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For 686 lovers... about as sweet a set-up as I can imagine...

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DHart

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I recently sent some guns to the Performance Center for barrel swapping/replacement. Among them, I sent my one of my 4" 686's to get a 3" barrel installed. Got it back Thursday... fantastic!

I decided to use the round-to-square conversion grips on the gun because I prefer that full-base, palm-wedge grip shape to counter against the heavy frontal weight of the 686 barrel and this is not a gun I will use for concealed carry purposes.

I searched for quite a while to find just the right base gun (for me) to do this with, and I think it's about the perfect combination of features on a 686:

• no internal lock
• trigger & hammer are forged, not MIM
• seven shot capacity
• night sights
• 3" barrel
• round butt grip frame (for versatility of grip styles)
• a very sweet action

... there's a lot to love about this particular 686 set-up! One of my very favorites. Here's how she looks:

686-4_LF6081.jpg


686-4_R6082.jpg


686-4_RF6083.jpg
 
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Did they pop the red insert out of the front sight blade and replace it with the night sight? It looks like the piece with the tritium vial sits in a "groove" almost exactly the size and place that the red ramp would have been. She looks great!
 
Sheldon... I had barrel replacement/swap done on three guns:

1) 686-4 with 4" barrel and NS ----> installed new 3" barrel & nightsights from 4"

2) 686-no dash with 6" barrel ----> install 4" barrel removed from 686-4 above; return 6" barrel to me for my parts bin

3) 681-no dash ---> install new 3" Perf. Center Barrel and round off the square grip frame; return 4" barrel to me for my parts bin

The charge is in the ballpark of $105 for a 3" barrel and about $60 for labor.

Matt... I don't know for sure, but I presume they removed the front sight retaining pin and just popped the whole unit off of the 4" barrel and popped it into the 3" barrel.
 
Mas.... just send along a 3" 686 barrel for them to use or make sure they have one available. A couple of months ago when I arranged this, they told me I got the only 3" 686 barrel they had on hand. Hopefully, however, they might have found a few more in the meantime, but don't count on it. I'd just hate to have you send your gun there before confirming that they have the barrel you want. :uhoh:
 
I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Thanks to these pics, I was about to get a used 649 but now I think I'll get the 686 plus snubbie and the 649 after....
 
Mas... the 686Plus snubbies aren't too hard to find, though it's a little tougher to find one (7-shot) without the infernal lock. I did find this one on GoingBroker, I mean GUNBroker: ;)... actually come to think of it, I believe I found it on GunsAmerica.

M686_1181LB.jpg
 
Very nice, Don. heh...I might need a new keyboard too....your 2.5" 686 w/the Ahrends grips gets me every time. Oh, and "GoingBroker"--LOL :p isn't that the truth!!
 
I've been thinking of sending in my 686-4 plus (7-shooter) to have one of the 5" Heavy barrels from the new 5" 686's put on it... That would be my ideal 686.

Great pics...as always.
 
Tony... they don't have a website just yet... but give Kim Ahrends a call at (515) 532-3449 and let him know you're interested in the Morado round to square conversion grips as you saw on DHart's 686. He'll know the ones. Bear in mind that I asked him for mine unfinished so I could douse them with my favorite teak oil finish.
 
As always...a satisfying fix for all the many S&W revolver fans among us on the forum. Handsome revolvers...outstanding pictures. Enjoy your new projects and thanks for sharing !

-regards
 
Beeeautiful! I really like the look of the round butt grip.

I'm kind of an autos guy, so please forgive the dumb question what's the internal lock? and whats the issue with it?
 
Mugsy.... thanks for appreciating the gun. Since 2002 S&W has been incorporating an internal hammer lock into all of it's revolvers. They are controversial as some folks don't mind them and others won't have them at all, for various reasons. I don't like them because there have been some reported failures due to the locks and I see no point in buying Smiths with locks in them when there are so very many lightly used older Smiths on the market, many of which are better made and less expensive than new production. I believe that the vast majority of Smiths with built in locks won't have any problems, but it is certain that if the gun doesn't have a lock in it, it won't have any lock-related problems. I also prefer the looks of the guns without the keyhole. Keep in mind that a great many people are quite willing to buy new S&W's and that's great for them.... it's just not for me... I like my Smiths the "old fashioned" way. ;)
 
Tenth Commandment (Exodus 20:14):You shall not covet... anything that is your neighbor's.

You certainly make that one hard to follow. :uhoh:

I notice the fodder in your last picture is of Speer 158gr (?) Gold Dots. Have you had the chance to chrono the velocity difference between your previous 4" barrel and your new 3" barrel?
 
Snowdog... haven't chronoed the difference yet... but I typically find about a 35-50 fps change per 1" change in barrel length. But some guns are funny, I have a 640-1 in .357 (2.125" barrel) that chronos higher than most of my 3" guns... go figure! :cool:
 
performance shop

S&W (on their web site Q&A) now says will not install custom barrels! you must have broke the bank? Did you supply 3 inch barrel for them?
 
Beautiful... and great pics as usual. What do you use for lighting when taking those pics?
 
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