New 686 all jacked up

[edshot]

Smith and Wesson makes the 686, and Colt made the Python. Part of the reason S&W still makes the 686 is that they have made successful, calculated decisions on cost-cutting over the decades. MIM triggers and hammers don't have the panache of forged bits. They work. Sure, the handwork in a Python shows and is a joy to see and shoot. If you get to see, much less shoot, one.

Part of the reason S&W makes the occasional lemon is that they know a certain number of buyers don't know one when they see one, and won't return one. They know a certain number of buyers won't accept one and will bitch about them (that would be US of course!). It's a careful analysis of what the market wants and is willing to pay for.

The market 30 years ago was much more oriented to highly accurate handguns fired offhand at distances from 25 to 200 yards. Action and speed shooting competitions didn't exist. Good or bad, it's just the way shooting sports, or any games, change through time. I'm glad S&W is here to satisfy our cravings!

My opinion of course, and I'm charging you exactly what it's worth!

 

[S&WForty]

I my very few experiences with S&W due to problems like yours, they'll make it right or replace it at no cost to you. However, one must ask, did you have a chance to inspect the weapon prior to purchase?

I had never heard of a canted barrel until I had bought my 3rd revolver. Fortunately, all three were okay. For revolver newbs like me, it's easy to overlook a flaw you don't know to look for. ESPECIALLY, when you have come from the dark side of semi-autos and are all too used to revolver lovers extolling the virtues of malfunction-free revolvers vs those pesky, unreliable, and jamming semi-autos...

 

[Laker2004]

I call troll.

New member, five posts with two in this thread, just purchased two brand new pistols that looked like they were dragged behind a truck, and got $400 trade in on a Glock toward a 5" pre-lock 629 priced at $729.

No pictures.

If I'm wrong, I apologize, but it doesn't look good.

Well thanks for the analysis, Internet detective. Yes, I'm a new member. yes, I got a flawless 5" 629 for a Glock, and yeah, that 686 is still a piece of garbage that's going back.

Thanks for the responses. I'm still pissed that S&W would try to screw the customer like this.

You all have a great weekend.

 

[Rick_A]

No need to take things personal.

Anything made by man can have flaws.

I've purchased five new production S&W's through the years and a couple vintage guns.

The only problem with a new one was a proud side plate which they fixed promply...and a couple had some funny hole in the side...which I fixed.

S&W has had their ups and downs through the years.

They blame the night crew these days I hear...stuff happens.

I get to see a lot of new guns come and go. Worst I've seen is one locked up out of the box and a few that staged hard when the cylinder bolt locks in. Those were all the 442/642 models which tend to be the best sellers.

Comparing the old vs new guns, the cleaner machining on internal and in critical surfaces of the new ones is readily apparent. While the old guns certainly have some extra handiwork I'm not of the camp that believes it makes them "better." They are just more interesting and have a bit more character and soul.

The internet has made it so everyone with a minor issue hits the discussion boards to prove to everyone how S&W is no good these days.

The chances of a vintage gun still having problems decades later is slim, but that does happen as well, as some unlucky recipients have found. The difference is yours will be repaired under warranty and the old gun will be on your dime.

To not thoroughly check over any gun purchase before taking it home is inexcusable.

Since you are past that point give S&W the opportunity to make it right. Nobody wants to hear about it from the soapbox.

 

[H Richard]

I think that the only quality comments we normally see are the "BAD Quality, not the Good Quality. I have currently over 50 S&W revolvers, and the only one that has ever been back to S&W (or needed to) was a early no dash 686 for the hammer nose bushing replacement.

If everyone that just bought a new S&W would comment on the original quality, I think that the # of "bad" ones would be overshadowed by the "good" ones.

 

[ankona]

I just purchased a new 3 inch 686+ 7 shot. Got a great price $681 including shipping on a brand new production gun sight unseen via the interweb from a good gun distributor. Everything looks good and it is in spec. Very pleased with the purchase.

