Building A Python Fighter

[Nick B]

Yea I know,catchy name . ;-) Anyway I want to have one of my 686's worked over and have it tightened up . More than just an action job . I'd like the cylinder gap tightened up to about 4 thousands of an inch,timing and lock up set to minimum specs, etc,etc .
I know for this I'll need a real revolver smith .Are there any still around ?
I was thinking of Jim Stroh at Alpha Precision or maybe Bowen .
Any ideas ?
I'm close to retirement so I want to treat myself to a fine shooting S&W and my favorite is the 686 .
I sold my stock production line 1911's and bought a Ed Brown and a Les Baer . Love em . Now it's time for a finely fitted wheel gun .

 

[DonD]

Can't do better than Hamilton Bowen. Cylinder & Slide is good and I'm sure others with more knowledge of the gunsmith trade will add names for you. Don

 

[Engineer1911]

You only live once. Get that crown jewel S&W custom revolver for less total cost than a python, and then show those "devout" Colt followers what accuracy and precision looks like.

 

[colt_saa]

How about Clark

 

[gkitch]

I have always been happy with Cylinder & Slide. It is a big enough operation that it is not TOO slow and expensive, yet well run by Bill Laugheridge. Always been happy with the work.

 

[bgrafsr]

Andy Horvath, LaGrange, Ohio.

 

[Nick B]

Forgot to add . Would a 686-0 be a good candidate for this project ?

 

[Nick B]

You only live once. Get that crown jewel S&W custom revolver for less total cost than a python, and then show those "devout" Colt followers what accuracy and precision looks like.

^^Ding Ding Ding ! We have a winner !
My thoughts exactly .

 

[colt_saa]

Forgot to add . Would a 686-0 be a good candidate for this project ?

Are you sure that you have a 686-0? Or do you mean a 686?

I am not aware of a -0 engineering revision to the 686 family of revolvers.

 

[WPWarhawk]

Alex Hamilton in San Antonio?

 

[Nick B]

Are you sure that you have a 686-0? Or do you mean a 686?

I am not aware of a -0 engineering revision to the 686 family of revolvers.

I should of said 686 no dash .

 

[S&W357]

I like what i'm hearing here...

 

[dfariswheel]

The S&W Performance Center.
Frank Glenn in Arizona.

 

[S&W Fan]

I can heartily endorse Frank Glenn, my 686 was my late father's. He had Mr. Glenn perform his magic on it in '81 or '82 and it's still an amazingly accurate and fun gun to shoot.

 

[Warren Sear]

In my experience, there is nothing exceptionally accurate about a Colt Python. I never could figure out what the fuss is all about, except if one likes the looks of the Python (I don't).

 

[ohiojerry]

I haven't yet used a custom smith for anything but here are a couple I have on a short list is the need arises:

D.O. Reichard of Sand Burr Gun Ranch, Rochester, IN
Grant Cunningham

 

[KEN L]

Forgot to add . Would a 686-0 be a good candidate for this project ?

Absolutely!

 

[BigBill]

I had an 80's python I could ping any rock I could see on the 100yds berm.
The only problem I had was the poor workmanship on the cylinder timing. All of the cylinder lugs were off. The cylinder didn't lock up till I pulled the trigger. I guess the turning rod was short. My ex-lgs sold me it as a new gun but after all the paperwork was done I found out it was used. It looked like new without a mark on it. But the clue it was used it had no box or paperwork. After owning two new 1911 Colts that had quality problems from that era too I gave up owning new Colts that needed reworking.

I been a ruger owner for all of my gun owner life. A few years ago I started buying used and new s&w revolvers. Why did I wait for so long.

I would build a s&w m27 N Frame.

 

[mjolnir2]

I had an 80's python I could ping any rock I could see on the 100yds berm.
The only problem I had was the poor workmanship on the cylinder timing. All of the cylinder lugs were off. The cylinder didn't lock up till I pulled the trigger. I guess the turning rod was short. My ex-lgs sold me it as a new gun but after all the paperwork was done I found out it was used. It looked like new without a mark on it. But the clue it was used it had no box or paperwork. After owning two new 1911 Colts that had quality problems from that era too I gave up owning new Colts that needed reworking.

I been a ruger owner for all of my gun owner life. A few years ago I started buying used and new s&w revolvers. Why did I wait for so long.

I would build a s&w m27 N Frame.

Check out the poll on the 327 R8/TRR8 where almost 4 out of 10 (40%) are having issues with light primer strikes. Don't get me wrong, I really like my S&W revolves, but i can say the same thing about reliability you are saying here about the Colts. No?