What are these rings in the chambers?

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What tool makes those rings?
Would the rings be subsequently removed with a reamer or with a hone?
Whether they are reamed or honed out, the resulting finished diameter will be greater.
What should the finished diameter be?
 
Are there rings for lack of a better term on the face of the cylinder as well? When I look real close there appears to be circles around the cylinder holes
 
The gun is a current-model SW 686.
You can see some rings on the cylinder face in the upper right hand corner of the image. They are about the center of the cylinder, not the chambers. This is consistent with another L frame I have.
The rings in the chambers are deeper. I do not see those rings in another 686.
A 0.356 jacketed bullet drops through the cylinder throats of both guns.
A 0.357 jacketed bullet is slightly tighter in the throats with the rings, but it can be pushed through either cylinder with finger pressure.
A 0.358 powder-coated bullet is tight in both cylinders' chamber throats.

I'm concerned that just honing the rings out will open the throats too far.
I have fired the gun, thousands of rounds. It's flattering how it hits. Clay pigeons at 80 yards. Paper plates at 150 yards. It never misses what I aim at.
 
If it shoots well, I wouldnt mess with it.

If it really bothers you, call S&W, maybe send them that pic, and ask what they think. Im sure they will take care of it if they think its not right. But..... you did say it shoots well. :)
 
What do you men by "current-model SW 686"?
Is it a no-dash 686, or do you mean it is a 686-7?

It it just the two cylinder bores that exhibit this, or is it all of them? Looks like it may be from worn bits in the cylinder boring machine. In the manufacturing process, all six holes are bored simultaneously using six separate bits.

Of course, it could also be the result of Bubba, the kitchen-table gunsmith, trying to open up individual cylinder throats.

Besides that, the photo makes it look like a 586 - probably just the lighting.
 
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"Current model" means it's a 686-6. The -7 was only for 38 Super. It probably should have been called something other than 686, like the 986 was. I would have called it a 938 but whatever.

No kitchen table bubba. The cylinder was only worked on by the S&W Performance Center.

I know S&W will fix it if I send it in, but I hate to lose it for however long it takes them.
 
I'm concerned that just honing the rings out will open the throats too far.
I have fired the gun, thousands of rounds. It's flattering how it hits. Clay pigeons at 80 yards. Paper plates at 150 yards. It never misses what I aim at.
Click to expand...
I say you give it a shot. Send it in and tell them to ream/polish away.

Who knows, even though it's shooting amazingly accurately now, maybe it will come back shooting even better.

And even if it doesn't, say it never shoots as well as it used to--you'll still be really happy about the outcome. Just think about how much better you'll feel knowing that those tiny grooves inside the chambers where they're hard to even see unless you look really carefully in just the right lighting conditions--are gone. :D
 
I suggest you call them and email them the photos. If they recommend sending it in I would ask them “If you determine that the cylinder be replaced will you ship my original cylinder back to me since it’s original equipment and it works great, it’s just not perfect.”
I couldn’t hurt to try.
 
I agree it is from a dull boring bit and when they cranked it back out of the hole.
The lines on the end are from facing the cylinder off in a lathe.
They sure don't make them look like they use to.

That would bother me to no end. I would have to send that back in for a cylinder replacement, regardless of how it shoots.
That would make me think it would have less resale appeal if someone saw that and would diminish the price I'd be able to get for it if I decided to part with it.
 
"I'm concerned that just honing the rings out will open the throats too far.
I have fired the gun, thousands of rounds. It's flattering how it hits. Clay pigeons at 80 yards. Paper plates at 150 yards. It never misses what I aim at."
If it's accurate, as you say, and doesn't lead excessively, leave it alone and enjoy the shooting. Rod
 
As several respondents have implied or out-right said, it is an example of S&Ws current level of quality. Or perhaps more accurately, an example of how far S&W is willing to go to cut production costs.

Dave
 
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