Trade 4" SW 686+ for Kimber Custom II

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needmorecowbell

needmorecowbell

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Looking for input on a trade I am planning to make later today. Would you trade a Kimber Custom II with night sights (~5 yrs old) and hogue rosewood grips for a SW 686+ 4" coming with 5 speedloaders and 70rds 357 ammo? The 686 has always been a desire of mine since shot one in my 1st basic handgun class about 13 yrs ago. I actually like commander size 1911's better (prefer my Sig C3 over the Kimber) and don't use the Kimber much. Is this a good/fair trade?
 
Would you trade a Kimber Custom II with night sights (~5 yrs old) and hogue rosewood grips for a SW 686+ 4" coming with 5 speedloaders and 70rds 357 ammo?
Click to expand...

Abso-freaking-lutely. I would much rather have a 686 than a gun with as spotty a record as a Kimber. Plus, I just happen to like Smiths.
 
Sounds OK to me, assuming the 686+ is to be for casual shooting and/or self defense and not competition.
The seven shooter model is not welcome in IDPA and not as good as an eight shooter in USPSA or ICORE.
 
I would have spent the original money you put into the Kimber on a S&W 686+ anyway. So my answer is yes, if the Smith is in good shape, do it.
\
My 3" 686+ is my armchair gun, and my favorite trail gun. I love it.

As Jim points out, it is not a competition gun though.
 
Absolutely! I own a 4" 686-6 Plus and it's an great revolver. It's my woods gun of choice. If the gun is in good shape, you're getting a steal. Imo the 4" model is the best balanced of all the 686's.
 
If the Kimber no longer holds that much interest or has as much use to you as would the S&W then I would say, yes make the trade. This providing the S&W checks out okay mechanically.
 
As a revolver guy, I also say absolutely. Especially if you are less enchanted with the Kimber. My 6" 686 was the first firearm I ever bought with my own money (back in the '80s), and it remains today my favorite firearm.
 
Checking for a barrel ring - if the gun was ever fired with a barrel obstruction, such as a stuck bullet, the inside of the barrel (and maybe even the outside of the barrel) may show a ring where the barrel bulged from the overpressure.
 
The Ring
I traded for a 357 some time ago. I guess I didn't check it out well enough. There was a ring just in front of the forcing cone.
I showed it to several knowledgeable people. I was told it was fairly common. And that it was from shooting a lot of lightweight
full pressure rounds. I sold it to a friend that shoots 38's a lot.
Man, I took a beating on that one.
 
Regular shooter

I think a trade from the Kimber to a 686 would be a step down. I own both guns and would not trade either! The value of the Kimber is considerably more and one of my favorite guns. The 686 is so accurate that it is not very challenging if you are target shooting.
 
wouldn't kimber sell for more than you could buy a used 686? And if so why not sell it and buy a 686 possibly new? Or am I wrong on the values?
 
Speaking from prior experience, as long as you have no attachment or interest in the Kimber you should be good to go on the trade. For example, I had absolutely no attachment to my Springfield XD9, so when I traded it for a 5" 1911 I had been wanting I never looked back. No regrets. Same when I sold my Taurus 94 .22 revolver and bought a S&W K-22. Never looked back. One day you could pick up a Commander length 1911 if you are having any second thoughts.

Speaking for myself, I've regretted trades when I liked the gun I was turning in, even if I like the gun I was getting even more. Best example was when I traded a Taurus 66 6" .357 for my 4" 686+. I'm glad I have my 686, it is a fantastic gun that I'll never let go (it serves as my bedside gun. In fact, I'm in the process of obtaining a 3" 686+ model for CCW, but I wish I still had that Taurus. It was a very nice gun in its own right.
 
I'm not sure when the 686 was made, but check it over closely for fit and finish issues.

One thing S&W can't seem to do with much precision anymore is screw barrels into frames without leaving them canted or "clocked". I've seen a few 686s with this problem.

My latest S&W is a 640 Pro Series which has made two trips back to fix this problem. Now it is almost straight... Almost.

Edmo
 
Both good guns IMO. I inherited a Custom II and have grown quite fond of it. Bought a 686+ several years ago and like it quite a bit as well. I don't like to carry either, but I love to shoot them both. Pretty sure the Kimber would sell for a couple hundred more here, so I'm not sure I'd ordinarily go for a straight up trade, but if the 686 is the model, and has the specifications you are looking for, it may be worth it to you.
 
Well the guy was wishy washy all week and then told me he was trading for a stainless Springfield instead. Works out fine for me though. I ordered a 3" 686+ from KYGUNCO and now have my Kimber for sale.
 
Hopefully you'll come out with a good deal for your Kimber. My 686+ is a 3 incher and I think it balances out perfectly at that length. It is perfectly controllable with full strength magnums and is comfortable and fun to shoot at the range. Rides nice and high in an OWB holster, but heavier than I like to haul around all day. Good luck with both transactions and hope you enjoy the change.
 
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