I prefer the older S&W revolvers with the hammer mounted firing pin. A direct strike mechanism is more reliable on ignition than one where the momentum is lost (that darn ole Entropy) through energy transfer through another mechanical device.
I got this M586 because the price was good and the bud selling it claimed it was superbly accurate. Since he set a National Record in PPC with the thing, it seemed to be a good gamble. The fact he had performed trigger work on the revolver did not hurt. He claimed at least 40,000 rounds of 148 LWC 2.7 grs bullseye Federal primers through it, and that wore out the mainspring. I had misfires in cold weather due to the old mainspring and hard primers, but once that was replaced I can verify that it is a reliable and very accurate revolver.
While I do not like the trigger lock, I am not foaming at the mouth. Yes, it can be a source of unreliability, others have had problems, not me. The lock can be deactivated. I prefer it was not there, but I am not the one bankrolling the legal defence against gun banners trying to bankrupt S&W through lawsuits.
This late model M625 in 45LC has all the MIM parts and the trigger lock. While the trigger pull is slightly heavy, I believe to compensate for the energy lost through the mechanism, single stage left off is crisp, the pistol is very accurate and it goes bang. So it meets expectations.
Having owned enough old guns, I can say that "old" does not necessarily mean better. They shoveled out garbage back then, and you can buy newly made garbage today. Today's manufacturing technology means that machining is far better, the steels better, etc. However features were lost that I like, so there are some old guns I like. I just won't pay a huge premium for an old gun, just because it is old.
