The 686 No-Dash Curse!

[Confederate]

On another thread, the 686 recall came up, and I wondered how many of you with no-dash 681/581s and 686/586s ever bothered sending them back to the factory, and if any of you actually experienced the cylinder binding that was supposed to pop up in these guns? The reason I ask is that I have a no-dash I've never fired, and I wondered how prevalent the problem was?



Back in the 80s, when I was in Paducah, Ky., we had some officers that had front sights wearing down quickly, and it turned out that S&W (as hard to believe as this might be for you true believers to fathom) hadn't quite watched its stainless steel quality control for a batch of their 681s. So their holsters were wearing down their front sights! S&W fixed the problem by paying more attention to its quality control. It also started pinning steel front sight pins on! I hope that wasn't part of the fix.

Anyway, I love my 686. But I never shot it. Got a second one in a trade. Never shot it, either. But the second one had an internal firing pin, so it was never subject to the recall. But in all the 4-inchers, 681s and 686s (no-dash), I never heard of any cylinder binding. So now I wondered if any of you had problems with cylinder binding with .357 ammo? In fact, have you ever had any problems with your 686s, period? Except for those 681s, those are the only defects I was ever aware of. Yet officers were firing their 681 and 686 no-dash guns double action and there were no binding problems at all. In fact, once the springs were replaced, I liked their actions much better than any Colt action I've ever seen, including the great Python.

So how about you?

 

[DC Plumber]

Yes, my 586 no dash would lock up with certain 125g 357 ammo. Sent it in, back in a week or so. Perfect.

 

[Bo]

I have a 586 that I installed a fiber-optic front sight with Loctite only. ( I ruined the first sight trying to drill a hole in it for the pin).
I've shot nothing but magnum loads thru it and it hasn't budged yet.

 

[PapaG]

The first 66 and 63 models galled badly. I still have the 63. Eighteen rounds and spray, wipe and scotchbrite the cylinder front.

 

[biquer]

I found my used 686 no dash 5-6 years ago, which has not had the modification. Since then it's seen only many hundreds of 158 grain LSWC handloads up to full magnum loads with no issues.

 

[gotboostvr]

I had a 681-1 that did not have the modification and never had an issue with it. My current 4" 686-0 does have the modification, and no issues either.

 

[Texas1880]

I bought my 686 no dash on a whim 2 years ago. It was in excellent condition. I had read about the issue and decided to send it back home for the recall, and get a combat revolver action package done without the trigger stop. Basically an action job. Plus a high polish. Came back in 6 months lol. But the work was great, it was stamped “M” in the crane, the action job really smoothed everything out. It shot well before, but now it’s a dream. Thinking of sending my 4 and 3 inch 686 in for the same treatment one day.

The pic is blown up a bit, so not best quality, if someone wants to see the mark and crane lemme know.

 

[Load Master]

On another thread, the 686 recall came up, and I wondered how many of you with no-dash 681/581s and 686/586s ever bothered sending them back to the factory, and if any of you actually experienced the cylinder binding that was supposed to pop up in these guns? The reason I ask is that I have a no-dash I've never fired, and I wondered how prevalent the problem was?

View attachment 787222

Back in the 80s, when I was in Paducah, Ky., we had some officers that had front sights wearing down quickly, and it turned out that S&W (as hard to believe as this might be for you true believers to fathom) hadn't quite watched its stainless steel quality control for a batch of their 681s. So their holsters were wearing down their front sights! S&W fixed the problem by paying more attention to its quality control. It also started pinning steel front sight pins on! I hope that wasn't part of the fix.

Anyway, I love my 686. But I never shot it. Got a second one in a trade. Never shot it, either. But the second one had an internal firing pin, so it was never subject to the recall. But in all the 4-inchers, 681s and 686s (no-dash), I never heard of any cylinder binding. So now I wondered if any of you had problems with cylinder binding with .357 ammo? In fact, have you ever had any problems with your 686s, period? Except for those 681s, those are the only defects I was ever aware of. Yet officers were firing their 681 and 686 no-dash guns double action and there were no binding problems at all. In fact, once the springs were replaced, I liked their actions much better than any Colt action I've ever seen, including the great Python.

So how about you?

I am a shooter. Meaning I use the guns I have a lot at my local range. I have about 180 rounds through my 686 no dash that has not been modified. No signs of anything other than perfect function. I am really enjoying this revolver.

 

[Confederate]

I bought my 686 no dash on a whim 2 years ago. It was in excellent condition. I had read about the issue and decided to send it back home for the recall, and get a combat revolver action package done without the trigger stop. Basically an action job. Plus a high polish. Came back in 6 months lol. But the work was great, it was stamped “M” in the crane, the action job really smoothed everything out. It shot well before, but now it’s a dream. Thinking of sending my 4 and 3 inch 686 in for the same treatment one day.

How much did they charge for the action job and the polishing? My newest 686 doesn't need an action job as it's as slick as it could be expected to be.

 

[bannockburn]

Confederate

I have my 686-no dash since they first came out. Had the recall work done locally as the gunsmith was an authorized S&W repair shop. No problems before, no problems after. Didn't have to ship my gun away or cost me anything. Win/Win as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Texas1880]

How much did they charge for the action job and the polishing? My newest 686 doesn't need an action job as it's as slick as it could be expected to be.

The shipping was free because of the recall both ways.

The action job and polish together was 450 I think. It’s on Smith’s website

 

[Blkhrt13]

The dash 1 I used to have bound up occasionally. I think it was the extractor rod unscrewing. I didn’t realize it was a factory issue.

