how durable is the 686?

[gr7070]

I pulled out the manual to take a look at what it recommends in addition to cleaning and oiling external surfaces.

It specifically states to never tear it down in multiple places. Of course I also found no specific entry for what field stripping means. Although I think it can easily be inferred it is just the normal cleaning and oiling of external surfaces only that they recommend.

NEVER DISASSEMBLE YOUR FIREARM beyond the field
stripping procedure outlined in this manual. Improper disassembly
or reassembly of your firearm may be dangerous and
can lead to serious injury or death.

CAUTION:
Never disassemble your firearm beyond the instructions in the
Field Stripping and Inspection sections of this manual.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Even this is probably a logical guess but still unproven. It would be interesting to torture one, just to see. I think a 686 would exceed expectations. I know my 686-3 is still going strong, I only have maybe 1000 38s and 1000 357s through it, but I'm at least the 3rd owner so I'm sure it has much more than what I personally shot.

It is indeed a educated guess! I've shot over a thousand rounds of 158 gr. handloads through my 586 and a couple thousand .38's all 158 gr. and it's still tight. It has never had the modification and has never tied up. I've shot about 120 something rounds of the BB's and the recoils is pretty stout. I never trusted a .357 for deer w/exc of 158 gr. Speer Gold Dots. They pack plenty of enough power for one in handgun range. The Buffalo Bores are an excellent deer round.

I prize my 586 too much to do a torture test using them for the experiment.

 

[papajohn428]

A 686 was my first centerfire handgun purchase back in the 80's, shortly after they came out. I was a new handloader and thought magnums were cool, and while most of my ammo was hot, it wasn't any hotter than factory ammo. In four years I put a hair over 46,000 rounds through it, and it went back to the factory twice to be re-timed. I was doing PD training at the time, and showing the new kids that you could shoot hot ammo fast if you practiced. I traded that gun off when it started getting loose again, to a guy who needed a nightstand gun.

I've bought several 357's since then, but none felt as good as The Real Thing, so I bought another 686. This one gets treated a lot better........it doesn't get shot as much. But it still sees full-power ammo.

 

[Flipside]

I clean them once when I get them, and then only if the trigger starts to feel sluggish or gritty. I do it the first time because you never know what you are going to find on the inside.

This is the inside of a 586 no dash I picked up. It's now cleaned up and ready to shoot.

Is this the "as rec'd" or AFTER you "cleaned it up"? All I see is a magnet for crud with all that lube in the works...

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Flipside That is enought grease for 6 guns

 

[Smith357]

Is this the "as rec'd" or AFTER you "cleaned it up"? All I see is a magnet for crud with all that lube in the works...

That greasy picture is "as received" I cleaned out all that grease and re-lubed it with a couple drops of gun oil.

 

[parabarbarian]

That greasy picture is "as received" I cleaned out all that grease and re-lubed it with a couple drops of gun oil.

Thank goodness. I was worried there for a minute. A lot of people seem to waaaay overlubricate their guns.

 

[jnichols2]

Thank goodness. I was worried there for a minute. A lot of people seem to waaaay overlubricate their guns.

Guilty as charged -- in certain cases.

I'm 69 years old, and have arthritus in my thumbs. I grease the rails in my semi-autos so they're easier to rack. But, the grease gets cleaned and replaced every time I shoot them.

All my revolvers are recently new, so I haven't opened any of them up yet.

 

[CajunBass]

If you wear one out, brag about it. You've really done something.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Your grandchildren will be able to take it to the range.

 

[ofnsaz]

If I could afford to shoot 30-50,000 rounds of ammo, I could afford to replace my $600-800 gun. At 10 cents a round, that would be $3-5,000 in ammo. Since I don't reload, it would be more like $12,000 - $20,000.

If I shot a 686 to pieces, I'd be proud - and broke!

 

[0311INF]

The biggest wear spots are the hand, ratchet teeth, cylinder stop notches which all combine to create timing issues. Fire it slowly instead of like a 9mm Glock and it'll last forever. It could be that a few springs need replacing in a couple decades, however.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Funny thing is I have several of them and will never shoot them enough to worry about wearing them out. However, my first was tinkered with by an alleged gunsmith and he messed it up so I had a real gunsmith REALLY tinker with it and he turned it into a gun that I think could be shot competitively if I were so inclined. SLICK doesn't even come close.

Anyway, one day I was cleaning it and when I took the rosewood stocks off there was this glob of creamy, off white grease on the spring and internals. I called the gunsmith up and asked him if I should clean it off. He said no, leave it there, so I did. Like I said, this gun is slick, very smooth trigger, etc. So I guess sometimes grease is your friend.

I know there is an unofficial rule about pictures.....

2.5", 6" M586 because I like it, 4", and 3" M686 - all 686+ models.

 

[stykshooter]

That 6" at the top has in excess of 20,000 rounds through it. Mostly light loads for a PPC league, but it has shot its fair share of magnums. The 3" at the bottom has seen very few .38's, but a couple thousand heavy .357 magnums.... mostly Buffalo Bore or the same gas checked bullet loaded to as fast as I can get them safely. Both revolvers are still tight as ever and actually seem to shoot better the more rounds they get down range.

 

[StakeOut]

Funny thing is I have several of them and will never shoot them enough to worry about wearing them out. However, my first was tinkered with by an alleged gunsmith and he messed it up so I had a real gunsmith REALLY tinker with it and he turned it into a gun that I think could be shot competitively if I were so inclined. SLICK doesn't even come close.

Anyway, one day I was cleaning it and when I took the rosewood stocks off there was this glob of creamy, off white grease on the spring and internals. I called the gunsmith up and asked him if I should clean it off. He said no, leave it there, so I did. Like I said, this gun is slick, very smooth trigger, etc. So I guess sometimes grease is your friend.

I know there is an unofficial rule about pictures.....

2.5", 6" M586 because I like it, 4", and 3" M686 - all 686+ models.

That 1st attached photo on the left size is just too small for my old eyes.The others are OK

 

[Mehutch]

If you wear one out, brag about it. You've really done something.

Not bragging but, my first gun was a S&W K frame Model 19 357 mag with 6" barrel, I started to reload 357's and went to the hot edge. I went through 2 barrels, (cracked forcing cone) and than retired it. The old girl still shoots spot on.



Now with my 586's and 686's they will out live me and into my Grand kids life.

They will last a long time.



Live long, shoot straight, pass it on.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I'll just say that if you put 60,000 rounds through ANYTHING, you could toss it away and still argue that the gun owed you nothing.

 

[bearman49709]

While the info is still good I think the op has made up his mind since every post from 28 on is replying to a six year old post.

 

[ofnsaz]

^^ You never know. Some folks take a LONG time to decide!

:>)