686-4 Silhouette - Polished

[Andre Couceiro]

Great gun you have! Great job you did!

I have one too , and used it in IPSC matches. My gun was bought in 1991. I changed the original Hogue grip, and installed a Pachmayr Gripper, because it fits better on my hands.

Check my 686-4 in action! It is the most accurate wheel gun I have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkpXjaytGAI

 

[45Wheelgun]

Check my 686-4 in action! It is the most accurate wheel gun I have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkpXjaytGAI

Great video Andre. You are pretty good at that. Nice to see the gun in action.

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

Thanks for the kind words.

While I used "wet/dry" sandpaper, I did it dry. I would have started with 800 or 1000 had I not had to deal with the pitting and Dremel tool damage. I used 1"x1" squares to be able to control the process. I also rotated my sanding direction by 90 degrees with each grit change.

I removed the grips, rear sight, and 100% of the internals and then replaced the side plate. The cylinder was removed, polished separately and the yoke left in place. The side plate screws were "in and out" depending on what I was doing - had to be careful not to "dish" the screw holes if the screws were out or leave a "halo" when the screws were in place.

One tool every person intending to remove the internals from a S&W revolver should have is the S&W Rebound Slide Spring Tool - it is invaluable.

Thank you x 10. The tool is "on order" the paper is too and this is a well deserved project for the simple tool that started life as a regular ol' SS S&W 686. Yup the one who has protected our home,hotel rooms and travel for 22 years. It will shine cuz I love the downtime stuff like this and she's real special to me. Fine as a Snap-On tool in the toolbox. Beat,tested,reliable and built like a tank...I am on a mission!

 

[jspence]

686-4


Okay now show us the 686-4 6" with the finish problem ...

 

[45Wheelgun]

Okay now show us the 686-4 6" with the finish problem ...

Wow - second post in 5 years. I feel honored. I didn't get any "before" pictures. Mistake on my part.

 

[MARSHALDILLIONDODGECITY]

You did a very nice job, well done.

 

[Islander]

Man that is a beautiful polish job.
But now are you going to want to take it to the range and cover it in burnt powder and splatterd lead hell yes! I say the 686 is a laser beam I have a three in barrel model with seven shots I shoot seven clay birds stuck in the berm at 20yds. without working at it too hard. I love that revolver.

 

[upcountrygirl]

I was able to procure this 686-4 6" Silhouette model. Sadly it was a bit finish challenged under the grips. Both on the side plate and the left side there was pitting from corrosion. Even worse someone in the past had remediated the damage with a Dremel Tool.

I took it to the range and it shot like a dream. It seems like it will take an entire day at the range in order to configure the front sight. Anyone have any experience configuring the Silhouette sight?

Since the finish was already messed up, I took it upon myself to polish it up. It may not look "factory" but it looks better than it did when it arrived here.

Fortunately I was able to leave the top alone as it had not been damaged.

It's absolutely beautiful! Awesome job cleaning it up.

 

[jinx]

That is a first rate job, just beautiful! And I am impressed with the carved leather work that the gun is laying on! Did you do the leather carving?

 

[rich5674]

45Wheelgun,

Hi,

I've had my S&W 686 (no dash) since 06-02-86, paid $289.95. It was manufactured 10 Jan 1986. I sent immediately sent it out to Mag-na-port for a porting job. There is little felt recoil and no recoil climb. I shoot only near max loads in it.

It has a minimum of 10K rounds thru it and still is as accurate as the day I picked it up.

Most shooters do not like the four position front sight, I love it. It is deadly accurate.

When sighting it in I used #1 position for 10 yards, # 2 position is 25 yards, #3 position is 50 yards & #4 position is 100 yards. How you decide which sight to use for what range is your choice. On my front sight there are NO "clicks" as you make adjustments, so you have to be cautious with your adjustments. I have not touched the sight adjustments since the first time sighting it in

So would the front sight be Adjustable for different bullet weights? I'd like to be able to be zeroed for a wide range of bullets.
Seeing this gun, I guess my collection is unfinished. I WAS satisfied with my
M60 360 and 686 Stocking Dealers Special untill I saw this

 

[Protocall_Design]

I have a 6" 686 and an 8-3/8" 629 with these sights. I like them and have shot with them for many years. If you are planning to shoot over 50 yards with this gun, you will get the best group sizes with heavy (158 to 180 gr.) jacketed hollow point bullets. Tighter groups at 50 will usually be over 900 - 1200 fps. and up, due to the slow twist of the rifling. Another thing you can do is to use each setting for a different load at one distance each.

The way I use the sights is-

1-Remove all the setscrews, clean them and the holes they go in with solvent. Put blue #242 Loctite on the screws and back in the holes. This Loctite is adjustable after it cures, but keeps the screws where you put them.

2-Set the rear sight with about .015 - .020 gap at the bottom so you have some room to fine tune up and down.

3-Pick a load that you want to run with and sight in each set screw at the desired distance, adjusting only the setscrew, keeping the rear sight stationary. This usually takes me between 30 minutes to an hour. Then you are set. You can make minor adjustments for temp., lighting conditions, small powder adjustments, etc. with the rear sight and you will in effect be adjusting all 4 of the front ones together without touching them.

Edit to add - Yes, I think the gun and photography look beautiful as well. Both were done with a high level of craftsmanship.

 

[Pizza Bob]

This thread, with the exception of Protocall Design's above post, just goes to show how even hardened S&W veterans can be distracted by shiney objects. Only PD addressed the question in the OP.

Here is how S&W says the sight is to be used...

BTW - very nice polish job - I like shiney things too.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Protocall_Design]

OK- I see how youse guys are. The one person in 50 that tries to actually help the OP can't buy a like...

 

[AlHunt]

OK- I see how youse guys are. The one person in 50 that tries to actually help the OP can't buy a like...

Sure you can. 5 bucks.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Thanks! Check's in the mail!

 

[AlHunt]

Thanks! Check's in the mail!

I'll put the second one on your tab ...

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Bluetopper , yes they made them . I was lucky to find this one locally , the guy didn't want much for it . And 45wheelgun , don't feel bad . I took mine and I was having a he** of a time with it and finally put it away . Those instructions don't help much .

 

[NavyVet24]

Did they ever make a 586 with silhouette front sights?

Yes. I recently got one from my brother. It is a 586-1 with the 6" barrel. It had Pachmyers, but I found a set of J/K Target Stocks that I like much better. Big hands I guess.

 

[Erv]

That looks really nice. I have a 4" 686-4 that S&W did their laser engraving on and as I have small hands I put a set of Miculek grips on it.
Mine isn't as pretty as yours but shoots great.

 

[sheldon wade]

i have 2 6" silouhettes one is a no dash and the other is a dash 1. love the heck out of them