 

[Master Blaster]

The recall involved changing the hammer nose and the bolster bushing ( hammer nose bushing ) in the frame. With certain ammo the hammer nose would stick in the bushing. After the repair the revolvers were test fired and the M was stamped in the yoke.
This was not a required recall. In other words, S&W did not try to get all the guns returned for repair. The problem did not show up on all guns produced and S&W only handled the repairs on a case by case basis. Many folks have fired thousands of rounds through these guns with no problems.
__________________

 

[Confederate]

The action job and polish together was $450 I think. It’s on Smith’s website.

Did that include the front sight, too, or was that something you did? That's a steep price for what you got.

I know Skeeter Skelton fired quite a few through his no-dash and didn't have any problems. He also ran a bunch through his Ruger Security-Six. Reckon you can afford to do that when the ammo's FREE!

 

[Load Master]

Did that include the front sight, too, or was that something you did? That's a steep price for what you got.

I know Skeeter Skelton fired quite a few through his no-dash and didn't have any problems. He also ran a bunch through his Ruger Security-Six. Reckon you can afford to do that when the ammo's FREE!

Mine are not free, but pretty low cost for me to roll my own for top notch ammo, I can do it for less than $14 per 100 rounds. It keeps the fun in shooting.

 

[John_R]

In fact, have you ever had any problems with your 686s, period?

My -5 spits particles on my hand when shooting .357 but I hear that's common and may be "a feature, not a bug."

 

[Texas1880]

Did that include the front sight, too, or was that something you did? That's a steep price for what you got.

I know Skeeter Skelton fired quite a few through his no-dash and didn't have any problems. He also ran a bunch through his Ruger Security-Six. Reckon you can afford to do that when the ammo's FREE!

the combat revolver action package and the shine. Steep, yes, but that’s their price. And I am happy with the revolver. The sight was on there already. A partridge sight I think it’s called

The bright stainless is amazingly well done, though.

The action job cost 165, and the bright shine was 275! I know....too much.

 

[gotboostvr]

Bright stainless can be attained with an old rag, a $5 can of Mother's and some elbow grease in case anyone was wondering.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

I bought a 4" "no dash" 686 in about 1983 or 1984 when I was a LEO. The issued ammo was .38 Plus P but I used to shoot my "duty" gun in local IPSC matches. I loaded it with full power .357 ammo (hard cast 158 grain bullets) and shot it regularly. I never had a problem. Later on I heard about the "upgrade" program; I sent S&W an email but got no response, so I've not seen a good reason to send it in.

 

[Confederate]

Bright stainless can be attained with an old rag, a $5 can of Mother's and some elbow grease in case anyone was wondering.

Yes, but the Mother's will just shine it up. It won't necessarily remove those annoying scratch lines that are made when the S&W chimpanzees sandpaper them at the S&W factory! Taurus shines their stainless guns to almost a nickel finish. Smith & Wesson stainless revolvers have some scratches going this way and some that way. Horrible finish. Their blued guns used to be top notch. Not Colt blue, but still good.

Never could afford a Python, but I got me a SOG Agency which has a beautiful deep black finish. No one with this knife has ever been able to bring themselves to actually using it.

 

[Texas1880]

Yes, but the Mother's will just shine it up. It won't necessarily remove those annoying scratch lines that are made when the S&W chimpanzees sandpaper them at the S&W factory! Taurus shines their stainless guns to almost a nickel finish. Smith & Wesson stainless revolvers have some scratches going this way and some that way. Horrible finish. Their blued guns used to be top notch. Not Colt blue, but still good.

Never could afford a Python, but I got me a SOG Agency which has a beautiful deep black finish. No one with this knife has ever been able to bring themselves to actually using it.

Can confirm that it is more than just a “mother’s” shine. It’s not something I’d want to do on my own. I did it with other guns, but I wanted a nickel almost finish, and the factory delivered.

 

[gotboostvr]

Yes, but the Mother's will just shine it up. It won't necessarily remove those annoying scratch lines that are made when the S&W chimpanzees sandpaper them at the S&W factory! Taurus shines their stainless guns to almost a nickel finish. Smith & Wesson stainless revolvers have some scratches going this way and some that way. Horrible finish. Their blued guns used to be top notch. Not Colt blue, but still good.

Never could afford a Python, but I got me a SOG Agency which has a beautiful deep black finish. No one with this knife has ever been able to bring themselves to actually using it.

Ah, I'm well familar with that.

The solution is green scotchbrite, and THEN mother's.

Putting a super bright smooth finish will look nice, but it'll scuff up pretty easy. I like somewhere between SW's brushed and a true high polish.

 

[gotboostvr]

Double tap.

 

[rodinal220]

I have a 586 4" no dash and never sent it in (30 years). I mostly fire 38 spl in it and have had zero issues, very limited .357 use and no issues.

 

[Confederate]

The solution is green Scotchbrite, and THEN Mother's. Putting a super bright smooth finish will look nice, but it'll scuff up pretty easy. I like somewhere between SW's brushed and a true high polish.

What would happen if you shined it up, then did a hard chrome from Mahovsky's? If one had a shiny gun hard chromed (Metalife), even holster wear wouldn't mar it. (I had a Beretta 70S .22LR hard chromed and it's the best finish I've ever seen. Even dampness shouldn't bother it.) It had a blued finish, but hard chroming stainless steel should make it impervious to rust.