[Bula]

I recently purchased a really sweet 686 (no dash) 6". Per the markings this one has not had any recall/warranty work done to it (no 'M' stamped above model #). Can anyone clarify why the recall? What's going to get 'fixed'? and how long can I expect to wait for the mods to be performed by S&W?
I've searched this topic here on THR but no specifics were found.
Thanks in advance everyone.

[GaryP]

S&W does not list it in the Safety Recall section on their Website at this time, but an email to their Customer Service Department should shed some light on the issue. :)



:evil:

[Randall]

The firing pin and bushing are replaced, I had mine done years ago.

[popeye]

I hope link works. I wouldn't worry about the issue. Primers have changed.

http://www.firearmsid.com/Recalls/FA_Recalls%205.asp#SMITH%20&%20WESSON,%20MODEL%20581,%20586,%20681,%20686,%20or%20581-1,%20586-1,%20681-1,%20686-1%20&%20686CS-1,%20REVOLVERS

[don95sml]

My understanding is that if you plan to fire quite a lot of .357 Magnum, it would be wise to have the modification done. If most of your usage will be .38 Special, you don't need the mod.

[johnny blaze]

Also, I read a few months ago that Smith and Wesson had stopped putting the mark on the ones that they had repaired. The one that you have could have possibly been repaired.
I have one that I have not sent in, and probably never will.
As popeye stated - Primers have changed.

[Checkman]

I sent my 586 (no dash) to the factory in November of 2005. S&W provided me with a shipping number through FedEx. I called FedEx and they came to my house the Friday after Thanksgiving. I had it back the following Friday. It was shipped to my place of work and came via UPS. Didn't cost me a thing.

S&W stamped the M (for modification) inside the yoke.

Why did I do it? Why not? Just in case I suppose. Even though it's a basic safe queen and I just use it for target shooting I figured why not.

Supposedly this problem came to light when a cop in one of the Carolina states (or perhaps Georgia) was killed when his hammer punched into a primer and he was killed because his cylinder locked up. Legend has it that S&W settled out of court with the officer's family and one of the settlement agreements was that the factory would do a recall. The other part of the legend that I've been told was that S&W had been notified of this problem several years before and the company had declared it to be a non-issue.

Anyway that's the legend. And legends are always more interesting than the truth don't you think?

[asknight]

I have a 6" 686 no dash model. Before I learned of the recall, I would use this revolver as a range gun and hunting sidearm regularly. After putting what I would guess to be around 1000 rounds of full house loads (not accounting for the previous owner) through the pipe, the hammer nose bushing became loose in the frame and allowed the primer to back out of the case and lock the cylinder up.

I went down to show it to my local S&W dealer and he said that he thought there was a warranty recall on that type of problem, and he verified it by phone with S&W. They paid shipping both ways, and I had it back in my hand in 14 days total. The hammer nose bushing was definitely replaced, though I can't tell if the hammer mounted firing pin was replaced as well.

So, if you use this revolver in a role where your life may have to depend on it... get the recall work done soon! You don't want that hammer nose bushing becoming loose in the middle of the night.

[Bula]

I'm sold on the idea of getting it done now. I called S&W and they're mailing me out a prepaid label. Cust Service at S&W said it would be 'about 2 weeks' to get it done and returned. I figure it's free and I don't have to worry about it. Thanks everyone for the help.