From another perspective be careful what you wish for. Allow me to explain. Would you rather have S&W do what is right for the company to be profitable, prosper and survive or would you rather have priced themselves out of the revolver business and died a slow death. Alternative 1 we still get to buy some nice revos. Yeah some may have the hillary blow hole and they now have MIM parts but we still have thye ability to buy new S&W products with a good warranty and great parts support. Option 2 is a dead company with no more production and a dwindling supply of parts over time for the guns still left out there. I know where I stand. As for the OP let's see some pics of this so called problem otherwise I agree that you are just FOS.

 

[686-380]

I wonder how many "lemons" are made by ALL the manufacturers. My perception is that many people purchase firearms but never bother to inspect or try them out...they're just magical talismans to ward away evil...Welcome to the forum Laker20014 and thanks for inspecting your 686.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

Well thanks for the analysis, Internet detective. Yes, I'm a new member. yes, I got a flawless 5" 629 for a Glock, and yeah, that 686 is still a piece of garbage that's going back.

Thanks for the responses. I'm still pissed that S&W would try to screw the customer like this.

You all have a great weekend.

And yet still no pictures. If you are going to claim how bad the revolver is, why not post some pictures? We have had members in the past exaggerate how bad a barrel was canted only to find out it was barely canted or no cant at all. I really want to see if S&W quality control is getting worse. Your post could confirm this by posting some pictures.

 

[S&W Rover]

Well, I bought a new Mdl 640 recently and it is perfect (including what you can't see, which is a very nice trigger).

These type of posts are enough to make me resolve to check any new purchase very carefully, rather than take a quick glance and be satisfied. A canted barrel would bug me a lot. As for the "new" two piece barrel, I think these have been around for about 10 years on the Mdls 619 and 620, which always struck me as a "poor man's 686." I have to admit now I am very tempted by the similar Mdl 66, as I like the slight smaller size of the K frame. And the two-piece barrel may mean... the end of the canted barrel problem... Not to hijack the thread, but are there any indications the two-part barrel won't last as long as the one-piece 686 barrel?

 

[Brasky]

+1 for pictures. If I received a gun like that pictures would be the first thing I posted

 

[Laker2004]

And yet still no pictures. If you are going to claim how bad the revolver is, why not post some pictures? We have had members in the past exaggerate how bad a barrel was canted only to find out it was barely canted or no cant at all. I really want to see if S&W quality control is getting worse. Your post could confirm this by posting some pictures.

No camera for upload. GF will take one when she comes over. Trust me. it's over 1/8th of an inch cant, and the underlug misses the frame by nearly 3/8th of an inch. barrel all scratched to ****. Makes me wonder what the internals look like. damn near scared to shoot it.

For a NIB gun, they are turning into a garbage company......

 

[CaptRon956]

No camera for upload. GF will take one when she comes over. Trust me. it's over 1/8th of an inch cant, and the underlug misses the frame by nearly 3/8th of an inch. barrel all scratched to ****. Makes me wonder what the internals look like. damn near scared to shoot it.

For a NIB gun, they are turning into a garbage company......

What I find questionable is the fact that every time you post, you rip into the company..
But really, if it was that bad, why did you take it home? oh wait, you didnt inspect the weapon when you picked it up....

 

[sodacan]

The proof will be in the pudding, oops, I mean pictures. Until they appear, I'm not buyin'.

 

[HarrishMasher]

No camera for upload. GF will take one when she comes over. Trust me. it's over 1/8th of an inch cant, and the underlug misses the frame by nearly 3/8th of an inch. barrel all scratched to ****. Makes me wonder what the internals look like. damn near scared to shoot it.

For a NIB gun, they are turning into a garbage company......

If you think S&Ws QC is bad, yours is even worse, you only had one gun to look at!

Seriously, how could you have paid for a new gun that looked like that? Underlug not lining up? Barrel scratched to XXXX? Gap between the barrel and frame? How could the salesman have had a straight face when he pulled it out of the case and showed it to you? C'mon.

