scruffy
Member
I have a dilemma with my new 686+ regarding the factory B/C gap. Input from this forum may help me with my choices.
Background: This is a fun to shoot range toy to shoot steel and paper outdoor. Will never be used for hunting or self/home defense. I have other options for that.
The gun is well put together in every respect with the exception of the B/C gap which measures a tight .012" on all chambers with the cylinder cocked at rest. I can dry fire DA past all seven with no resistance with a .012" automotive feeler gauge inserted. Gap is even top to bottom and on both sides. It measures .011" with forward pressure on the cylinder. Held to the rear it remains at .012", a .013" will not go in. Approx. .0015" end shake.
As mentioned every other aspect of this revolver is on the money. Forcing cone even and smooth, no barrel cant, carry up and timing are spot on in both SA and DA. Action si smooth wit < 12 lbs. pull and SA is 3.75 lbs. Rifling seems a little shallow, but bore is smooth and shiny with proper crown. No cosmetic issues. More importantly it is perhaps the best shooting, most accurate revolver I own. Never had to touch the factory sight settings. No shaving and I only felt a slight powder residue spitting maybe 4 times out of 50 shot with Aguila 158 gr 357 magnums. The gun does appear a little dirtier after shooting than my other S&W .357 revolvers (which all have a .006" gap) but is a pleasure to shoot.
However, the .012" gap bugs my OCD. I spoke with a very friendly and knowledgeable S&W tech rep who offered to send me a return label as their spec is .004" - .010". He said the procedure to correct it would most likely be to machine the barrel shoulder back on a lathe, reset the gap and possibly recut the forcing cone and adjust the extractor if needed. LEAD TIME at S&W is now at EIGHT weeks with a weeks summer shutdown scheduled for last week of July. The tech admitted it's a hard decision given it intended use and how well it shoots, but was willing to do whatever I decided.
What to do?
1) Keep it, shoot it and keep an eye on any splatter and or shaving. Send it in over winter months (no missing outdoor range time) if it becomes an issue.
2) Send it in now and have them address it with the real risk of creating another problem that does not now exist.
3 Sell/Trade off and look for another of the same model with a .004" - .006" gap.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Background: This is a fun to shoot range toy to shoot steel and paper outdoor. Will never be used for hunting or self/home defense. I have other options for that.
The gun is well put together in every respect with the exception of the B/C gap which measures a tight .012" on all chambers with the cylinder cocked at rest. I can dry fire DA past all seven with no resistance with a .012" automotive feeler gauge inserted. Gap is even top to bottom and on both sides. It measures .011" with forward pressure on the cylinder. Held to the rear it remains at .012", a .013" will not go in. Approx. .0015" end shake.
As mentioned every other aspect of this revolver is on the money. Forcing cone even and smooth, no barrel cant, carry up and timing are spot on in both SA and DA. Action si smooth wit < 12 lbs. pull and SA is 3.75 lbs. Rifling seems a little shallow, but bore is smooth and shiny with proper crown. No cosmetic issues. More importantly it is perhaps the best shooting, most accurate revolver I own. Never had to touch the factory sight settings. No shaving and I only felt a slight powder residue spitting maybe 4 times out of 50 shot with Aguila 158 gr 357 magnums. The gun does appear a little dirtier after shooting than my other S&W .357 revolvers (which all have a .006" gap) but is a pleasure to shoot.
However, the .012" gap bugs my OCD. I spoke with a very friendly and knowledgeable S&W tech rep who offered to send me a return label as their spec is .004" - .010". He said the procedure to correct it would most likely be to machine the barrel shoulder back on a lathe, reset the gap and possibly recut the forcing cone and adjust the extractor if needed. LEAD TIME at S&W is now at EIGHT weeks with a weeks summer shutdown scheduled for last week of July. The tech admitted it's a hard decision given it intended use and how well it shoots, but was willing to do whatever I decided.
What to do?
1) Keep it, shoot it and keep an eye on any splatter and or shaving. Send it in over winter months (no missing outdoor range time) if it becomes an issue.
2) Send it in now and have them address it with the real risk of creating another problem that does not now exist.
3 Sell/Trade off and look for another of the same model with a .004" - .006" gap.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
