S &W 686 4 inch barrel to 6 inch

[nathan]

I have a nice prelock 686 -4 in 4 inch. I wish it s in 6 inch barrel as it balances better (i handled one at the gunshow). I was thinking of finding a new 6 inch barrel and have a gunsmith swap it. Does this involve headspacing , etc? Im just curious.

I know this is more hassle rather than go the easier route which is to sell this one and get a prelock 686 in 6 inch target barrel .

 

[rcmodel]

Sell or trade the gun for what you want.

The expense of finding a barrel, buying it, and having it fitted properly will more then pay whatever it costs to swap guns.

rc

 

[CraigC]

Shortening a barrel, DA or SA, is pretty cheap and easy. Usually a good excuse to have action and/or finish work done. Likewise, installing a new barrel from premium blank on an SA is not 'that' expensive. Doing so with a common DA sixgun is probably more trouble and expense that it's worth. Shipping will cost you a hundred to one fifty, another hundred to fit the barrel and at least that much for the barrel. I suggest selling yours and buying what you want, they're a dime a dozen.

 

[BYJO4]

While I have both 4" and 6" model 686s, I prefer the 6". However the 4" will normally sell for more. I would sell your gun using Gunbroker and then buy a 6".

 

[CB900F]

Nathan;

Just go buy a 6" gun, if you can find one at a decent price these days. Don't sell the 4", you'll come to regret it if you do. Maybe not today, but tomorrow you will. If that means you've got to wait a bit before you aquire the 6", that's OK because of the artificially elevated market right now.

Now if you should happen to chance across a 6" model 66, go ahead & buy it right then & there. Send me the reciept & I'll send you the money. Provided of course that that transaction is still legal should you get lucky.

900F

 

[nathan]

Yeah, i might as well hold on to this and get a six inch some other time. The one that comes to mind would either of the three


S & W model 66 in 6 inch
S & W model 686 in 6 inch
S & W model 27 in 6 inch.

Eveytime i see them i drool. LOL

 

[rcmodel]

The other thing is.
Things change.

When I was 25-35 years old, I could shoot a 6" K-38 or 7 1/2" Model 41 much better then a 4" or 5.5" in Bullseye competition.

Now that I am nearly 70?
Things have reversed considerably with my eyes.
The shorter barrels sights can be focused much better with my bifocals then the longer ones.

Also, I have a 6" Model 19, and it is too long to carry comfortably in a holster all day.
Especially when setting down in a truck or blind seat.

rc

 

[hAkron]

Changing the length of a revolver barrel is detrimental to the value, costs almost as much as buying another one in that length, and, generally speaking -- 6" S&W's are worth less than 4".

 

[bannockburn]

nathan

Maybe add a Model 28 to the 6" barrel list as well. For myself I would love a Model 27 with a 5" barrel. That to me would be the best of both worlds.

 

[Confederate]

I think if you sell your 4-incher that you'll regret it. I have two 6-inch 686s (one an original with a stamped side plate which has never been fired), and though they're great at what they do, I prefer my 6-inch Ruger Security-Six because it's just as strong and yet it's lighter. I miss my old 4-inch 686, but sold it thinking I could replace it later. I didn't know that S&W was going to subsequently uglify the gun.

Buying a barrel and having it installed in your present 4-inch 686 would be very expensive because barrels are crush fit into the frame; and new barrels have to be carefully fitted. Buy a 6-incher and keep both. Guns have become good investments. At least, thhat's what I tell my wife!

 

[MrBorland]

S & W model 66 in 6 inch
S & W model 686 in 6 inch
S & W model 27 in 6 inch.

For what purpose? Hunting? Target shooting? Gonna mount optics?

The 3 listed range in size from the medium K-frame (66) to the large N-frame (27), so which do you feel fits you best?

All else being equal, the 686 is probably the best choice, as it's the most versatile, and it's a just a longer version of something you've already got and are used to, though you might find the full underlug makes a 6" 686 feel muzzle heavy.