Looks like my new 686 SSR is going back to S&W

[ric426]

Well, I hope all the good things I've heard and read about the quality of S&W customer service are true.
I've had this 686SSR for a couple of months and in the few times I've shot it, I noticed that whenever I changed distances I had to readjust the windage, even going from 15 to 25 yards.
I was looking at it last night and noticed that with it sighted in at 50 ft. the rear sight blade was off to one side by what I'd consider a significant amount. Got out my trusty straight edge, laid it against one side of the top strap and checked how the muzzle lined up, then checked to other side. Lo and behold it looks like the barrel is canted off to one side! The straight edge overlaps the barrel by about .5mm on one side and on the other side there's about a 2mm gap.
I made the call to customer service and after describing what I'd found I was told that the tolerance spec for that is 3 degrees (does that mean the barrel can be out of alignment with the frame by as much as 1.5 degrees either way?!?! That seems like a lot to me!), but that based on what I'd said about the sighting in problems they'd like to take a look at it.
From what I've heard about S&W customer service, I'm confident they'll correct the problem, but it's still a little disappointing to buy a new Pro Series gun and find issues like this.

 

[DennisE]

You're scaring me...I'm supposed to pick up a 686SSR tomorrow! Dennis

 

[CigarGuy]

Keep us informed of EVERYTHING. Lurking for a 686 myself.

 

[ric426]

You're scaring me...I'm supposed to pick up a 686SSR tomorrow! Dennis

Chances are yours will be fine. S&W quality may not be what it used to be (what is???), but it's still pretty good. I think mine is probably one of those exceptions that slipped through when the QC inspector was out sick and the janitor filled in for the day.

Keep us informed of EVERYTHING. Lurking for a 686 myself.

I'll update the thread as things develop, but I don't expect to hear much for at least a couple of weeks, since next week everything will be closed for a couple of extra days.

 

[Uberdog]

Sending my Perf. Center 627 UDR back for mis-aligned barrel as well. In my case you do not need a straight edge, you can see it clearly by eye alone.

This is the second 627 UDR, the last was replaced for a long list of issues too numerous to mention.

So I will be monitoring this thread as well to see how we both fare.

 

[ric426]

My only complaint abut the SSR is, when they first came out, they had forged hammers and triggers and also a over travel stop on the trigger, now, like all S&W's they have MIM hammers and triggers, all well.

Is that a pretty recent change? I bought mine at the end of August and it has the forged hammer and trigger. The shop I bought it at does a pretty brisk business, so I doubt that it was sitting in the display case for too long.

 

[ric426]

You sure its the forged versions, thay have been MIM for over a year now, my dealer had 2, both MIM, the MIM trigger is kinda hollow in back and the hammer has a small casting circle towards the top, and when I contacted S&W, they told me only custom shop revolvers have forged parts.

Well, I won't be able to say for sure until I get it back (sent it out today), but I seem to remember the back of the trigger being flat like my older guns. When it comes right down to it though, it doesn't really matter to me that much. It's not a deal breaker either way.
I haven't shot the gun enough to really feel at home with it, but I didn't take an instant like to it the way I have with some guns. I've toyed with the idea of getting an earlier 686 or 586 in 4" instead, but I'll wait and see how I feel about it when I get it back.

 

[DennisE]

Picked mine up today. It looks and handles great. I did switch grips to the rubber one. Looking forwards to shooting it on Sunday! Dennis

 

[ric426]

I made a couple of changes to mine that I really liked. I swapped the rear sight assembly for another S&W sight that has a Weigand rear sight blade (I put the original rear sight back on before I sent the gun back to S&W) and swapped the front blade for a fiber optic blade. Makes for a really good sight picture.

 

[TAROMAN]

My 681 had the same issue. Sent it in. Came back much better (but not perfect) PC letter enclosed saying it was now "within S&W specification". They also sent a test target. It does shoot to POA now.

 

[ric426]

I just got my 686SSR back from the factory a few minutes ago.
I sent it back on Nov. 19, and it was back in my hands in just over two weeks, even with the Thanksgiving holiday in the middle of it all. I would have had it yesterday but no one was home when FedEx tried to deliver it.
From my initial alignment check (discretely in the car in the parking lot at work after picking it up from FedEx), it looks like they tweaked it into perfect alignment, replaced the rear sight assembly and gave me back the original rear sight. Not sure how they tweaked the alignment or why they replaced the sight, but if it's right I'll be satisfied. I'm going to the range after work so I'll see how it really turned out, but so far it looks promising.

Having said all that, I'm still glad I bought the SSR and I'd bet that my situation is not the norm for their pro series guns. I haven't done the ultimate testing yet, but so far I'd say that S&W customer service is everything it's reputed to be. They weren't very communicative and the only significant info on the sheet they sent back with it says "Repaired: adjust barrel alignment", but if they corrected the problem I'm happy. Not thrilled that it had to go back, but still happy with S&W. So far...

 

[ric426]

I shot my 686SSR last night and they seem to have corrected the barrel alignment problem. I still can't figure out why they replaced the rear sight assembly though. They also replaced the strain screw with a much longer one, so the action was *really* stiff. They gave me back the original one, so that went back in when I got home, along with the Wolff spring kit I had in it before I sent it back. The stock mainspring looks like it could be a Wolff anyway, but I'll keep if I ever need to put the gun back to stock configuration again. Now it's smooth and crisp without spraining my trigger finger. I'll probably have to bump the trigger pull up some if I use it for service class in our PPC league or if I finally get a chance to try some IDPA in the spring. That longer screw will come in handy then.