Mountain Gun 2 hands to pull trigger

Riverraider · May 10, 2026

I got a new 686 Mountain Gun, I saw plenty of post and videos about S&W QA issues, but I wanted one so I got one, I guess I was hoping I'd get lucky. I've had to send new guns back to Ruger, Kimber, Berretta so I'm not opposed to sending this back, but wondering if maybe it is something I could take care of myself. The Hand had a pretty good burr on it, the side plate had several burrs, after I took care of both those the trigger was better then the first 50 rounds I shot out of it, but it didn't take care of all the issues. I linked a couple short videos. On some cylinders the trigger is very hard to pull, if I use both hands index fingers I can get it to pull. There was 1 light primer strike today, which hadn't happened before. With the trigger being really hard to pull, looking for some troubleshooting ideas. I do see the Extractor Spindle is pretty rough, burrs on it, I don't know if that has anything to do with it. Any thing you guys could think of that would cause the trigger so hard to pull, but not always. I saw a Youtube video where someone sent theirs in, and S&W sent a replacement gun, which had a whole new list of issues. This one shoots nice, when I can pull the trigger.

APS · May 10, 2026

Mine is going back for the 3rd time for this issue. Sometimes I can't get it to fire with both fingers.
You could number your charge holes and see if it's always the same ones that could narrow down where on the extractor.

Riverraider · May 10, 2026

What do they say they have done on the work order when you get it back? Have you had any other issues?

APS · May 10, 2026

On the first one it said they repaired the yoke and the trigger, can't remember what the second return said. I told them it was happening with Federal ammo, they claimed they test fired it. When it came back it didn't make it through the first cylinder without doing it again. In order to hit dead on at 10yds the rear sight has to be cranked up a bit more than I like, so I have a taller blade waiting to install and I wanted a white outline blade anyway. No other issues. My 629MG and 432UC have been fine.

Riverraider · May 10, 2026

That is one thing about this gun, it's on, I've shot some good groups on paper. Hoping I can get it figured out.

oldrookey617 · May 11, 2026

I bought a new 617, 6 inch, had a bad hitch in center of the trigger pull, had to send it in twice, 4 weeks each trip, the second gunsmith was a good one, It's a great gun now. The first one I bought was a good one, 617 4 inch. Send it in until it's fixed, they pay for the shipping, Good Luck..

Riverraider · May 12, 2026

oldrookey617 said:
I bought a new 617, 6 inch, had a bad hitch in center of the trigger pull, had to send it in twice, 4 weeks each trip, the second gunsmith was a good one, It's a great gun now. The first one I bought was a good one, 617 4 inch. Send it in until it's fixed, they pay for the shipping, Good Luck..

Thanks, I was reading Jerry Kuhnhausen's shop manual book yesterday, his section on mim guns has me thinking there isn't much I can do to these new models. I've repaired 5 of my old smiths, myself, guess I won't be doing much of that with these new ones. I'm waiting for my 617 MG to come in. I'll probably wait to see how that one works before I get ahold of the factory.

Riverraider · May 12, 2026

oldrookey617 said:
I bought a new 617, 6 inch, had a bad hitch in center of the trigger pull, had to send it in twice, 4 weeks each trip, the second gunsmith was a good one, It's a great gun now. The first one I bought was a good one, 617 4 inch. Send it in until it's fixed, they pay for the shipping, Good Luck..

My 617 Mountain Gun came in today. 150 rounds 3 different ammos no issues. I'm not saying my faith in humanity, or even S&W is restored, but it gives me hope they can still build a quality revolver.

oldrookey617 · May 12, 2026

Both of my 617's shoot better the more I use them. The trigger pull was around 13 lbs. when new, around 10 lbs. now, I back out the strain screw around 1/4 turn, makes them around 9 1/4 lbs., below that I get mis-fires. Keep it clean under the star, and keep it clean above the star, take a toothbrush to the range for that, or the trigger will start jamming, I made a brass scrapper from a brass rod to clean the lead from the top strap.. just my 2 cents, You may already know these things..

stansdds · May 13, 2026

It has been said time and time again, but once more, the strain screw is not a trigger pull adjustment screw. For it to function correctly it must be tight.

BillBro · May 13, 2026

I personally have only bought 1 s&Wesson revolvers that didn't get dramastically better with about 2 hours work from me, all stock parts except one, they were mim parts.
Yes, shooting them alot and dry firing alot will do a decent job but not as much as I can do in a few very enjoyable hours at my bench. So anymore I just plan on doing what I do and am done with it.
Now if iys some sort of hack job or poor qc from Smith that's a different story.

Mike LaNier · May 13, 2026

The "new" crop of "Mountain Guns" (post about 2000, as opposed to the first issue, and in multiple calibers) don't seem to have the quality control that the early guns had. My 'Mountain Gun' is a 629-4, dates to 1994 and has had no issues. I suspect that when S&W decided to issue "Mountain Guns" as a type within the various Models, the quality control slowly went to Hades. Just an observation.

Mountain Gun 2 hands to pull trigger

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