7-shot to 6 conversion

[dashootist]

I heard that S&W will do conversions. I bought a new 686 plus (7 shot). But the matches I want to shoot in PPC, USPSC, IDPA, etc allow only 6 shot. Has anyone let S&W do a conversion from 7 to 6? How much would it cost now? After the conversion, would it be able to go from 6 to 7, or vice versa, simply by swapping cylinders?

 

[orionengnr]

I don't know nothin' about nothin', but I'm going to make an observation.

The hand on a 7-shot revolver must turn the cylinder ~51.4 degrees of rotation (360 / 7) while the hand on a 6-shot revolver must turn the cylinder 60 degrees of rotation (360 / 6).

Since the hand is moved by the trigger, I am guessing that something is different there...maybe several somethings.

Might be easier/cheaper to just buy a 6-shot 686 and either sell/trade the 7-shooter or keep it for HD, car gun, etc...

Once again, I don't own a 7-shot revolver, never shot one, and I don't know a thing about them. If I am totally off base, please excuse my ignorance.

 

[LaserSpot]

Why don't you just plug one of the chambers? You could probably carve a little block of wood and tap it in there.

Cerrosafe Chamber Casting Alloy might also work. Would a revolver cylinder get hot enough to melt Cerrosafe? http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=462291

 

[Trebor]

The easiest way to convert a 7 shot revolver to a 6 shooter is to sell the 7 shot and buy a 6 shot with the money. It likely is also the least expensive route as well.

 

[tango2echo]

Yes, S&W will do the conversion. Yes, you will pay dearly for it. It's more than half the price of a new 686 Pro Series, which is about a grand or a little less.

t2e

 

[leadcounsel]

The easiest way to convert a 7 shot revolver to a 6 shooter is to sell the 7 shot and buy a 6 shot with the money. It likely is also the least expensive route as well.

Ding ding ding ding....

Or, use the $300 you'd spend converting it, and time spent, toward a new one and have 2 guns.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Shoot, $300 was all I paid for my worked 6" 686 no dash. $280 for my 65-3 4". I think I was $400 for my unfired 586-4.

I'd keep an eye on the used shelves.

 

[Jim Watson]

I had a 686+ that I could not find a sucker for, uh sell to a deserving soul.

So I had a 6 shot cylinder installed, slightly over $300 for cylinder, hand, and refitting.

You would have to change out the hand as well as the cylinder to flip flop between capacities.

Trebor is right, IF you can sell yours and replace it with a normal gun.

 

[Spartacus451]

If you can find a 3" 6-shot 686 in my case. The conversion is cheaper if you take into account the odds of getting screwed buying a used gun sight unseen.

 

[Trebor]

Tell her, "It's valuable enough to take care of, but not 'too valuable to shoot.'"