A short report on my two 9mm revolvers

[ferider]

As mentioned in another thread, back in CA, I was stuck with 9mm, so I got a 929 about 5 years ago. A couple of months ago, now in WY, I added a 2.5" 986 for daily carry.

I mostly use to types of ammo:

1) 9mm Fed / 115g / JHP, for the range, because I got it relatively cheap back before the CA ammo laws changed

2) 9mm Speer Gold Dot LE / 124g / JHP: this is my more expensive "SHTF ammo", I use a little at the range, to make sure everything works. I really like Speer ammo for my rifles, too.

The 929 had two issues when it arrived: (a) it started corroding/pitting quickly, and (b) it misfired frequently, in particular with the Fed Ammo. I shipped it back to S&W, their support was uncomplicated and easy. They refinished the surface and replaced the firing pin. 3 weeks later, they returned a now very reliable revolver.

The 629 finish is holding up great (there are some reports on the intertubes about corrosion as well - not so with mine). But (a) it also misfired the Fed ammo, and (b) the front sight was loose. This one, I fixed myself - didn't want to wait for the mothership: (a) changed the pin and (b) added loctite to the front sight. Both fixes seem to hold up well, the gun feels 100% reliable now.

Note that for both guns, the rear sight had to be adjusted to the right, like this:

With this, they seem accurate, certainly more so than me - and maybe I am myself the root-cause ... So it doesn't really bug me, just mentioning it as part of the report

I read some reports about rough machining with newer 686, etc. Not with mine, they seem very well done other than the issues mentioned above.

Hope this helps somebody out there.

Roland.

 

[chase45]

The rear sight cranked over like that would be unacceptable for me. Have you let someone else shoot it to confirm that it is indeed shooting that far to the left?

 

[ferider]

The rear sight cranked over like that would be unacceptable for me. Have you let someone else shoot it to confirm that it is indeed shooting that far to the left?

Not yet. Seems to be common though if you search for it.

 

[chase45]

Not yet. Seems to be common though if you search for it.

I have several with adjustable sights. While they may favor one side or the other, your sight looks near bottomed out if true to POI.

Is the front sight favoring one side or is it centered in the dovetail?

 

[ferider]

I have several with adjustable sights. While they may favor one side or the other, your sight looks near bottomed out if true to POI.

Is the front sight favoring one side or is it centered in the dovetail?

Centered (didn't measure, just by sight)

 

[ferider]

 

[chase45]

If it works I suppose thats what matters. Both are very beautiful guns not trying to take away from that. Just the rear sight really caught my attention. Thanks for posting and taking the pics. Nice to see others enjoying their revolvers!

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I'm an absolute .38 Special /.357 geek. I love the versatility of the cartridges. I can go from using the lightest loaded .38s for snowshoe hare to some spicy 200 grain hardcast .357 mag for larger, wayward critters. This is all well and good. If I could only have two guns, I could do far worse than a .357 mag revolver/carbine combo.

The problem is, this is largely hypothetical. If I'm hunting small game, I use a .22. If I got the bear scares going, I grab a .45 Colt.

I did a cost assessment, and came to realize if I just shot factory 9mm, and left my brass scattered all over heck's half acre, I'd still be time and money ahead over all my chasing down, purchasing, and storing requisite reloading components.

Due to this, the 9mm revolver makes a lotta sense to me. the 929 just looks like an amazingly fun range toy. I've resisted one so far, but those pics sure re-introduce temptation. The 986 looks like a reasonable all arounder. falling short in versatility to my .357, but perfectly adequate for range trips and home defense, which is most of what I ask of a revolver.

The rear sight...I couldn't suffer it, but it's great that it's not a problem to you.

I hope you keep enjoying those! your 9mm wheelguns are inspiring to others!

 

[Jim Watson]

Note that for both guns, the rear sight had to be adjusted to the right, like this:

Not uncommon, I had a new 1970s Model 19 nearly that crooked.

 

[Torf]

Slug the barrels and check if they are 9mm(.355) or .357.
Also check the chambers. They might be 9x21.
A 357 barrel and 9x21 chambers are not good for accuracy.
Misfireing can be a result of 9x21 chambers where the case do not headspace on the casemounth as the 9x19 is designed.

