SW 686 Quality control slipping?

[RA40]

I'm of the thought to "get it done right the first time." In this age the poor QC is widely spread among the forums to be known. Just about every manufacturer has some horror stories of poor QC and customer service that we've read about. Having to send stuff back for repair is troublesome for the purchaser. This state of being beta testers in the consumer market is a poor representation of goods being produced these days.

 

[357smallbore]

I'm not going to get specific, but it seems you beat me by a bit.

I never said I had a 139
I just posed the question to you if you did have more than that. I'm a Ruger guy myself. (Older Ruger that is)

 

[ChiefTJS]

I was lucky enough to pick up my new 686 on Monday but my employer wanted me on the road that afternoon so it hasn't been to the range yet. I can't find anything wrong with it and fit and finish look very good to me. Some holiday has the range closed so it'll be tomorrow or Saturday before I get to shoot it. I've got 100rds loaded and ready to go. I'm pretty excited to see how she does.

 

[ChiefTJS]

Got to go run 100 rounds through the new 686 this morning! The particular specimen shot very well and felt very good. A general examination on the bench and a shooting session have shown me that S&W can still put out a quality product. I intend to shoot this one quite a bit in the next few months and will update if I find anything wrong with it.

 

[d'zaster]

I have a late model 610 that shows the decline in fit & finish compared to older Smiths. It runs like a champ tho.

 

[crestoncowboy]

My last 3 smith had to go back to the plant within a few cylinders full. Not for aesthetics either. One of the three should have never left the factory. A 5 year old could glance at it and see issues. The other two were less obvious and even a single test fire of all 6 chambers might not have shown issues.

Edit...quite possibly 3 of my last 4. I don't remember if my 686 was before or after a 29. but Either way going 1 for 4 isn't spectacular either . Before those id had nothing but satisfaction from Smith and Ruger both

My last Ruger did as well though. Light strikes on a 22.

All 4 of those have worked fine since their trip back to the factories

 

[Stephanie B]

Quality at S&W has been declining for a long time.

I bought a 686-6, brand spanky-new, a few years ago. I bought it because I did not have any L frame Smiths in my collection, and the price was pretty good.

But when I got it to the range, I had to crank the rear sight all the way to the right to get it to shoot to point of aim. Allow me to clarify, I have been shooting revolvers for over 50 years, and I do know how to shoot them.

View attachment 1114440

I had the same issue in 2020 with a new 66-8. They unclocked the shroud but, in doing so, turned the barrel-cylinder gap down to the point that the gun wouldn't run after it had been heated up a little. So, one return to the factory for the problem you mentioned, two returns for the second issue,

At that point, they shipped a replacement to my LGS. That gun had a rear sight that was jammed all the way down. Once they fixed that, I had a decent gun. But that it took four, count 'em, four warranty returns and nearly nine months to get to that point frosted me.

If Colt were to license Wilson's adjustable sights for the new Python, Anaconda, and King Cobra Target, I'd not look at a new S&W revolver again.

 

[bcook4321]

I bought a new 686 recently and was bummed out because the hammer was dragging on the sideplate. Sent it back to the factory on their dime, 6 weeks later it came back with a new hammer and sear, and it is very nice. I am quite happy now.

 

[speedingpickle]

I've only got a little over 300 rds on my 686+ with no issues yet but after seeing Driftwood's pics I decided to take a closer look and sure enough there's small dings everywhere and there is a gap at the yoke-but it's even, not tapered like his.
Never was thrilled with the finish anyway, looks like a chimp with a brillo pad went over it. I TRY to be careful but all my guns get beat up eventually so it wasn't a deal breaker.