My recent additions

[119er]

The top one is a 686-4 I found in a pawn shop and passed the tests in the sticky here with flying colors. Actually, it does slightly better in these tests versus the 686-6 SSR pictured below it. I got rid of an XDM 9mm that I, and most people I shoot with just couldn't get along with and bought the SSR used at a gun store. I shot some hot loads in the SSR and it was to the point of painful. 125gr XTP-HP @ 1470 over my chronograph. I have yet to shoot the 686-4 and was happy to find a 686 w/o the lock. Locks don't stop me, but I prefer them not to be there. I managed to get my 442 w/o lock as well.

Does anyone advocate full moons? I like the idea and the HKS speedloaders I have seem clunky. If so, who should perform the work?

 

[gtmtnbiker98]

Jealous, here.

 

[BYJO4]

2 very nice S&Ws.

 

[119er]

Can anyone tell me what the purpose of the pivoting firing pin on the earlier model is for? It pivots upward as if being guided by the frame as it finishes its travel forward. Is this typical function?

 

[MrBorland]

Does anyone advocate full moons? I like the idea and the HKS speedloaders I have seem clunky. If so, who should perform the work?

Moons work best with short fat rounds such as .45ACP & .40S&W, and less so with long skinny rounds like .38spl, and moreso .357mag. Think pushing spaghetti. Yeah, they'll certainly work, and you won't have to screw around with speedloaders, but you won't likely get .45-like reload speed.

Also, moons or not, the real secret to fast reloads is a bunch of practice at home with dummy rounds. Ditching those twist-type HKS loaders would help to. Push-type, such as Safarilands, are faster. Safariland CompIIIs or Jetloaders are the fastest. Get good with these, and your reloads will be faster than most people with moons.

Since you now have a pair of 686s, though, it might be fun to have one machined to accept moons for the added versatility. The best place I know of is TKCustom. You'd only have to send them the cylinder. Do a little research into moonclip compatibility with different brands of brass, though. IIRC, some clips and some brass don't get alone. TKCustom may be able to answer your questions.

Can anyone tell me what the purpose of the pivoting firing pin on the earlier model is for? It pivots upward as if being guided by the frame as it finishes its travel forward. Is this typical function?

Yes, it's normal. Since it travels in the same arc as the hammer, it has to pivot at the end of it's travel to hit the primer straight on.

 

[119er]

Great info MrBorland and good points. If I must, I guess I'll have to get a pair of 625's and do the moons with those! I will have one of the 686's done to see what I think. Luckily the cylinder will work with or without moons. And about brass, I got some new Winchester today that is very hard to get into the shellholder. It's a "snap" fit.