 

[crows]

I have no criticism, just, man, that 986 looks great! And that coming from a fanatical fan of 3" Mod 13/65's. Nice, very nice.

 

[ferider]

I have no criticism, just, man, that 986 looks great! And that coming from a fanatical fan of 3" Mod 13/65's. Nice, very nice.

Thanks !

Regarding the previous poster, accuracy is OK (better than me) and no more misfires with the replaced pins.

Five 986 7-shot groups/cylinders in sequence, 15 yards:

Still early with the gun, more training needed etc., but good enough for my EDC purpose, I guess.

 

[Rock185]

FWIW, Years ago, a friend acquired a new S&W Model 17. To zero it required moving the rear sight all the way to the right, as in ferider's photo. A gunsmith I know could have adjusted that with a few well placed whacks with a Babbitt. I cringed a bit first time I saw this done..

I admit to liking 9mm revolvers in general, and have owned a variety over the years. I currently have 2", 3" and 4" examples..

 

[Lou_the_welder]

Corroding or pitting on a 929 ?
Was this on the cylinder? I use Mpro7 cleaner and a nylon plastic brush only on the cylinder. A brass brush is fine on the rest of the gun.

I have a Browning i had to turn the windage to the right like that. It hits right in the center and doesn't bother me one bit.

Lou

 

[ferider]

Corroding or pitting on a 929 ?
Was this on the cylinder? I use Mpro7 cleaner and a nylon plastic brush only on the cylinder. A brass brush is fine on the rest of the gun.

I have a Browning i had to turn the windage to the right like that. It hits right in the center and doesn't bother me one bit.

Lou

Cylinder is Ti, no issue there. It was on several places on the frame, and I’m cleaning thoroughly - S&W explained it was not “passivated” properly.

 

[walkin' trails]

Thanks for your review. I’ve only had one 9mm revolver, a 940 back in the early 90s. I ended up trading for a 640 after the 940 locked up on the range - probably heat related. It went back to warranty, was allegedly fixed, but no documentation provided as to the repair. I do regret it, however.

Years ago, I had a set of Trijicon sights installed on my Glock 17. My next trip to the range I barely qualified because everything went way left. That was the worst I’d ever shot. The range master finally pushed my sight all the way right. It got me back centered. Had to the same thing when I bought a Gen 2 G19 that came from the distributor with Trijicons. Duty ammo was a Federal 9BPLE and the Winchester Q load, both 115 gr. +P+. Subsequent Glock 9mms, as well as 40s and 45s hadn’t presented the same challenge. I’ve learned my support hand grip tends to weaken a bit but I don’t know that was the problem. I’ve still got the Gen 1 17, it doesn’t have those Trijicons anymore, and I really don’t shoot it anymore.

9mm revolver in CA certainly beats a $600+ single shot P320.

 

[Lt.Donn]

I have several with adjustable sights. While they may favor one side or the other, your sight looks near bottomed out if true to POI.

Is the front sight favoring one side or is it centered in the dovetail?

Yep...I would definitely move the front to find a sweet spot

 

[ferider]

There are at least three other forum threads on the subject of the rear sight being way off center, similar to mine, and always to the right: part of the community suggests to have it fixed by a gun smith, the other to leave it be. And as I said, my 929 is very similar.
It's either a general QA issue, or an issue with how I'm shooting, more likely the latter if you trust S&W Performance Center QC. I'll keep training, and if it doesn't improve, and there will ever be another issue requiring me to send either of the guns to the mothership, I'll ask them to check it.
For now, the guns do what they are supposed to do, and I love and enjoy using them. I have a reliable 92FS that weights the same as the 986, but I'd pick the 986 (as is) any time for EDC over the Beretta. Just more comfortable for me, don't even know why.

 

[413Maxwedge]

If someone has multiple guns that require the sight blade adjusted that far right (or left) could it be a problem with eye dominance? I'm right handed but left eye dominant.

 

[ferider]

If someone has multiple guns that require the sight blade adjusted that far right (or left) could it be a problem with eye dominance? I'm right handed but left eye dominant.

Interesting. I should try .... Thanks.