First S&W, first revolver, new 686 6"
- Thread starter JotaDe
- Start date
Congrats on your fine acquisition. I bought a 5" Talo 686 in December and it also had a canted barrel, very similar to yours as well as a timing issue. Called S&W, they emailed a prepaid FedEx label and had it back to me in two weeks with the barrel perfectly straight and the hand and extractor replaced. Locks up bank vault tight now. Hope all works out for you and happy shooting!
stantheman86
US Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2010
- Messages
- 2,479
- Reaction score
- 531
PA Reb, the whole point of my post is that even when they were made "the way they used to be", they had canted barrels!
I had an M&P from 1922 with a slight cant in the barrel, as well as the 581's from 1982-83 with noticeable cants. I'm sure if I broke out the micrometer many if not all of my older S&W's would have cants in the barrel. I also have a 1978 64-3 with a forcing cone that was fitted too tight. Not every older S&W is perfect either.
S&W makes them to be "within spec", and we pay $6-700 for them. If everything was perfect to within .0001" they would cost $2,000 or more and S&W would no longer be in business. If we're not happy with a gun, we can send them back.
My Dodge Magnum came with a bad transmission mount from the factory, so under warranty it was repaired. Was I ticked off? Sure I was, I paid $35k for a car with a defect. But, it's not a hand built Maybach, it's a mass produced assembly line made vehicle. Mistakes and errors do happen. New cars have uneven body panels, and other cosmetic imperfections.
If you want absolute perfection, you need to spend $10,000 for a hand built Korth.
I had an M&P from 1922 with a slight cant in the barrel, as well as the 581's from 1982-83 with noticeable cants. I'm sure if I broke out the micrometer many if not all of my older S&W's would have cants in the barrel. I also have a 1978 64-3 with a forcing cone that was fitted too tight. Not every older S&W is perfect either.
S&W makes them to be "within spec", and we pay $6-700 for them. If everything was perfect to within .0001" they would cost $2,000 or more and S&W would no longer be in business. If we're not happy with a gun, we can send them back.
My Dodge Magnum came with a bad transmission mount from the factory, so under warranty it was repaired. Was I ticked off? Sure I was, I paid $35k for a car with a defect. But, it's not a hand built Maybach, it's a mass produced assembly line made vehicle. Mistakes and errors do happen. New cars have uneven body panels, and other cosmetic imperfections.
If you want absolute perfection, you need to spend $10,000 for a hand built Korth.
Mailed the gun to S&W today.
The timing made the decision easy, I'm on vacation next week, and slammed with work this week (ie. no range time). So if I can't shoot it for 1.5+ weeks I might as well have S&W do their thing.
Hopefully shortly after I'm back from vacation I can pick it up with the aligned barrel and fixed grips.
If I needed the gun now I'd have no regret with keeping it as these issues (IMO) are minor and can be lived with. The gun is not my HD weapon, nor am I shipping off to a dangerous area where I don't have time to get this issues worked on.
My biggest regret is not knowing what to look for when purchasing a firearm. I assume most of you are comfortable in gun shops and can take your time, but I'm still getting there. When I was holding the 686 with customers waiting around me, and staff waiting for me to make a decision, well I'll just say I didn't feel like I could take all the time I needed before saying "I'll take it." Add that to not knowing everything to look for when buying a revolver and that's why I'm in this boat. I'll chalk it down to a learning experience and it won't happen again.
Appreciate all the replies and opinions, and will update the thread on the turnaround time and work done by S&W.
I really can't wait to shoot this badboy!
The timing made the decision easy, I'm on vacation next week, and slammed with work this week (ie. no range time). So if I can't shoot it for 1.5+ weeks I might as well have S&W do their thing.
Hopefully shortly after I'm back from vacation I can pick it up with the aligned barrel and fixed grips.
If I needed the gun now I'd have no regret with keeping it as these issues (IMO) are minor and can be lived with. The gun is not my HD weapon, nor am I shipping off to a dangerous area where I don't have time to get this issues worked on.
