Considering grabbing a new 4" 686 in the next month or 2. Can anyone tell me the current QC on the barrel cant? IIRC it wS kinda bad 7-8 years ago.

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I have never encountered one but others have. I see those same complaints on other firearms forums also though so it's not unique to S&W. I kind of have a feeling that with the decline in popularity of revolvers a lot of manufacturers are putting their best efforts into plastic semi's.

I don't hear a lot about it, and to get honest, I never heard a lot about it. It was something that could and was happening, but it wasn't common with regard to the number of revolvers S&W sells on a regular basis. It's not like it's an hidden possibility or or a problem that won't appear until further down the line. You can actually look at the 4" 686 you're about to buy to see if the barrel is canted or not before you buy it.

Revolvers haven't declined in popularity.... They're selling more now than ever in history, and more manufacturers are offering them now than ever before.

It's hit and miss, depending on your definition of canted. I purchased a new 629 with 6.5" barrel, 10/23 date. I looked it over thoroughly in the store and it looked great. At home, when examining it from the front the barrel/front sight) appeared slightly canted to the right (viewed from the front). I was mad at myself thinking I missed it, but when viewed through the sights as a normal sight picture it looks fine. The rear sight was adjusted slightly to the right from the factory, perhaps to compensate for the barrel cant. Had to look very carefully to notice it.

All that concern was for nothing as when I shot it for the first time, it shot POA perfectly with no adjustment to the sights needed. Turned out to be a fantastic shooter. Bottom line, it's a production gun. Unless the barrel is canted enough as to be obvious when picking up the gun, don't sweat it if it's off 12:00 by a degree or two. DA/SA trigger feel, B/C gap and proper carry up are more important to me.

I once passed on a 627 because of cant but gunsmith said it not a problem to correct.If i had a padded vice and wrench i would do it myself.

Follow up question...

Do I get the 686 (my dream gun) or finish my first AR build (have because 'Merica)?

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Get 'em both--'Murica!

I'm in "Paradise," so I buys them when I finds them while I still can!

in a perfect world, I would.
I have a rare opportunity to buy one of them. Not sure how long it'll be before I can have this much cash to make an expensive to me purchase.

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Bought a 686-6 a few years ago in excellent shape. Never even heard of a canted barrel. When I shot it, impact was way off. Sure enough, the barrel was canted. Sent it off to S&W to get it checked out. Came back 6 weeks later in same condition. Said it was within specs.
It is an excellent shooter tho, with the rear sight zeroed accordingly.

If you are concerned about it, buy it live at a gun store so you can examine it before you pay your money.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Exactly!

Sounds like my story too with my 5" 686-6+ TALO.

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It shoots great, with the sight adjusted.
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Waiting for the break of day

A barrel that is slightly canted can drive me nuts. One time I will look and seems ok, next time I look it looks canted.

Hmm, my 581 is slightly right also, makes the gun shoot left of POA. How risky is it to clamp it in a vise and tighten it a smidge? Using something to protect the finish of course? Anyone done this? I would really enjoy it more if it shot to POA.

Thanks,

Rosewood

It’s a sad state of affairs if you even have to ask the question whether or not you’re going to get a revolver with a correctly timed barrel on a S&W revolver.

Go on Gunbroker and find a nice used 686. Or better yet, do what I’ve been doing, and buy a Python.

I you remove the cylinder them replace the yoke, use the vise to clamp it between 2 pieces of hard wood that have been carved so that they fit the frame at the swell for barrel and sides of yoke and frame then clamp the barrel between 2 pieces of hardwood carved to go around part war around it and clamp at the under lug, you will risk nothing. I made a frame wrench, but it doesn't usually take much torque to turn them.

If you look at the video of the Performance Center tighten a barrel you will see they do not use a frame wrench, Just a padded Y that goes over the front of the frame. Look from about 3:45 to just after 4

A fellow at the range said he bought a new Colt Python. $1400, badly canted barrel, and the sights was all out of Wack, It's not just a S&W problem..

My, bought new, Colt Detective Special has a canted barrel.

Took me a while to figure it out when I first shot it (1976).

Wasn't everything supposed to be made better back then?

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Waiting for the break of day

That looks easy enough. Guess whoever tightened mine back in 1981 or so was cross-eyed. You can tell it is a tad short of being centered.

I sent mine in for the hammer/breech bushing recall and forgot to ask them to check the barrel timing then. They apparently didn't notice.

Thanks!

Rosewood

I had a 17-3 with a canted barrel. Buyer beware, look it over good beforehand.

I’ll bet you hear all sorts of stories at the range.