Greetings - I have had a police trade-in 4-inch M-686 for a number of years. It's in great condition with strong carry-up and tight lock-up. It was a little scratched up so I buffed it with something (don't remember!) years ago and the finish looks pretty good - especially the cylinder. But, it isn't a snubbie. I have long regretted selling my M-19 2 1/2" nickel revolver many years ago. Does anyone know - will S&W rebarrel it? I have checked Brownell's and they have some S&W barrels in stock but no 2 and 1/2-inchers. I have to add that my budget is a little on the shy side - so I'm hoping the project won't be too expensive if they take on such projects. TIA!! ...
Will S&W Rebarrel a 686?
- Thread starter GeoJammy
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dprice3844444
member
save that buy a snubby 65 3 inch heavy bbl round butt
ArchAngelCD
Member.
To answer your question as asked..
I think the S&W Performance Shop will install a 2.5" barrel on your 4" M686 even though it's not listed as one of the stock services on the site. The parts are available because they have a 2.5" and a 3" M686 and M686+ in their current catalog.
The best way to know is, call the Performance Center and ask them 1-800-331-0852.
45_auto
Member
GeoJammy said:
That kind of depends on your definition of "too expensive".
As others have said, sell it then buy wht you want.
A used 2.5" 686 barrel will run you about $150:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=441916123
Shipping and gunsmith work will probably be in the neighborhood of at least $200 minimum no matter where you send it.
So you're looking at about $350 to change the barrel.
A 686 with a 2.5" barrel will cost you around $800:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=440712088
If you can get around $500 for your gun, and shop around a little for a 2.5" 686 (I just went with a price on the easiest one to find), you should easily come out cheaper than the barrel swap scenario.
Jim Watson
Member
It won't be cheap. Forget the budget, forget ever getting your money back. You are going to have to love it and keep it forever.
I had them replace a cylinder, turning one of those silly seven shot things into a proper sixshooter. I can't imagine why I bought it in the first place, but everybody else was smarter; I could not sell it or trade it so I had it fixed. It is a good thing it shoots well, because I have about 1.5 guns worth of money in it now.
I had them replace a cylinder, turning one of those silly seven shot things into a proper sixshooter. I can't imagine why I bought it in the first place, but everybody else was smarter; I could not sell it or trade it so I had it fixed. It is a good thing it shoots well, because I have about 1.5 guns worth of money in it now.
evan price
Member
Looking on gunbroker as often as I do, I find no shortage of k-frame 357 snubs for 'reasonable' prices, certainly not much more than it would cost to have the performance shop snubbie your 686. If you are not demanding perfect finish your options are wide. I wouldn't mess up a good gun for the price of buying another one.
il.bill
Member
Yes, it can be done, but if your "budget is a little on the shy side" you would most likely be better off heeding the advice that just about everyone has given. I would be interested to hear what the S&W Performance Shop says (thanks to ArchAngelCD for listing the phone number).
I think 45_auto pretty much 'hit the nail on the head' in his informative post #7.
Keep us updated, if you will, and welcome to the forum!
I think 45_auto pretty much 'hit the nail on the head' in his informative post #7.
Keep us updated, if you will, and welcome to the forum!
Wow - Great responses and lots of info - Thank-you! I have checked the M-19 snubbies on GB and they're out of sight price-wise. I still have my 1980-vintage Sec-Six snub - but I sent it back to Ruger once and they still didn't fix it. It only carries up strongly on four chambers - not a problem for DA but it makes me nervous. I've toyed with the idea of another Sec-Six but Ruger is supposedly out of barrels for them - plus, it wouldn't be a Smith. If I were smart - I woulda picked up a few revolvers before I departed in '98 for what turned out to be a 16-year stint overseas!!
A few years ago a friend of mine won a 686 in a local fund raising raffle. He ended up sending to S&W to have the barrel changed to another length. I don't remember what they charged him, but since he had $5.00 or so in the 686, he didn't mind paying to get it changed to what he wanted.
ApacheCoTodd
member
I'll buck (most of) the common sense responses...
You've got a history with it.
Send it in and treat you and it to a re-blue whole you're at it.
I'm bettin' (your money of course) that you won't regret it.
You've got a history with it.
Send it in and treat you and it to a re-blue whole you're at it.
I'm bettin' (your money of course) that you won't regret it.
45_auto
Member
Well, I must say that a re-blue on a stainless steel gun (686 is stainless, 586 is blue) should definitely make it interesting!
ApacheCoTodd
member
Oops - missed that significant bit. I don't know that I'd want S&W touching the exterior of a stainless gun if their new ones are an example of what they deem sufficient.
Snubshooter
Member
My two cents- Have a local Smith cut the barrel to the length you want. Should cost about $150. Putting a new barrel on may be a lot of work, because the ejector rod of a 4" is longer than a 2.5". A side benefit would be that with the longer ejector still installed getting the empties out is easier.
Snubshooter - Good point - Thanks. I see that a guy on GB has quite a few S&W parts - the ideal barrel would be 3-incher, which I don't think means a shortened ejector rod, but the PowerPort version listed is prolly going to be out of sight price-wise. Plus - my 4-incher has a square butt so it would look a little Frankenstein-ish. Really - what I would like to have - would be a 2-1/2 66 or 19 - but those prices on GB are outa-sight. I've been looking around here and found only one M-19 on consignment - listed at $700 ... 
evan price
Member
Theres lots of 66 snubs, there was a no dash that just sold for $350 when I put my previous post up.
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