I have a 686 that was my dads, I want to know if I can shorten it to a 3" barrel. I saw one in another thread that said effector on it and I like the look of it. Can I just buy a shorter barrel for it ?

Yes, you can take a hacksaw to it. Unless you have gunsmithing or machinist's skills and the proper tools it is a job best left to professionals. You will need to recrown the barrel, reposition and reattach the front sight, then the barrel must be properly reinstalled in the frame. I am not up on gunsmiths as present, I'm sure some of our other forum members can help.

I would try to buy a barrel and stash the one you have. Probley be as cheap, look right and you would be saveing your old one for obvious reasons.

SDM Fabricating does it for you.
4 conversion

I agree with ferralmerril, just buy a three inch barrel and have them swapped.

If you can't do that, I believe Magnaport does this type of work.

I would love to be able to buy a 3" barrel, but where do I get one , can I buy a brand new one ?

Not bad only $250 for the work at SDM. I would love to find a barrel so I could keep the orignal barrel , but then again this was my dads gun so I would like all the parts to be from the same gun

I cut a 4 inch barrel down to 3 inches with a hacksaw, went through two new lennox blades before I got through. Then I filed it until it was clean and square. I had a gunsmith recrown ir for me. I drilled and tapped the top and put a fiber optic shotgun bead on it. It turned out pretty good. If I had it to do again I would just buy a barrel and have a gunsmith put it on for me.

My dad gave me his Winchester M12 a long time ago. The stock had a crack in it ---- So, somewhere in my early 20s I put a new stock on it. I still have the gun and still lament it not being THE GUN my dad gave me........
I'd leave it alone and shop for a nice revolver with a barrel to your liking.

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In dog years I'm dead.

I agree with Deadeye...if it's sentimental to you, leave it as is and buy a 3 inch.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

It's your call, but I'd leave it as-is if it were my fathers. "Don't fix it if it's not broken" I'd buy something in a configuration that would best suite me. "money well spent"

I agree with sipowicz and Deadeye, it's best to not burn bridges behind us. The gun you have will grow in personal value as time goes on. Enjoy your Dad's gun, there are many 686's out there. You only have one Dad. And you only have one 'Dad's gun'.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Thanks guys, my dad passed away 6 months ago . I just thought if I shortened it , I would carry it more . I think Im gonna just leave it like it is and shoot it once in a while.

Hi:
Why would you convert a weapon that was your Father's?
Consider keeping it "As Is" for sentamental reasons.
Find another like you want and purchase it.

I recommend a Dan Wesson if you want to try different barrel lengths. Any heirloom should be kept "as is."

Jimmy, I considered shortening it because I thought I would make it my carry gun, rather than just having it sit in the safe . I first thought of buying a shorter barrel but then thought shortening it would be better because then the gun would still have all the original parts . I have decided to keep dads gun he way he left it to me.

KcMitch you really made me think hard about this when you said "You only have one Dads gun"