I have been debating sending in my 586(no dash) for the s&w recall pertaining to cylinder lockup with high pressure 357 loads. I see mostly mention of Federal primers(softer) being the issue.

Yesterday I shot some regular 38s to warm up, then some Remington factory 357 loads. The 357 loads fired fine, the cases/primers looked very normal & not a hint of any 'primer flow'. It may not be a very technical test, but again the gun will seldom even see a 357 round with me anyway.

I carefully compared the firing pin to my 686-3, they are very similar, the -3 slightly shorter. As of now I may just skip that trip to the S&W factory.

IF you'll be using it for self defense I would have the mod done on S&W's dime. I've shot over 10K rounds , many of which were .357's through my unmodified 586 without a single problem, so have never bothered with the recall.

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V/R
Roger / SG

My 686 no dash works just fine with out the modification. Bought it new, have lost count of the number of rounds it's seen. It's my target 357, never fired a 38 in it, but my 357 loads are no where near to being full house loads. I have a couple 28's and a Security Six for when I need the power of the mighty 357 Magnum.

I have a 686 no dash and am not about to send it back for the M stamp mods. She works fine for anything I fire plus, I have other guns for self defense and really hot magnum loads. If it were my only revolver, I might send it back for the mod.

Having sent one home and not liking what I got back, I lean toward not sending it in. BUT...I also despise any gun that is ammo sensitive. The only way you can make this gun non-ammo sensitive (supposedly) is to have the modification performed.

If I had to grab a handful of some ammo in tight, I would hate to have to figure out how it was primed, or what it was before I could feel safe with it. I believe a gun (revolver) should safely fire ANY cartridge made for that caliber that meets the specifications for that caliber and not be concerned about it.

The reports run the gambit from "it locks up all the time" to "mine has never locked up". To me....that equates to sloppy design/craftsmanship. This is not suppose to be a one-of gun. It's suppose to fire any 38-special or 357 magnum right off the shelf and you never know when it may not.

I love the 686/586, but I solved my problem another way. I wanted a 4-inch anyhow and a I swapped my 6-inch ND even for a 4-inch -4. Yep...I know parting with a ND is difficult, but I rationalized it this way...The Model A was the first Ford, but do I want to drive a Model A on a daily basis as opposed to a new Ford that I don't have to get out and hand-crank or otherwise worry about. So...I went for the -4 model as it is considered the best of the bunch by many.

I have put many thouands of rounds through my 586 no dash without an issue. Virtually all of them mild 38 Spceial loads.

I bought one new in the 80s and had no problems until I bought some Federal .357 158gr. Locked up on every cylinder with primer flow into the bushing.
My dealer sent it back to get the small firing pin and bushing installed, and it's been fine on everything since then.

AFAIK, S&W tested it with Remington ammo, and was as surprised as everyone else with the Federal primer problem. I have later model 686s, and their firing pin and bushing looks exactly like the ones the factory put in my ND for the "M" modification.

All shoot great.

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Science plus Art

I also bought it FTF cash, & would rather keep it 'off the books' unless required.

I've never bought factory ammo for any of my 357's. I shoot HOT loads as well as low power magnums (+P+) in all bullet weights.

My first, a 586 ND had the problem and I sent it in. This was with Winchester primers - all I've ever used. Repair complete, it worked perfectly thereafter.

I had two 686's, they were both OK in that department.

My current 586-1 does not have the "M" stamp and fires any and all ammo just fine.

Not all the ND and -1 guns had the problem, but enough did that S&W made a recall.

If it gives you peace of mind, send it in. If you fire hot 125g loads with Federal primers and it works - you're good to go. Try it.

I believe the consensus is clear....

If your 586/686 or other very early L frame model is used for self defense or LE, and your life may depend on the modification, by all means do the recall... That seems to be simple common sense...

If your gun is intended to be a target gun then the recall is your option. S&W long ago recognized this occasional problem and they have dutifully made free upgrades available for decades. Another big plus for S&W customer service, IMHO...

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Terry

The only reason I sent in my 586 in for the recall was I wanted to have S&W do some other work to it, and using the recall they paid the freight.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Sportsterguy, that's excellent advice. If you're not gonna use it for SD/HD don't bother. Only a small percentage of the 586/686 no dashes and -1s ever had the problem.

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Call S&W, I don't think they will do the mod unless your experiencing the issues.

NAAAH, they'll do the mod on ANY no dash or -1 586/686 and pay shipping both ways, NO questions asked......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Hmmmmm.... "I don't think?"

Interesting the conclusions that are drawn without any factual information or experience to back it up.

