686 Fans: Should I go new or wait for a pre-lock?

[surfdog76]

Glock's been my choice for USPSA and HD.

But I've decided to wed a Southern Belle. She's afraid of guns and has difficulty racking the slide, so I'm going to switch to a 686 for HD & IDPA SSR. Currently live in CA, but will be moving to GA in Oct...

CA regs only allow a Dash 6 to come in. That's making finding a nice Pre-Lock difficult. I have the option of going new now OR waiting till I'm in GA to find a Pre-Lock.

I've adopted the philosophy of 'Invest once in Quality & Hold'. Would you advise going new now or wait? She enjoys shooting my 617 22lr:

 

[surfdog76]

Glock's been my choice for USPSA and HD.

But I've decided to wed a Southern Belle. She's afraid of guns and has difficulty racking the slide, so I'm going to switch to a 686 for HD & IDPA SSR. Currently live in CA, but will be moving to GA in Oct...

CA regs only allow a Dash 6 to come in. That's making finding a nice Pre-Lock difficult. I have the option of going new now OR waiting till I'm in GA to find a Pre-Lock.

I've adopted the philosophy of 'Invest once in Quality & Hold'. Would you advise going new now or wait? She enjoys shooting my 617 22lr:

 

[Centenniel]

I love the S&W L-Frame revolvers. I don't own one with a lock. I do have a 3" Model 64 that has it and I haven't had any trouble with it. In fact, the 64 is one sweet shooting 38. If a pre-lock 686 isn't too hard to get, and it sounds like it may be, I'd first try to locate one. For competitive shooting use, I don't see why a new one wouldn't work just fine. Either way, you'll wind up with an excellent revolver.

 

[Shorty4T]

Congradulations on your coming nuptuals to the Southern Belle. I've got 4 686s all pre lock, I see this as a personal choice. S&W sells a lot of guns, you don't hear about the guns with the IL that never give problems. You only hear about the few documented cases where it has failed.

That being said you can find nice pre lock 686s for around $500.00. I'm not sure what the going rate is for the new ones. $909.00 MSRP is what S&W list on their site. I think you will be armed equally well with either weapon.

On another note an early welcome to GA. It's a great place to live. I've been here for 29 years. Just a couple of things for you to check out when you get here, we can carry firearms legally here so you will want to get the info for your GFL. There are just a couple of sites that may help:

Georgia Carry

Georgia Packing

Cheers,
Sam

 

[surfdog76]

I appreciate the advice and the welcome! Yes, GA is indeed a beautiful place... and this Yankee finds it mighty tough to say No to any Belle with a southern accent.

I'll be looking into that GFL for sure. Been wanting to spend more quality time w/ my 638. I've also been advised to check into the South River Gun Club's IDPA matches. Deep down, I've always been an S&W revolver man, so I'm looking forward to it!

Cheers!

 

[Chuck Jones]

If you're moving to Georgia why would you buy anything in Kaliforrnia? Do you like the laws there? Wait until you leave the peonage of the west coast and get back in the US, where you can still purchase a firearm standing on your feet like a free American. Besides, I'd die before I'd allow California to get one red cent of sales tax from me.

/c

 

[18DAI]

Wait till you get to Georgia. Lots of nice pre lock 686's there.

The 686-4 is widely regarded as the best of the line. Regards 18DAI.

 

[andyo5]

Well, if you dislike the lock and don't need the gun now you might as well wait. Cruise the gun shows whenever possible.
If you don't care about the lock, then toss a coin.
I think you will be able to get a pre lock gun. I have a 6" 686-4 with grooved back strap. It is groovy! (pun intended).

 

[DonD]

Won't throw stones at other poster's comments. Personally, I prefer to buy new, avoids concerns about someone abusing the gun but many do well with used guns.

Would I rather have a new gun w/o a lock? Definitely, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying the guns with locks.

Good luck, GA is infinitely more gun friendly than the PRK, they even have the "Castle Doctrine" something EVERY STATE should have. Don

 

[pred]

For example, I had a 629 mountain gun, Tried to sell,,, It had a lock, Saw others sell w/o lock fast at about $100 higher. Mine did finally sell,,,,
Wait, get the nolock gun.
Peter

 

[LOBO]

IMHO, I'd wait.

 

[surfdog76]

Would love to get one now and start shooting some matches... but I believe I'll wait till I get settled in GA and begin the search for a 686-4. I'll get to meet some new folks in the process.

It'll be good getting back into S&W revolvers. This K22 was a gift from my Dad before he recently passed on.

Thanks for the good advice!

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Don't worry about the lock, buy what you are going to have fun with. Sounds like she wouldn't want to wait till fall to get one, so go get her a new one and put nice stocks on it for her

.

 

[surfdog76]

She's going to accept a job offer back home in GA... I plan to follow her come October.

 

[Taurus627]

Some correct me if I am wrong here,(still fairly new to S&W guns) but either here or on YouTube is a video on how to remove the lock, I believe. I do not know if thats legal or not but thought I would throw that out there.
I am lucky enough to have a pre lock 686-2.

 

[Joed49]

There are fanatics that won't own a S&W with a lock . . . or MIM parts . . . or frame mounted firing pins . . . or?

I'm not one of them. To me a S&W is fine gun. Sure I have a lot of S&W's without locks and only 3 with locks, but I could care less.

When I bought my first 29-8 Mtn Gun I was sold, that lock didn't make it one bit inaccurate.

What it boils down to is you. Can you live with the lock? I certainly can.

 

[Shorty4T]

Originally posted by surfdog76:
I've also been advised to check into the South River Gun Club's IDPA matches.

Surfdog, What part of Georgia are you moving too? I'm about 5 miles from South River?

Cheers,
Sam

 

[surfdog76]

Sam, We'll be settling in Peachtree City. I understand South River, at about an hour's drive, hosts the most popular IDPA revolver matches... Looking forward to it!

 

[Ohio guy]

Buy a new one, you cant go wrong.

 

[j38]

Patience is considered a virtue.

God Luck,

Jerry