Hey everyone, new member here, first post. I am a new gun owner, My first gun was a NIB 686-6+ 4 inch I bought a few months ago. I've shot it a few times, cleaned it after every trip to the range. I also took off the cylinder during a couple cleanings.

My question is, is it normal for the cylinder, while open, to have a little play forward and backward and to actually touch the frame when you push it back or point the gun up? Like when I spin the cylinder while the gun is pointing up and the crane is open, it is metal against metal. I don't remember if it was like that before I took the cylinder off to clean it and maybe I did something wrong putting the cylinder back on?

Yes it is completely normal. Welcome and enjoy your new 686. You will get many years of enjoyment from it.

Sounds Completely normal to me. What's important is the tolerances when the gun locks up. Or is in the process of locking up. I had some play in my cylinder whereby it could -and did scrape against the forcing cone as it locked up. I sent it back to S&W for a timing issue and mentioned this as a secondary concern and they fixed it. If the gun locks up correctly, with proper tolerances you're good to go. Those with more experience may drill down a little deeper and get you right. You're in a good place and welcome to the forum.
GR

Thanks for the information and the quick responses guys!

Absolutely normal, and part of the design. The small projection that the rim of the cylinder bears against when it's opened and you tilt the muzzle up is called the "frame lug" - it's a separate staked piece in older revolvers, part of the frame in the newer design. Its only purpose is to keep the cylinder in place when the gun is opened, and there has to be some metal/metal contact for that to work.