New revolver shooter.

[Escovar]

Hello everyone.
I´m a spanish shooter and yesterday I bought my first revolver, of course is a Smith & Wesson. Specifically a 686 Target Champion Serial number CEV5608.
As I am new to this, I would welcome any information and advice that can give me, from the cleaning, recommended loads for target shooting, and if someone can give me specific information on this gun (year of manufacture, type K or L frame, recommended settings and accessories, etc) Any advice is welcome.
Greetings from Madrid (Spain)

 

[NFrameFred]

Welcome to the forum. I'm sure someone with a SCSW handy will answer your questions about your L frame soon.

Most folks here probably shoot hard cast lead target loads with reduced powder charges, though the 686 is robust gun and handles jacketed high velocity loads well.

"Accessories" as in speed loaders and holsters are found in abundance online, and since I'm not familiar with the availability of reloading components in Spain, I'll pass on specific recommendations for the moment.

 

[mississippi revolverman]

Welcome to the forum. 686 is a good choice you won'yt be disappointed

 

[stevieboy]

Welcome! Did you purchase a 4" or a 6" gun? The 686 is an extremely versatile and very accurate gun. I have one and it is one of my favorites. The "classic" target round is 38 Special 148 gr. wadcutter, either lead or jacketed. I think you'll find that the gun will give you outstanding accuracy with that round. Beyond that, it's really a question of taste. I've fired just about every weight and velocity of 38 special and .357 magnum through my 686. The only "problem" I've noticed is that the lighter weight magnum rounds, as in, for example, 125 gr. .357 magnums, tend to shoot noticeably lower than .38s. The groups will be very tight, but considerably lower than .38 special groups. That problem, which I think is very common with higher velocity rounds, can be "cured" easily enough simply by raising the adjustable sights, which, of course, raises your point of aim. Trial and error will tell you how much adjusting you need to do. I'd start with one full turn of elevation and go from there.

 

[Escovar]

Thank you very much everybody. Today I have released and the result was good. Use 148 grain wadcutter bullet in .357 case and the shots were just where Iaimed. (I usually shoot at the foot of the black zone and the previous owner to the center of the target) Only thing I've noticed is the weight (6") as compared to my H&K 9mm pistol is much heavier. I guess I will have to strengthen the arm ....
The previous owner said that this was in a gun from Performance Center which, I suppose, can not do much to improve it. I am planning to install a Gold Bead front sight that is not good for anything but it looks nice, buy a original S & W holster and things like this. In Spain I can only use it for sports so speed loaders would not have much sense. If somebody knows web pages specialized in S&W parts, please let me see if there are interesting things to buy.
Thanks in advance.

 

[hitecrednek]

a few random things.....

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?act=idx
http://gunvideo.com/pgroup_descrip/163/5628/
http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/revptvideo.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Miculek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uisHfKj2JiI
http://www.epsaddlery.com/c-26-strongside.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Fan...Givern/dp/0832905577

 

[hitecrednek]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/957612/posts
http://www.dillonprecision.com...e_Deal___039_B__039_
http://www.meisterbullets.com/

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Welcome to the forum! The S&W 686 is an excellent pistol. I bought one with a 6" barrel when they first came out, and people saying that it would never be successful as a result of it being made of stainless steel. Like an idiot, I sold it off to get money for a trade - luckily, it was for a 625. I decided I was going to replace the 686, but I would hold out until I found one with the adjustable front and rear sights. I took a few years, but I found the replacement and have not been disappointed in her. By the way, the L frame is considered as a "heavy-duty" revolver, and will not be damaged by shooting hot .35/357 magnum in the smaller (but still a K frame).

As far as cleaning, I suggest a good quality cleaning rod with muzzle guide, a solvent such as Hoppe's #9, and a lubricant like Break Free CLP.

Hope this helps. Best regards.

Dave

 

[Escovar]

Hello everyone.
Recently I bought this gun and am trying to find as much information about it. The seller assured me it was a Performance Center, but I do not see the logo anywhere. If someone could give me some information (year of manufacture and whether or not a performance Center) will be very grateful.
The model is 686 in 6 ", serial number CEV5608, the finish is satin, not shiny, but what surprises me is how they have put the words" Smith & Wesson "and" 357 Magnum "on the left side and "686 Target Champion" in the right

 

[Revolver King]

The product code on your gun is 104268, It was produced in July 2001. The product code doesn't indicate that it was a performance center gun. But that does not mean that it wasn't sent there for work at a later date.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

 

[Escovar]

Thanks to everyone for the help, HEADKNOCKER for helping to put the photos in, Revolver_King for your reply. In short, the seller cheat me, I must speak with him...., hitecrednek for the links (some very interesting and non-knowledge) and Double-O-Dave, stevieboy, mississippi revolverman and NFrameFred for their messages. Are and will be of great help.

 

[tbury]

686 Target Champion

I found on Wikipedia that the target Champion was made in 1992 and has a "match grade" barrel.

On another forum I found this information:

I've had plenty of M-586 and M-686 revolvers over the years and a couple of PC L-frames but not the Wischo Target Champion. I don't think you'll find enough difference between the barrels to justify the added cost. Both will shoot better than 99.99% of the best shooters. The difference is that the Target Champion is built from the ground up in the Performance Center. It is built to closer tolerances than a regular assembly line pistol. Every part is hand fitted. It has much better sights and the excellent Nill-Griffe grips. For collectors, the Target Champion will retain much more of it's value also.

This may indicate that this was a Distributer (Wischo?) special production gun and could have been built in the Performance Center without being a normal Performance Center product.

 

[tbury]

Check out this site.
http://www.rlvapen.se/rlvapen/tachex.html
and get out your Swedish dictionary.

 

[Revolver King]

According to the S/N it was produced in July 2001. Ref. S&WSC page 400 and page 271 makes ref to product code and called it Target Champion

 

[SmithNut]

The gun in the above pics is a late model gun, probably the 2001 date noted above. Note the integral frame lug in pic in the second pic down, that was introduced in the late 90's. Definately not a 1992 gun.