns can experience from. 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