Mountain Gun

[afret]

I'd also like to see a 625 MG but I won't hold my breath. S&W only offers one 45 LC revolver and only in one barrel length (6.5") so maybe they don't see much demand for this caliber? I just picked the 6.5"barrel revolver up recently and would like to get a 4" version.

 

[jack the toad]

I'm interested in handling the new prelock mtn guns and possibly expanding with
no-lock RF (617 MG).
Pics posted before but here's some prelock MGs in the 5 CF cals. available.
Left: 625- both Colt & ACP
Right: 629, 657, 686+



Plus, the no-lock 617 mtn gun would also be a nice fit...
3 limited run Ashland guns









plus 2 more...
Both 10 shot. RB 1 of 17. SB 1 of 23.

 

[afret]

Got the 629 MG back from S&W yesterday. They don't say what they did to it but it seems fixed. Previously the trigger would no longer cock the hammer back after a shot or two. Went and fired about 10 full load shots in the back yard last evening and it looks to be fine now. Will test it out more this weekend.

 

[NavyEngineer]

I have been looking forward to one of the 686 plus Mountain Guns since they were announced. My local shop wasn't able to get one in, so I ordered one from Midway when they got a shipment. I picked it up from my shop on 17 June, and it appeared fine. I put a cylinder of 38-specials through it with no issues, then loaded 7 factory .357s. I was getting used to the trigger, and was firing single-action. The first 6 .357s fired without incident, but the hammer would not stay cocked for the 7th round. After trying twice, I opened the cylinder, removed the live round, then attempted to cock it again. That time, the hammer stayed back. I pulled the trigger to dryfire it......and nothing happened. The trigger wouldn't move. The hammer, trigger, and cylinder were all locked. I called S&W the following morning and shipped it to them that day. I hope and expect they will sort it out and get it back to me soon.

 

[afret]

I have been looking forward to one of the 686 plus Mountain Guns since they were announced. My local shop wasn't able to get one in, so I ordered one from Midway when they got a shipment. I picked it up from my shop on 17 June, and it appeared fine. I put a cylinder of 38-specials through it with no issues, then loaded 7 factory .357s. I was getting used to the trigger, and was firing single-action. The first 6 .357s fired without incident, but the hammer would not stay cocked for the 7th round. After trying twice, I opened the cylinder, removed the live round, then attempted to cock it again. That time, the hammer stayed back. I pulled the trigger to dryfire it......and nothing happened. The trigger wouldn't move. The hammer, trigger, and cylinder were all locked. I called S&W the following morning and shipped it to them that day. I hope and expect they will sort it out and get it back to me soon.

Sorry to read that you also had a problem with your new revolver. Hope they get it back to you quickly. My 629 took about 3 weeks. I wonder if they are rushing too much to try and meet the heavy demand?

 

[NavyEngineer]

Sorry to read that you also had a problem with your new revolver. Hope they get it back to you quickly. My 629 took about 3 weeks. I wonder if they are rushing too much to try and meet the heavy demand?

I imagine it will be back before too much longer - Independence Day might add a bit to their normal turnaround time. I wouldn't be surprised if they are rushing. There seem to be no shortage of reported issues lately, but even a small percentage of production errors is magnified in the internet age! I'm confident they will make it right, and am thrilled to see no-lock Mountain guns in production again.

 

[SLT223]

I'm interested in handling the new prelock mtn guns and possibly expanding with
no-lock RF (617 MG).
Pics posted before but here's some prelock MGs in the 5 CF cals. available.
Left: 625- both Colt & ACP
Right: 629, 657, 686+

View attachment 773855

Plus, the no-lock 617 mtn gun would also be a nice fit...
3 limited run Ashland guns
View attachment 773884

View attachment 773889

View attachment 773888

View attachment 773890


plus 2 more...
Both 10 shot. RB 1 of 17. SB 1 of 23.

View attachment 773886

Love it! I learned something new today. Didn't know the 10 shots existed. One of the reasons I keep watching this site is that you never know what is going to surface, even if you think you know all the models. Pure straight brain candy for a Smith nerd.

 

[Venom6]

My .357 was extremely difficult to open and close; turned out to be a nasty burr on the yoke lock cutout. It has a short firing pin so misfires often (common complaint). The gold bead front sight insert was missing; nowhere in the brand new box. To their credit they responded quickly to my issues and sent a call tag. I didn't want to risk sending the gun across the country back and forth, so they said they would send a replacement sight blade, and did. Only took seven weeks. The bc gap is .009"; would prefer half that but it is within spec. The action is quite smooth, there's no endshake at all. Grips are great, though plain, and there's no lock, praise God.

 

[The Norseman]

Oh no! Don't say that, mine's sitting in Wyoming
new in the box and I haven't been able to
look at it yet.

Thanks for the Review. It appears that these
Lipsey's/S&W Mountain Guns are a hit or
miss with Quality Control issues.

 

[PHS327]

Oh no! Don't say that, mine's sitting in Wyoming
new in the box and I haven't been able to
look at it yet.

Thanks for the Review. It appears that these
Lipsey's/S&W Mountain Guns are a hit or
miss with Quality Control issues.

I keep hearing about QC issues with all the mountain guns and it makes be almost afraid to order one. Since people tend to complain if there's an issue and not say anything if everything is OK, it would be nice if someone did a poll so we can get an idea as to the extent of the problems.

