hi all, I have a 686 6 inch barrel. The gun is very consistent, however I've had to adjust the rear sight very far left. This is the only pistol I have that I've had to do this to, it's not me. My 629 was dead center from the factory....Upon close inspection there does seem to be a very slight gap between barrel and frame on the left side. None on the right. Should I send it back to the factory or live with it? What will S&W do? Thanks

Can you post a picture? I can't picture the gap thing you describe. Check the barrel to see if it is canted as that seems to happen a lot and could be the sighting problem. If it's within 5 degrees of true S&W will say that it is in spec and I've heard that they won't do anything to it. Personally, I wouldn't like a gun that had to have sight adjustments to the max to make it shoot straight. It mostly depends on what I would expect to use the gun for.

i think Ive attached pics...

Attached Images

	sw sight.jpg (122.9 KB, 232 views)
	sw gap.jpg (64.9 KB, 222 views)

I do not have a gap between frame and barrel in my 686-6, 4" barrel. With that gap and your rear sight issue, I'd say call S&W pronto. They are the experts.

That gap does not look normal to me. If it was purchased used, my guess is someone got rid of it because of a problem. That problem could have been induced by someone who thought they knew how to take off and replace a barrel. I say send it to S&W for repair.

I agree-either take it to a qualified gun smith or send it back to S&W.

thanks guys. I bought it new. Its about 9 months old, never dropped or abused. I'll call on monday. I actually bought a 629 last month and had to send it back for a sight issue.... I'm starting to wonder about S&W....

I just ran across this thread. I have the exact same issue with a new Talo edition 686.. I was wondering how you made out? What did Smith and Wesson do to correct the problem?

Are you saying you have to adjust the rear sight way to the side because you have a canted barrel?

Unfortunately it's been a reoccurring trouble on several models not just the 686.

I have a 5" TALO 686-6+ & it has a canted (under-clocked) barrel. The rear sight is adjusted far to the right but it's very accurate, maybe better than my 627PC.

It doesn't bother me & I'm not going to send it back to the factory for that unless something else comes up necessitating a trip back. But if your's bothers you or you can't adjust for it, call S&W for a shipping tag. They'll reset the barrel straight for you.

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Waiting for the break of day

On my gun, the barrel does not appear canted, but the gun hits left to the point where to get it sighted in, the rear sight needs to be adjusted all the way to the right to the point where there is no more windage adjustment left. It just looks odd when you pick up the gun. And, it's not me. I've had two other experienced users use the gun and they find the same issue. I just got the gun and like it otherwise. I'll be calling S&W this week.

I checked mine before I bought it & still missed it. Looking at the barrel-frame junction it's virtually unnoticeable. With the front sight aligned in the rear sight's notch, at arm's length, I can see a slight tilt in the front blade to the left.

Sounds good. Hopefully S&W will get it back to you quickly. Let us know how it goes.

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Waiting for the break of day

I sent mine back to Smith. The said the barrel was mis-aligned. They fixed it. All it well now. They had is for about 4 weeks.