My 686 is ragged out

[bloodline]

I have a 686 that I bought a few years. it is beat up. cylinder is sloppy, etc. The trigger is amazing. I have thought about selling it everyone has to have a 686. Does anyone have any experience with price and performance of sending one back to S&W to be freshened up?

 

[Shade00]

Here you go. That should give you an idea of some of the prices of S&W's gunsmithing. I would recommend you call them to get more detailed information.

 

[dairycreek]

My experience with S&W in doing things such as the original post describes - is quite good. They do the work quite well and, of course, they charge for it. Call ahead and work with someone there. Don't forget to get a name in case you need to make another call. I suspect that your gun will come back like new.

 

[dogngun]

Blood, just curious: how did it get so beat up?
Did you buy it new? Did you shoot it a lot? What kind of loads did you use?
I used to have an L-frame, and it seemed like a pretty sturdy gun to me.

(And it did have a great trigger.)

mark

 

[jaydubya]

Dogngun asked Blood, just curious: how did it get so beat up?

+1!!!

Cordially, Jack

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I was also wondering how it got beaten up and what you mean by beaten up. Can you post a picture or two?

As for S&W's work, I've never sent anything back to them yet but the work I've seen by them was outstanding. Many times they fix and adjust little things you didn't even pay for. They are no more expensive than any other good Gunsmith and they know a little something about fixing S&W revolvers... LOL

 

[cocojo]

When you say beat up I take it as not in cosmetics but play in the cylinder. How many rounds through the gun? 686's are tough guns to shoot out. Questions: does it miss fire a lot? Does it shave lead or spit to one side or another? I have shot out one gun a model 66 and adjusted the cylinder end play three times to the point where the gun was not safe enough for police work anymore, but it was still usefull. I would send it back to S&W and have them go through it, they will bring the gun back to spec, probable for nothing including the shipping charges.

 

[Blueduck]

+1 on calling first, be sure to ask if/when they will be shut down for vacation this summer to eliminate a couple of weeks of it just sitting there.



Combat Revolver Package (Medium/Large Frame)Stainless $225 / Carbon $285

Glass Bead Finish
Tuned Action
Trigger Stop
Chamfer Charge Holes
Test Fire for Function

I've had the above opackage done to a couple of older revolvers both blued and stainless and was VERY happy with the looks, I do like the bead blast finish on both finishes though, YMMV. Was amazed how good the revolvers looked when they got back as compared to when I sent them in. Even fairly deep marks were totally gone and both looked better than new

Now as far as looseness, general rebuilding etc.. this is not an area I've been as happy with from S/W. If your expecting "bank vault tight" perfect .004 cylinder gap, might want to look elsewhere. S/W does not seem to get it for some reason.

Never could manage to explain to Kate at S/W that I did not consider a .004" cylinder gap on one side and .010" on the other to be acceptable, and I wanted to pay to have it fixed. Same thing on on a rather loose cylinder lock-up on different revolver. They just kept saying it was "in spec" regardless of offers to send more money their way to get it the way I wanted it

 

[bloodline]

thanks for the info. I bought the gun used a few years back. It was a good deal. The cylinder is just a bit sloppy all around. I will call S&W.

 

[Oro]

The cylinder is just a bit sloppy all around. I will call S&W.

Have you measured it and quantified the "slop?" Side-to-side play is not bad as long as it does line up in the middle. Endshake is necessary for the gun to run properly. Doing the revolver "check out" with a good set of feeler gauges is the only way to really define the condition.