 

[cerescorubi]

This is what a new Colt looks like.

I shot a friends 4" Pythin and was really impressed. If I ever stoop to new guns again It would probably be a Colt especially if they round butted the Python and got rid of the stupid data inpression thing on the frame . Otherwise only old pre lock Smith I get a chance to inspect before I buy.

 

[jrc1]

I have all four and the only problem was the left grip panel on the 686 was over tightened and cracked so I repaired it

 

[Riposte1]

I used to have that same gun! Not exactly, since mine had Pachmeyer grips, but it was basically the same .44 magnum Mountain Gun. It kicked like H-E-L-L! It was NOT a gun anyone sane wanted to fire full power loads from. But it IS a testament to S&W's commitment to giving the customer what they want!

I have a .44 Mtn Gun and a one in .45 Colt - at 74 3/4 I don't enjoy shooting full house .44 Magnum even out of my 8 3/8" 29-3 - fortunately it is not required for anything I want to hunt - .44 Spl. does just fine for deer and wild boar. I hand-load and can easily load up some .44 Mag. loads of a 250 at 1000 which is completely comfrotable.



I had a previous .45 Mtn. gun but it had a "Hillary Hole" and while I took out the offensive item when I found this one, I bought it and sold the other (which was actually the newer gun) to a friend. Offered to put the stuff back in but he decided to keep it that way.

If you don't hand-load, the CCI blazer 240, Reminngton "Medium" 240 flat point (not sure they still make that?), Armscorp Cowboy, and HSM 240 Cowboy all go around 1000 fps to 1100.

Personally, while I own a lot of .44s and they will do the job - a .45 Colt at 800 fps works even better for me on game.

A friend had a Mtn. Gun in .45 Auto - now that would be a "grail gun" for me but I wouldn't pay what he did for it.

Riposte

 

[jack the toad]

A friend had a Mtn. Gun in .45 Auto - now that would be a "grail gun" for me but I wouldn't pay what he did for it.

Riposte

Although not a mtn gun, I do have LNIB 4" M25's in both calibers, Colt & ACP, and as a shooter, another 4" -5 (Colt cal.) that's cut for moon clips and is very enjoyable.
ETA:
Not saying to mod the original cylinder, as that's up to you. But replacement 625 cylinders are available, and I wouldn't have any reservations for cutting it for moons.
As for cutting the one in it now, if it's a regular shooter, with little collector appeal, IMO, having the cylinder modded for ACP's would enhance value.
ETA:
Forgot to mention, if replacement cylinder isn't MG type, and it's important for you that it is? Being stainless, it shouldn't be a problem as you could have the front of cylinder radiused as in mtn gun style. IMO, a somewhat insignificant feature but just a thought.

 

[NavyEngineer]

S&W returned my new 686 Mountain Gun after about a month, and it now works fine. I also picked up one of the new 617 Mountain Guns, and it has no issues. Both are pictured with my 629-2 Mountain Revolver, 629-4 Mountain Gun, and 625-6 Mountain Gun. My 629 No Dash snuck into the photo on the left side of the rack. Now that S&W sorted out the issues with my 686 version, I'm happy with both new revolvers. I really prefer the new barrel markings to the laser markings on my 629-4 and 625-6. The markings on the 629-4 are nearly worn away from light holster use.

 

[NavyEngineer]

I like the new Bear Hug style grips much better than the Pachmyr or Hogue grips that the older Mountain Revolvers and guns came with.

 

[The Norseman]

I shot my 686 MG last weekend. I amazingly
liked the TGW Bear Hug grips. They were fit,
trim, comfortable, and handled recoil quite
nicely. The right palm swell fits nice and left
palm swell adds a little support to the
fingers.

Unfortunately they were cracked hidden
inside. The factory over tightened the screw
pulling the nut side causing the wood to
splinter. Because the inside routered form
fits wood to metal fit so snug and good
shooting didn't harm anything. Idiots.

Quality Control is definitely missing, not my
S&W of my older ones.

The best to you and your endeavors.

 

[M29since14]

I've had my 686 MG now for quite a while and have been shooting it a bit almost every week. I hate the gold bead sight, but I knew the gun came that way, so I can't blame S&W for that. I would have preferred a square butt frame. Again, that's how they make them. I don't care for the grips, but I probably would have ended up using Pachmayrs anyway. My gripe is that awful gap between yoke and frame. HAS ANYONE HAD ANY LUCK GETTING S&W TO FIX THAT ON THEIR GUN?

Other than the extremely poor yoke-frame fit, I'm ok with the one I have. It functions and shoots well enough. It actually has a very nice double-action trigger - as good as any of my older S&Ws and better than a lot of them. Barrel looks ok. I've seen better, but at least it cleans easily and doesn't look like it was rifled in a first semester high school metal shop class. Price seems outrageous, but what isn't these days? If I could get a yoke installed in that gun that fit the frame, I'd be happy with it, sort of.

 

[The Norseman]

The "Gap" doesn't bother me, but S&W
knows better, shame on them.

I do like the sturdy Dedent Lock Up
and Yoke seam in front is reminiscent
of older Smith's. Can't figure out how
slip the Cylinder off the Yoke yet.

Appears to shoot straight, no sight adjust,
shoots on center and no lost front sight
Bead yet. I don't let the Bead bother me,
I aim as if it wasn't there.

 

[mag318]

The gap is normal and caused by the frame ball detent lock under the crane.