Keep or Sell Brand New 1980s SW 357/686 "NO Dash" Revolver

[Deceasedeye]

We tend to forget to mention the obvious at times. The new shooter may not realise that he can use 38cal. ammo in the very 357 he owns, no new gun required. I don't think this was made clear in previous post.

 

[Sevens]

I recently came across a 586 nickel a -2 issue, and while looking into this purchase, I found many people said they had thousands os of rounds through guns that were not sent back for recall and the M stamp. Just sayin. Wondering how important that really is.

This is a great question and I think it is best to look at it this way:

You might meet many, MANY more people who can report the same exact thing and you could buy one, never do the recall and also report success too. In fact, I might guess that would be likely.

However, if you own one that is subject to recall and you elect to ignore the recall and just go about enjoying your gun... all is well until you experience precisely the issue.

If/when that happens, depending of course on the severity of the primer flow... you may very well now find yourself with a 581/681/586 or 686 that:

--will not advance to the next chamber
--will not allow you to open the cylinder
--will remain with 5 (or however many) other loaded rounds

And you'll have a paperweight that can't be used as a firearm but is still loaded. Maybe you could get it home from the range and tinker with the yoke and wiggle it out and manage to remove the cylinder.

Myself, I'm not a huge fan of letting the 2020 version of S&W mess around with anything that I own and love. However in this case, it's going to require a very specific part AND a very purpose built tool to remove the original bushing and replace it with the updated piece. And all of that is assuming you sent it back to them before it locked up on you and you now have to ship a somewhat or mostly loaded handgun if you couldn't somehow wiggle that cylinder out.

S&W will pay shipping both ways and most report that turnaround time is fairly quick.

So it's risk reward. Much like that crafty commercial I've heard on the radio... gas station hots dogs and burritos are also risk/reward. High risk with horribly low reward if you choose to eat THAT food. So it goes with an early L-frame revolver that is subject to recall.

I would send it in.

 

[Toppscore]

Hi. Thank you for the help. Can you figure the build date?
I located the special order number "6175" on the box.

Welcome! You have a sought-after version of the model 686 with the long barrel, definitely opposite of the short barrel/CCW buying trends of recent years.

The AUL and number is the official serial number; the A3 37698 is a factory internal code. If you can let us know the Special Order number from the box label, we can tell you how old it is; this indicates the day it was ready to ship from the factory, which is how S & W determines a gun's official age.

Some collectors specifically seek out NIB guns and because of this your 686 will only continue to go up in value with time. Personally, if you don't need the money for a defense gun I would hang onto it and buy a new gun for that purpose.

 

[Toppscore]

special order number "6175" on the box

Hi. Thank you for the help. Can you figure the build date?
I located the special order number "6175" on the box.

 

[kbm6893]

Since nobody has mentioned it, 686 no dash and 686-1 had a factory recall for hammer nose bushing. Recall/fixed ones had a 'M' stamp.

While I always say send it back for the free modification, the one he has is unfired. I would not send that back. Let the next owner send it back if he wants to.

I'd hold onto it. It's only gonna go up in value. Unless you really need the money you can get a either a used Model 10 or something for less than $400 if you want a revolver, or a new polymer semi auto for $500 or so.

 

[murphydog]

That means the gun was packed and ready to ship on the 175th day of a year ending in 6. so in this instance June 24, 1986.

 

[Toppscore]

Since nobody has mentioned it, 686 no dash and 686-1 had a factory recall for hammer nose bushing. Recall/fixed ones had a 'M' stamp.

Hi. I read about the hammer issue. If for some reason, will S&W take the gun and fix it? What do you know. Also, is it easy to locate the "M" without taking apart the gun? PLMK. Thank you.

 

[kbm6893]

I wouldn't send back a 33 year old new in box unfired gun for the recall. If you do sell it, let the next guy do it. Sending it back takes away the originality of it.

Unless you really need the money, I'd hold onto that one and buy a polymer pistol for $500 or if you like revolvers, a used Model 10 for even less.

If you just want a gun for the house the 686 will be fine, 8" barrel or not.

But a new in box 33 year old gun? I think I'd keep it unfired.

 

[kbm6893]

Hi. I read about the hammer issue. If for some reason, will S&W take the gun and fix it? What do you know. Also, is it easy to locate the "M" without taking apart the gun? PLMK. Thank you.

Open the cylinder. Right on the frame underneath Mod 686, if there is an M stamped there it has had the recall. If you're the original owner if you didn't send it in it wasn't done.

 

[Toppscore]

When I bought the 357/686, I was thinking . . . . .

Howdy from South Carolina and welcome to the forum.

There are so many ways to look at your situation, but before answering, I'd first ask if the gun "speaks to you". When you hold it, do you think "this thing is freakin cool and I'd like to try shooting it"? If so, I'd recommend keeping it and getting instruction to use it safely.