My biggest regret is not knowing what to look for when purchasing a firearm. I assume most of you are comfortable in gun shops and can take your time, but I'm still getting there. When I was holding the 686 with customers waiting around me, and staff waiting for me to make a decision, well I'll just say I didn't feel like I could take all the time I needed before saying "I'll take it." Add that to not knowing everything to look for when buying a revolver and that's why I'm in this boat. I'll chalk it down to a learning experience and it won't happen again.
Appreciate all the replies and opinions, and will update the thread on the turnaround time and work done by S&W.
I really can't wait to shoot this badboy!
stantheman86
US Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2010
- Messages
- 2,479
- Reaction score
- 531
S&W will make it right, that 686 will last you forever
I did the same thing when I bought my 617, it was an impulse buy and it was a good gun, but I never fell in love with .22's. I should have thought it through but I had cash burning a hole in my pocket and the sudden need for a match grade .22 revolver.........I had fun with it, but ended up selling it. And yes, it had a slight cant in the barrel But that gun still ate up the X-ring at 25 yards.
I did the same thing when I bought my 617, it was an impulse buy and it was a good gun, but I never fell in love with .22's. I should have thought it through but I had cash burning a hole in my pocket and the sudden need for a match grade .22 revolver.........I had fun with it, but ended up selling it. And yes, it had a slight cant in the barrel
But that gun still ate up the X-ring at 25 yards.
I wouldn't worry about the 'cant" on the barrel. I just purchased a 686 last month. Mine looks exactly like yours i guess that is within tolerances. I took mine to the range and sight picture is dead on.
I had the same grip problem as well. Called up S&W and all I got was attitude. However I sent them an e-mail with a picture and they had new grips to me in the mail the next day.
I had the same grip problem as well. Called up S&W and all I got was attitude. However I sent them an e-mail with a picture and they had new grips to me in the mail the next day.
PA Reb
Member
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2011
- Messages
- 1,511
- Reaction score
- 1,816
I love those Dodge Magnums but I disagree with you and any others that believe getting the barrels straight the first time around would add a tremendous cost to the already high prices.
Lotsa luck with that beast you're driving
!The follow up.
Sent the gun to S&W on 4/24, and received it back today - 13 day turnaround door to door.
Both issues (barrel alignment, loose grips) have been corrected and I'm fully satisfied.
Customer service was great for me. I decided to not discuss the problems in detail with the rep on the phone, and instead succinctly detailed what I wanted fixed in a letter with the gun. Hoping that approach would take away the potential disagreement on what was within tolerance and instead put the focus on making me a satisfied customer. It worked.
Sent the gun to S&W on 4/24, and received it back today - 13 day turnaround door to door.
Both issues (barrel alignment, loose grips) have been corrected and I'm fully satisfied.
Customer service was great for me. I decided to not discuss the problems in detail with the rep on the phone, and instead succinctly detailed what I wanted fixed in a letter with the gun. Hoping that approach would take away the potential disagreement on what was within tolerance and instead put the focus on making me a satisfied customer. It worked.
686 Hogue Grip Loose
Today, I purchased a brand new 686 with Hogue grips. The grip is loose and the firearm moves while holding the grip.
I tried tightening the allen set screw on the side of the grip but no benefit. I also tried a washer under the set screw but no benefit.
Today, I purchased a brand new 686 with Hogue grips. The grip is loose and the firearm moves while holding the grip.
I tried tightening the allen set screw on the side of the grip but no benefit. I also tried a washer under the set screw but no benefit.
Osprey_2012
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2012
- Messages
- 40
- Reaction score
- 0
Thanks Jotade for sharing the photo of the misalignment barrel. I am on the 10 day waiting and if mine 686+ looks off like yours, I will send it back to SW to get it resolved without hesitation. SW quality control needs to do a better job - both in cosmetic and functionality. This is unacceptable in my book.
gunslinger72
Member
my barrel to reciever fit is the same as your's . my grips arent loose though. shoot it and have fun. let me say if it shoots as good as mine you will be very happy happy happy. be safe