For liability issues alone, S&W couldn't be selective about which recalled guns they will update and which they won't... Just consider the civil implications of S&W rejecting a requested update and have someone die because of it.... Sometimes it may be wise to give issues a little more thought before we speak...

Just sayin'

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Terry

O.K. guys, I will keep it as-is, no Mod. Yes, S&W said they would do the mod free, shipping & all. This gun will be mostly a safe queen anyway & when I do shoot it again it will be 38's and very seldom any 357 loads.

I just thought it would be a cool 'older school' gun to gift to one of my Sons someday. Older school to them, not me. I just wouldn't want to pass on a gun with issues. The seller stated he never had any lockup problems too, for whatever that's worth.

I also have a leather Don Hume holster coming off gunbroker in a few days, made for the 4' 586. I'd like to try the fit when it comes. The current 'firing pin bushing' looks great & like it should stay where it's at. Thanks for the good reports with the unmodified 586 guns.

Okay, let me clarify. I have a 586 no dash un-modified. I did CALL S&W about 2 years ago to inquire about having the modification done. The gentleman I was talking to said I did not need the modification if I'm not experiencing the issues and not ALL 586's need to be modified. I'm not an expert on 586's but S&W should be, if they are concerned then the policy should be to tell people send them in when they inquire about the modification and not be selective. Mine shoots fine so I went about my way. Could have been who I was talking to on that particular day. Maybe I should call back and they would tell me to send it in, then I would be a little more concerned about getting one answer then and one answer now.

I called S&W and the rep said..."oh...you have one of those old guns". I should have hung the phone up at that moment, but I sent it on in. AND...they treated it like it was one of them old guns. I think the janitor did my modification. Now....I don't have it anymore.

I keep reading comments like "a few having the problem" or "if you're not having the problem don't worry about it". The issue is that nobody knows what "few" are having, or are subject to it. Smith cannot tell anybody what serial number had/has the problem or not....they don't know. They let you shoot it to find out. You may pick it up one day and have to really use it for purpose and that is the moment you may have the problem.

Murphy says it will only lock-up in a self defense situation.
O'Tool's commentary to Murphy is that Murphy is an optimist.

That's why I had mine done before I went to Centeral America.

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CSM, U S Army(Ret) 1963-1990

I bought a 6" 586 Sacramento P.D. Commemorative no dash from Bill Davis Co. and had the Davis Combat Tune done to it. It has had a boatload of rounds thru it with no problems most of them mag loads. The action is smooth as glass and it has a light trigger pull I will keep it as is.

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20 years Mil, 18 yrs Sac P.D.

You're still feeding us unsupported and inflammatory generalities, snubbiefan.... How do you know "they treated it like an old gun." What does "treating it like an old gun" mean? And you observed this treatment --HOW? If the work was so shabby what precisely was wrong with it? How do you know the repair person was so unqualified and we should accept your conclusion "the janitor must have done the work."

With all your unsubstantiated and inflammatory comments about S&W customer service you sound more like a troll than the concerned former owner you claim to be...

The only thing missing from your post is a suggestion to do what trolls have commonly done.... predictably suggest another favorite manufacturer....

I sympathize with those who may occasionally have an issue with customer service but somehow I don't feel compelled to feel sympathetic to your complaint.... nor with well over thirty years of experience with S&W customer service do I feel swayed by it in any way.....

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Terry

One observation I will offer is that if you think you will ever want to have a target hammer and trigger installed in an early 586 or 686, I don't believe there are any of those hammers available with the old-design firing pin (or as S&W refers to it, "hammer nose"). I bought a half-dozen of each part some time back and all I could find was new-style hammers.

"True confessions" time: Without thinking about the recall update, I installed a target hammer and trigger in a 686 no-dash that hadn't had the update done and was puzzled for a while as to why it wouldn't fire. When I dry-fired it and held the trigger back, I noticed that the firing pin didn't protrude from the bushing and the old light came on in my head.

I consider this recall an update and had it done to that 686. Now the target hammer works fine!

Ed

Well now---I have tested Murphy's law enough to know that he is alive and well.
I sent mine in--came back quickly and is in good shape.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

William, I run up on you in the best places. LOL Just called S-W about my 586. Gave customer service all the information he needed and was told my 586 was made in 1987 and was under a recall from about 20 years back. He said that the recall was so long ago and my 586 had probably seen 3 or 4 owners and if nothing had happened all this time then I would should be safe to shoot it. I told him that I wanted my gun checked anyway and he happily told me to send it in. I am happily waiting on the label from S&W to send my 586 in and "get my small problem fixed" (quoting customer service). Customer service never went into detail except to say it was an L frame problem and for me to include a note stating my gun needed an L frame modification.