When you take pics, make sure the gun is sitting on today's USA Today with the date in the pic.

I'm definitely not suggesting for a second that S&W isn't putting out some turds lately. Lots of canted barrels for sure. I could possibly understand buying a gun with a slightly canted barrel, but not what you're describing. There is just no excuse for buying a new gun that looks like what you are describing. If you actually did, you only have yourself to blame and I personally would be too embarrassed to share that with anyone. Unless I bought it online sight unseen. But that is not your story. I'm calling total BS on this story.

 

[Dstyles75]

This guy's story is more "canted" than any S&W barrel I've ever seen.

 

[USAF385]

Well, I'll play devil's advocate here.

I'll say I can see it happening because something similar happened to my brother on a new 442 (if I'm reading the OP's post right), just nowhere near as bad as described.

I went with him, we both checked it out in store. It wasn't until we got home and fired it that we picked up on the issue.

If my memory is accurate, the barrel was twisted counter clockwise (if looking down the sights) just a few degrees. So the front sight was a tad to the left and not perpendicular to the rear.

It functioned fine, just off a tad on aim.

Also, being misaligned, the locking bolt and ejector rod didn't quite fit like all my other S&W revolvers.

He sent it in and S&W took care of it. However, there were no scratches on the barrel from them realigning it.

 

[MichiganScott]

No camera for upload. GF will take one when she comes over. Trust me. it's over 1/8th of an inch cant, and the underlug misses the frame by nearly 3/8th of an inch. barrel all scratched to ****. Makes me wonder what the internals look like. damn near scared to shoot it.

For a NIB gun, they are turning into a garbage company......

Still waiting for the pictures.

 

[Laker2004]

Well, update. sorry for the no pics, but had some issues with the upload. Anyway sent her out to S&W. they are replacing the barrel. sounded like that was done, ready for test fire.

Sorry for the bitching. looks like they are going to make good. I will verify when she's back.

 

[model70hunter]

Glad you sent it in, going back to SW was best, hopefully their QC folks will look at it to see if it was a one off due to training or machine issues or heaven forbid QC issues.

When someone new comes on board and rips a product without pics all we can do is base opinions on past experiences.

Thanks for getting the mail to the right place.

I am a Winchester feller. Always was. I have bought some new Remington's, had 3 fail to work out of the box, 2 700's and one 870.

Remington fixed 2 of the 3, never could get one 700 to work and i was going to have to eat it. I made my dealer take it back, he made his jobber take it back and Remington gave them another rifle.

I still buy Remingtons and have not had any more issues. All of the 3 were in the 70's and early 80's.

So I had 3 experiences that might make one a firm disbeliever. I have 2 700's, a super accurate 243 that I killed a few deer with and gave to my Daughter who also killed a deer with it and a 25-06 that I have killed some deer with over the past few years. No it is not my main gun, I take it on snowy or rainy days.

Be interested in hearing how it turns out.

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

I think that the only quality comments we normally see are the "BAD Quality, not the Good Quality. I have currently over 50 S&W revolvers, and the only one that has ever been back to S&W (or needed to) was a early no dash 686 for the hammer nose bushing replacement.

If everyone that just bought a new S&W would comment on the original quality, I think that the # of "bad" ones would be overshadowed by the "good" ones.

Something that discharges an object at extreme pressures and velocities really should leave the factory in excellent working order. With that said; I used to fly high performance aircraft and $35K to $40K engines regularly fail between 1 and 400 hours time in service. Interestingly that is when they are most likely to fail. Albeit they are more complex than a firearm...

In the last 4) months we purchased a 637PC and 60LS. They shoot well and are flawless thusfar. They were loooked over well and actions listened to...MOSTLY because of you guys / gals here. Nonetheless...I have to believe if they'd stop cranking out plastic and start making the revolvers us old and new farts want...with attention to detail...we'd all be better off. MO...