Revolvers are a good beginners firearm and a 686 is an excellent all-purpose platform. Every person I take shooting, shoots it well from the start. The barrel length for a home defense handgun is a bit longer than usual, but people choose long guns for home defense, and it will shoot quieter and the mass will tame the recoil better than a shorter and lighter gun.

You have a firearm that's appreciated in value though not radically, but it will do the job you want to do and probably be fun to use while practicing.

I'd recommend keeping it, because you'll probably be a better shot with it, than with anything you'd replace it with, and that's what you want for self defense. Good luck.

Hi. Thanks for the info. When I purchase the 357/686 in 1987, I wanted to own the biggest baddest scariest gun - lol. But, recently married and busy, just stored it. The past two weeks I have been investigating guns to counter home invasions and attacks from anti-American rioters and those taking liberty committing crime while police are being defunded and disrespected.

Therefore, I have studied 357 9mm and 45 caliber hand guns that will shoot hollow point bullets able to stop offenders. There are so many possibilities. So, since my 357/686 may be more of a target gun and maybe getting a pistol with magazines might be best, deciding to sell or trade or auction the gun is a strong possibility. But, maybe following the many advice comments within this thread, keeping it might be better and maybe learning to shoot a large gun will help with quality shooting of other and smaller hand guns. But, not knowing if the value of this gun is enough to turn my head, who knows?
Anyway, my thoughts. Cheers

 

[Toppscore]

That means the gun was packed and ready to ship on the 175th day of a year ending in 6. so in this instance June 24, 1986.

Thank you so much.

 

[stansdds]

Hi. I read about the hammer issue. If for some reason, will S&W take the gun and fix it? What do you know. Also, is it easy to locate the "M" without taking apart the gun? PLMK. Thank you.

Yes, they will, but I would not send it in for modification. Yours is NIB, never fired, just as it was from the factory. As a collector piece, it would be best to leave it un-modified.

 

[oldman10mm]

pic in this old thread

M stamp on frame

 

[Narragansett]

I guess I want to ask, you bought it new, had it all these years, and never opened the box?

 

[Jeppo]

A different consideration

I don't think this has been mentioned...

Assuming you were at least 21 when you bought that beautiful gun, you're at least into your 50's. I'm not sure about you, but as I've aged, the amount of time I can spend shooting a long-barreled heavy gun has become limited. I just can't hold a heavy gun at arms length too long.

That gun would be amazing to shoot and with 38 Special loads, it should be a cream puff. But, you mentioned you want to learn how to shoot. I'm not convinced that gun would be your best choice. If you hold that gun at arms length for a good while, how do your arms feel? Learning to shoot is gonna mean a lot of shooting.

In your shoes, I'd put it back in the box, back in the safe (you have one, right?) AND buy a "shooter".

YMMV

 

[lkabug]

Welcome from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
As noted previously, your 686 is not a self defense gun. Learn to shoot, decide on a gun for self defense and then decide on what to do with your 686. But if you need the money to purchase the self defense gun the decision is much easier.

 

[OldChief]

Welcome to the forum. That's a real nice revolver you have, I have two with 8-3/8" barrels in my collection, a 17-4 (.22 lr) and a 629 (.44 mag). With the original box and unfired you revolver should sell at a premium. If just want it for home protection, keep it. Frankly, if the price were right, I'd purchase such a revolver for my collection in a heart beat. You have a diamond there and it will be hard to replace it with whatever you may get and have the quality and value you have now.

 

[Stroker468]

Easy choice.

Keep it.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

Your 686 is valuable and collectible. It would be good for home defense in some circumstances and maybe not so good in others.

The good:
You already own it
It's a fine caliber for home defense with either .38 Special or .357 Magnum
The long barrel will help tame recoil
The long barrel will help you make accurate shots
The long barrel will suppress the noise to some extent
The sheer size of the thing may scare off an attacker

The bad:
The long barrel makes it harder to use in tight spaces
The long barrel makes it easier for an attacker to grab the barrel or swat it aside.
The long barrel makes the gun muzzle-heavy, requiring a fairly strong wrist.

As far as selling it and getting something else, that is made more difficult because of the current market, with very tight supplies of self-defense handguns and very high prices. Of course, this also means you may be able to sell your 686 easily, but getting the full value may not be so easy. Do you have ammo for the 686 already? Ammo in popular calibers is very hard to find now.

 

[Toppscore]

I guess I want to ask, you bought it new, had it all these years, and never opened the box?

Yes, of course I opened the box to check out
what weighed so much inside.
Now it appears to be good enough to keep NIB after reading
above comments. But, I want to see if it is worth selling
or auctioning or just keep it. I noticed used shorter barreled
"no dash" 686's being sold for $1200 to $2500.
And, I noticed many, many discussions and videos
that stated the 6-inch barrels are the longest made.
So, will see if selling vs shooting is best. Cheers