I finished shooting at the range today & this gun store/ range is polymer & tactical weapons land. On my way out on the bottom shelf of the used guns I spotted a 6" stainless revolver. I had to bend down to see the whole gun & it was a 686. I had been wanting a 66 but what the heck this gun is spotless even the huge target grips don't have a ding or scratch. I checked the timing/lockup/end shake all great imo. No box only a S&W gun case so for $479+tax I bought it. I take the targets off & they're dated Oct 5 1980. I have 2 questions. The front side plate screw is only fingernail tight. If I tighten it the cylinder has drag when opening. Is this normal? Screwhead looks untouched & there are no scratches. 2nd question I need smaller grips to shoot it so are the Ahrends sb fingergroove retro Combats smaller than the fingergroove tactical or the reverse. I also got 30 days free range time with this purchase. I wish I knew how to post pics from this phone but I don't.

Regal, congrats on a great find and at a great price! Check and see if that yoke screw got swapped out with the sideplate screw next to it.

__________________
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

The screws look untouched & this is not the 1st stainless S&W that I have had like that. Back in the late 70's I bought a new gun that was the same way. I guess I won't hurt anything. Now this does not have the m recall on it. Should it go back to S&W to get the new bushing?

What 75 vette said, get online and see if you can find a pic of where the specific screws go. They are NOT the same. Someone may have put it back together wrong, and you are the lucky recipient of their mistake!

__________________
Fight socialism. Never stop.

Nice find!

Posting pictures from my phone is impossible. So I upload them to my computer and post them from there. I just email them to myself first, save to the PC, then I can upload to the Forum.

So it is really impossible for me . I don't have a computer. I use this Android for all my Internet. I'm really behind the times.

I took the yoke screw out & it is the one with the flat ground off end put it back in TIGHT & it works fine now. Confusing huh?

If it's for home defense, defense while camping, etc., I'd send it in for the recall work. If not, I'd shoot it and see. If it has issues, they will show up.

What's the s/n?

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Kernel the serial # is ack36XX. The stocks are dated October 5 1980. It also has partridge not ramp sight.

This is a range gun. I'm going to shoot it today with some 357's & 38's. What issue if there is one should I look for?

Here are a couple of pics of Mr. regalsc's fine 686 no dash. Congrats on a good snag sir.

g

Attached Images

	IMG_20150705_132554923 (Copy).jpg (170.5 KB, 110 views)
	IMG_20150705_132623288 (Copy).jpg (44.8 KB, 79 views)

__________________
Dan
Ps 96 SWCA 2930 SWHF 524

Nice gun! Thanks for helping out, g-dad!

__________________
Fight socialism. Never stop.

The issue will be when shooting full house .357 Mag loads. If the cylinder is difficult to open after shooting, it probably means that the primers flowed back into the hammer nose hole in the bushing. If so, then get the recall work done, if not, don't worry about it. The original problem was with Remington ammo.

Thanks to my friend gdad for posting my pics. As far as the front sight I also thought that it would come with a ramp sight but I looked on GB & there is one for sale that has the partridge type sight. It's a pinned sight also.

I vote for not sending it back for the mod. I have one I bought new when they first came out, serial #AAB50xx, and carried it on duty for a few years before we transitioned to autos. It's had several thousand rounds through it (I was the lead firearms instructor on my department), and I've NEVER had an issue with the gun. I wouldn't be the least bit hesitant to load it up for defensive purposes, especially with the modern versions of .357 mag loads.

Another grip/stock option could be Herrett Shooting Stars. They are smaller than factory, and fit great in my hand. These were bought off ebay pretty cheap. They are intended for GO, not SHOW! They were off a NYPD Officer's gun. Congrats on your 686 purchase! Bob

Attached Images

	003.JPG (166.6 KB, 31 views)
	006.JPG (164.1 KB, 13 views)

Thanks for the suggestion bananaman. I ordered the grips on the post above yours that KenL has on his 686.

Not all the no dash and dash 1's needed t be fixed. Put a couple cylinder fulls of HOT 125 gr loads through it and see if you get any flow back into the firing pin bushing causing a raised bump that rubs on the shield and possibly stops it from rotating. Mine definitely needed it. I kind of wish I had saved a couple of the fired rounds so I could have photographed the case head with raised primer to show what it looked like.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

So if I fire hot 357's & the bushing is bad the primers will be raised or deformed. Apparently you can't tell by looking at the bushing & see that it needs the recall.

The front sight is actually called a "patridge",not partridge.

My phone thinks it can spell better than me but truth is neither one of us can spell!