686-4 8 3/8” barrel…MIM parts?

PatriotX

PatriotX

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Hi folks,

I just scored one of my long sought-after guns, a 686 dash-4 Long Tom.

It shoots like a dream, and looks to be a factory-fired only example.

Upon pulling off the side plate, I noticed something a bit different:




Both the bolt and cylinder stop appear to be MIM. I thought the dash-5 introduced MIM in the L-frame.




1278512-A-B2-A9-4896-B901-BE4-ECF117-E72.jpg
 
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Yeah it is my understanding too that the 686-4 was the last of the traditionally manufactured internals and the -5 was the first of MIM.
 
Those might not be MIM. I can't tell from your photo but if they are MIM, they will have a mold mark someplace. Usually more than one.
 
Got my 686 back from smith last week and they changed out the old trigger for a mim one when they did the master package on it.Could have been worked on and refinished .
 
Not surprised that S&W swapped out any worn forged parts for new MIM parts, I doubt they have had forged spare parts for quite some time now. I don't see anything wrong with the functionality of a well made MIM part. No, they are not flash chromed or color case hardened, but they are incredibly consistent, something that forged and machined parts lack.
 
stansdds said:
Not surprised that S&W swapped out any worn forged parts for new MIM parts, I doubt they have had forged spare parts for quite some time now. I don't see anything wrong with the functionality of a well made MIM part. No, they are not flash chromed or color case hardened, but they are incredibly consistent, something that forged and machined parts lack.
Click to expand...

Oh no! Here we go!
 
MIM
Good enough inside the jet engine of a commercial plane, but not good enough for your pistol.
Think about that on your next flight.
 
ProCarryNAustin said:
MIM
Good enough inside the jet engine of a commercial plane, but not good enough for your pistol.
Think about that on your next flight.
Click to expand...

Is all MIM created equal?

I'm not opposed to MIM but I bet those aircraft parts are subjected to much more rigorous manufacturing standards than pistol parts.

Given the option, I'd prefer forged parts.
 
Ok this is a boxed, as-new example with no evidence of firing outside the factory.

I love sacred cows as much as the next guy, but these are factory-installed MIM parts in a 686-4.

For the record, I have no issue with MIM outside of cosmetic. They can be functionally better parts, depending on the process.


 
AlHunt said:
Is all MIM created equal?

I'm not opposed to MIM but I bet those aircraft parts are subjected to much more rigorous manufacturing standards than pistol parts.

Given the option, I'd prefer forged parts.
Click to expand...

Also in your car’s transmission. You can have crappy metallurgy in forged as well. Forged is not a panacea.
 
This was never meant to be a debate of MIM vs Forged.

I was genuinely surprised to find MIM in my dash-4… as well as my 627-1 Target Champion, for that matter !

The mnemonic was: “Dash-Forged” for the dash-4s, which no longer holds true.
 
While I am not a big fan of the MIM lockwork, my experience is that MIM parts are at least as good as forged, maybe better. I have a 627-2 with over 100,000 rounds through it and it still works fine. Smith has been using MIM parts for over 20 years, and it seems to me there are more complaints about overclocked barrels than failing MIM parts. I prefer the feel of forged parts in the action than MIM, but that's just me.
 
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