Disappointed in new S&W 586

Status
Not open for further replies.
O

osteodoc08

Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2005
Messages
1,261
I went down by the LGS and they had a new S&W 586. If you're not familiar imagine 686 except blued with walnut stocks.

Anyhow. I looked at it and it had some buggered up screw heads. No biggie, ill give em a call after purchase for new ones.

I get it home and go straight to the hunting club. I go to take the first shot, click. WTH. I open the cylinder to find a light primer strike. I try again. Click. By this time I'm getting pissed. I swing open the cylinder and take those out since they were reloads.

I put in some factory 38 special. Bang. Ok. Maybe bad primers. I go to thumb the hammer back and it's quite stiff. It turns and I lower the hammer down and swing open the cylinder again. Don't notice anything. Anyhow. I proceed to experience variable cocking effort to go to SA and light primer strikes 2-3 per cylinder no matter what the ammo.

I take the stocks off. The tension screw is all the way in and snug.

I've also noticed some fine scratches in the finish and a ding in the portion of the frame where the cylinder swings open and bluing missing off the extractor star. I was also having sticky extraction out of one of the cylinders.

I took it home and cleaned it head to toe to return to the range today.....to find the same thing.

Disappointing to say the least. Some of it is my fault for not noticing at time of purchase, but the workmanship is S**T compared to my older M57. This will make my 7th S&W product over the last year. Probably my last (new) unless they fix to my complete satisfaction.
 
The word "new" and phrase "buggered up screw heads" don't go together in my book. Unless workmanship has really gone down that much at S&W I would be talking to the gunshop about that "new" gun they sold you. It really sounds like some amature action work gone wrong.
 
Man, 4 strikes out of the box and sounds more used and abused than new. Why not just return for a refund (if available)?

Have to ask - did you notice any of the cosmetic flaws when checking it out?

Funnel
 
I noticed the screws. Very
Minor. I looked at 2 other examples on 2-686's. Same thing. Quite sad really. The light scratches and minor ding. No. That cosmetic stuff is fairly petty. It's the light strikes and sticky extraction out of the one chamber that really irks me.

The LGS, I've been dealing with for years. They are top notch folks and wouldn't sell a used gun as new. I like the gun and would rather have S&W fix it.

If someone would host the photos I have, I can email them. Just PM me.
 
There is another thread about a similar issue with a new S&W. I cannot locate it, but they were talking about the fix is a screw that needs to be tightened near the trigger guard I believe. I am not familiar with S&W so be sure to do your own research.

Maybe rcmodel or another smithy will chime in.
 
If it is indeed new, I'd return it to the dealer. A reputable dealer will make arrangements with Smith to have it fixed. At least that's what my LGS would do. Otherwise you'll have to contact Smith yourself.
 
So far so good.

A 5 minute call to S&W and I've got a prepaid return coming to my house. He didn't hesitate to send it, so I wonder how wide spread this issue is?
 
S&W has problems just like any other company, but they make it right.

They don't like seeing threads like this one.

After you get the gun back, let us know if it's okay.
 
I recently purchased a new 625 Jerry Miculek - the barrel was not cut square and the crown looked like it had been done with a deburring tool. Took it to a local smith to be fixed as I didn't want to deal with returning it to S&W. The smith said he'd never seen anything like it - so, things do get out of S&W in less than perfect condition.
 
The word "new" and phrase "buggered up screw heads" don't go together in my book. Unless workmanship has really gone down that much at S&W I would be talking to the gunshop about that "new" gun they sold you. It really sounds like some amature action work gone wrong.
Click to expand...

Yep, I think you got hosed man.
 
I understand that. Hence me buying it with less than perfect screw heads. I guess I should have taken that as an omen. Hard to find a blued smith in 357 mag with a full underlug/L frame though. Still on the hunt for a nice gently used N frame however.
 
Sadly, I believe that 586 of the OP's could very well indeed be a brand new S&W revolver. If his barrel was clocked I'd bet on it! ;)

The QA/QC at the current company calling itself S&W is pretty much nonexistant as of late.

This is not your daddy's S&W. Don't take my word for it, peruse the various gunboards and see the substandard work S&W pushes out the door.
 
I am 100% sure it was new guys. No cylinder markings. No turn line. Etc. it's just not the same quality we expected in the past. So long as consumers are ok with it, they'll keep shoveling them out by the truck load. And have to fix a certain % of them. I'm sure the bean counters have already figured out the sweet spot.

I think the worst part was telling my dad. He insisted I get a GP100......
 
osteodoc08, I don't know your level of familiarity with the innards of a revolver, but it sounds like you may need an "extra length" firing pin from Cylinder & Slide. If you obtain the part perhaps you could install it yourself and save time and money.

S&W has, in the recent past, installed firing pins that are too short - allegedly in order to pass CA drop tests. The symptoms, as I know from experience unfortunately, mirror what you are experiencing.

It was enough of an issue evidently that Cylinder & Slide and one other enterprising company (whos name escapes me at the moment) made some money rectifying that particular piece of stupidity.

You might want to contact Cylinder & Slide and obtain more information to see if this still applies to current production revolvers. Good luck!
 
Well. The GP was nice but definitely lacked the refinement. Depending on how the warranty repairs go, I may end up selling for the GP-100 after all.
 
It is definitely indeed short. If not up to snuff on return, I may sent it to C&S for a clean up anyhow.
 
The two new smiths I have work as fine as my 1973 Model 19-3. Except now Smith has the inability to properly install a barrel properly. My 629 also came with a disfigured DA Sear spring which I fixed.
 
Phil W said:
Maybe it was a Taurus?
Click to expand...
A relative of mine has had a Taurus .38 for over 20 years and has NEVER had even the slightest problem with it. Another relative has had a Taurus .357 for a handful of years that they bought used and have also had no problems with it. I think I'll just stick to Taurus since they're half the cost and apparently more reliable.

OP - Sorry to hear about your problems and hope you get it resolved.
 
Eb1- Read and replied. Thanks for the heads up

I had a Taurus M66. I liked the size but was shooting loose and had a short cylinder when compared to others
 
Sorry to hear about your experience osteodoc. Hopefully S&W will make it right. I bought a 686 couple months back, with no issues.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
S&W 586
Replies
9
Views
725
asknight
A
O
  • Locked
S&W 586 repair drama
Replies
10
Views
698
9mmepiphany
9mmepiphany
E
  • Locked
S&W 586 no dash: Question for revolver experts out there
Replies
20
Views
2K
mouser
M
T
  • Locked
S&W 686 cylinder release rubbing frame?
Replies
15
Views
1K
mcb
mcb
P
  • Locked
586 locked up
Replies
8
Views
721
Randall
R
Back
Top