686 light strikes

[crackedwindshield]

I got a 7 shot -4 model and the previous owner had backed the mainspring screw out most of the way and the trigger felt really light and nice. I got a light strike and took the grips off to find it backed out. I screwed it "most" of the way in and tried it again probably 9 fired and the 10th one another light strike. Would replacing the spring with a new one take care of my mistrust of the pistol or could he have tweaked something else that I need to replace to feel good about this pistol.Even with the screw all the way in it still strikes lighter than say a -3 but it did make the hammer hit much harded than previously.I had shot probably 100 rds through it 2 years ago without a hitch and now this....

[7shooter]

There is a longer strain screw that you can buy. Another quick fix which a retired revolver loving cop told me about is to place a spent primer under the end of the strain screw and then screw it in as tight as possible. It worked.
Also check and see if the mainspring has a rib in it. I had a model 64 that had been worked on by the previous owner. It had a ribbed spring which I think was a lighter Wolff spring. I had my gun smith replace it with a stock spring and the light hits stopped.

[Wayne M]

Turn the screw in tight and see if that fixes the problem; that's the way it was designed to be used. A new strain screw and a new mainspring won't cost much from Smith if you need them. The factory parts are as good as any and less expensive than most.

[H Richard]

For reliability, never mess with the original mainspring and screw. Other parts yes, but never these.

[crackedwindshield]

I will get a new spring and maybe a new screw if it ever fails again its gone. Is there anything else someone prior may have messed with that I could replace to prevent light strikes? So I can get it all in one order. Thanks.

[Vulcan Bob]

Well, make sure all is clean under the extractor, this can soften the fireing pin strike by the force of the fireing pin strike trying to seat the extractor. If you are shooting reloads my 586 plus and 22-4 with the frame mounted fireing pins had the same problems until I started cleaning the primer pockets and ensureing a fully seated primer. The first strike would seat the primer and the second strike would fire it. Hope this helps!

[joehotpiscopo]

Hi everyone. New member, first post.

I have recently acquired a older S&W 686-2, 4' barrel. Great revolver and scary accurate. However, I have been seeing the light strikes as well. I have been scouring the forums for resolution and have taken the revolver completely apart, cleaned it thoroughly, checked that the main spring strain screw is tight and everything suggested here.

I finally looked up a photo of an unaltered, factory strain screw and compared it mine.

EUREKA!! Some misguided individual had ground down the rounded screw end and it was flat and sharp.

Now I know what do to correct the light strike issue.

Thanks for all the info you all provided.

Cheers!

[Retired W4]

Just today, after reading this post, I took my 686 (no dash) to the range and...got 3 mis-fires out of 80 rounds due to light strikes. Sure enough, the strain screw had backed out more than a whole turn. I tightened it down and will take it back to the range. That should do it, but if it comes loose again I will apply some loctite to the screw.

BTW, I'm still banging away with this gun, trying to induce the failure that was the cause of the recall. No (M) and so far, so good.

[joehotpiscopo]

Wow, it is extremely difficult to find an unaltered, factory strain screw for a 686-2 square-butt L-frame. No one seems to have them. A local gun store suggested I try using a small piece of plastic or leather at the contact point between the screw and the spring to see if that corrects the light strikes. Guess I'll do that and will update when I find out what happens...

[bananaman]

joe, try Brownell's. I don't know if they have that part or not. Numrich?
I have a 586, and I really like everything about it. Good luck, and WELCOME to the FORUM! Bob

[joehotpiscopo]

Thanks Bob. I've tried Brownell's, Midway-USA, E-Gunparts.com and several others. Since they stopped making many square-butt L-Frames, they're REALLY hard to come by.

I was in a bidding war with some jackass on e-bay but I'm not ready to pay $20 for a single screw (yet)

Anyone know if a strain screw for a round-butt will work on my 686-2?

[bananaman]

I am no expert, but would have to say yes.
Even with inflation, I wouldn't pay $20 for a screw. You will find 1! Bob

[bananaman]

joe, silly question, but did you try Smith? Bob

[Retired W4]

Originally Posted by joehotpiscopo

Thanks Bob. I've tried Brownell's, Midway-USA, E-Gunparts.com and several others. Since they stopped making many square-butt L-Frames, they're REALLY hard to come by.

I was in a bidding war with some jackass on e-bay but I'm not ready to pay $20 for a single screw (yet)

Anyone know if a strain screw for a round-butt will work on my 686-2?

I'm looking at my S&W parts book and the strain screw part numbers for SB and RB are different for the L-Frame.

[DEG]

Numrich has the screw for $3.15

Strain Screw, Square Butt

[joehotpiscopo]

Originally Posted by DEG

Numrich has the screw for $3.15

Strain Screw, Square Butt

Holy cow, how did I miss that?? Thanks man!!