686 Problem Part II

[tgwillard]

If you read the thread under the title 686 Problem, you know that I had problems with the cylinder binding after getting my 686 back from S&W following the modification. After getting back from the range and cleaning the weapon I was able to eliminate the cylinder binding and hard to close cylinder.

This morning I thought I would load the cylinder with empty cases and see if the binding problem would return. It did, but not as bad as when I was at the range. Knowing that the star extractor was clean and working normally I held the gun up to a light source to see if I could discern anything causing the cylinder to hang up. And sure enough there it was; a very thin metal burr protruding from around the insert hole through which the firing pin contacts the primer.

I used some emory cloth to eliminate the burr and then followed up with metal polish to smooth away the marks left by the emory cloth. Tested the action by cycling the cylinder loaded with empty cases with the barrel pointing up. No more binding.

Final test will be next week at the range to see if the problem returns, but I think I found the culprit. Anyone getting back an L frame from S&W after the modification should be aware of what happened to me.

 

[jframefreak]

Good deal, thanks for the info. Might save somebody a trip back to the factory.

 

[Nframe357]

That's why none of my 686's have been back for that unecessary mod...

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

I just got my 686 back from Smith & Wesson for the Firing Pin/Bushing "Recall"..
I was looking at mine with the "Eye Loupe" & could see how the Firing Pin cams up at the last bit of travel & rubs the bottom of the firing pin bushings hole, I could see how a burr could be created there..
I'll have to keep an eye on it..
Now I'm wondering if I should have sent it back for the Recall??
Well at least it was FREE & The stretched my yolk & removed all the endshake to boot..
Took 7 weeks total..
Gary

 

[Texas Star]

I once owned an M-19 with a similar burr that jammed up the cylinder. My gunsmith removed it with a hard Arkansas stone, I believe.

The gun was new and the gunsmith was in-house where I bought it. No charge.

T-Star

 

[Wayne M]

This burr exists to a more or less degree on many of the guns until S&W went to the frame mounted firing pin. I've found that the burr gets more pronounced with dry firing and if you like(or need) to do that you'll probably have to put up with "burring" to some extent. I know.....it's supposedly OK to dry fire but the Forum has lots of posts about broken frame AND hammer mounted firing pins, a lot of it from dry fire. Once you get the burr off and just shoot your gun I doubt that the problem will happen again.....could, but probably won't.


And the hammer nose riding up in the frame channel is normal.

 

[Sunkist]

I thought I'd live with my 686 until I put together a hot H 110 load and there was the primer flow I'd read about here. So, I sent it in last month and a week later it was back. I went straight to the range and finished off the box of shells that caused the problem. They shot just fine. No hang ups at all. I will watch for any burr formation thanks to this thread.

BTW- I quickly realized after one cylinder full that S&W had my rear sight cranked all the way down. A few more rounds walked it back into the 10 Ring where this gun always puts 'em.

 

[boomer686]

I just got my 686 back from Smith & Wesson for the Firing Pin/Bushing "Recall"..
I was looking at mine with the "Eye Loupe" & could see how the Firing Pin cams up at the last bit of travel & rubs the bottom of the firing pin bushings hole, I could see how a burr could be created there..
I'll have to keep an eye on it..
Now I'm wondering if I should have sent it back for the Recall??
Well at least it was FREE & The stretched my yolk & removed all the endshake to boot..
Took 7 weeks total..
Gary

How does S&W notify you of a recall on the 686? I have a 686 ssr pro series..Was it involved in this recall?

 

[Sunkist]

Howdy, Boomer. This recall is 30 yrs old for original 686 No Dash guns. To their credit S&W handles it all for free. They send you a prepaid label by email and you ship it by FED EX. You should contact their Customer Service Dept. about recalls. Better yet you might post a question in a couple of the Forums sections about your specific gun.

Good Luck,
Sunkist

 

[tgwillard]

Went to the range on Monday and fired about 40 rounds of both factory .38 special as well as some target handloads. No problems this time. Looks like I did correct the issue of the burr rubbing against the cartridge head as the cylinder rotated. Also kept an eye on the star extractor to make sure no unburned powder got under it as also happened the previous visit.