new to me 686 shoots to the left

[erikrichard]

My 4" 686 consistantly shoots to the left. Today I went to the range with 50 rounds of .357 mag (.38 sp also go left). After 12 shots going about 3 inches left at 25 feet I tightened the sight adj screw 4 clicks clockwise - it still shot a couple inches left. I then cranked about 5 more clicks clockwise, and I had a 6 shot group within an inch of each other right at the bullseye. The sight is now flush with the right side, looks very cockeyed. I had a very experience shooter who works there shoot it after my adjustments, and he also shot right at the bullseye. He said it was very unusual for the sight to be adjusted so extreme to shoot straight, and suggested I had a bent front sight. It looks perfect to me, anyone know how to check alignment? should I just leave it alone or try to figure this out?

 

[erikrichard]

My 4" 686 consistantly shoots to the left. Today I went to the range with 50 rounds of .357 mag (.38 sp also go left). After 12 shots going about 3 inches left at 25 feet I tightened the sight adj screw 4 clicks clockwise - it still shot a couple inches left. I then cranked about 5 more clicks clockwise, and I had a 6 shot group within an inch of each other right at the bullseye. The sight is now flush with the right side, looks very cockeyed. I had a very experience shooter who works there shoot it after my adjustments, and he also shot right at the bullseye. He said it was very unusual for the sight to be adjusted so extreme to shoot straight, and suggested I had a bent front sight. It looks perfect to me, anyone know how to check alignment? should I just leave it alone or try to figure this out?

 

[powerkicker]

As long as the blade is not hanging out past the base, it's in spec. Most of mine are cranked full right and full down to hit point of aim. With that sort of consistancy, I'm sure the problem is a shooting technique flaw on my part...but I sure can hit.

 

[erikrichard]

That's interesting...my 617 shoots very straight. The sight on it is adjusted dead square in the middle and untouched by me.

 

[stevieboy]

Try shooting the gun off a rest. I recently acquired a 686SSR and was dismayed to see everything low and several inches to the right. When I shot off a rest the shots remained low but centered. I then adjusted the sights upward and my off hand shots were no longer low, but remained way off to the right. that convinced me that the problem lay with me and not the gun. I worked on that: now, right-handed (my dominant hand) I can pretty much put everything where I aim. But, oddly, when I shoot left-handed, I'm still shooting to the right. That's a "me" problem, not a gun problem.

 

[erikrichard]

Thanks Steve, I'll try that.

 

[Bat Guano]

I picked up an allegedly minty M66-2 some time back. Same thing. On most of my AS guns I have to put on a couple of clicks to the right, but with this thing it's all the way over.

It may or may not be "in spec", but as far as I'm concerned it's the gun.

I'm inclined to send it in to S&W and tell them to beat on it with a babbitt bar until it comes into line better. If it doesn't respond to that, it'll get sold, "in spec" or not.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I had a deja vu moment when I read your post!

About 15 years ago, I bought from my local dealer a brand-new RB 686, with 2-1/2" barrel and finger-groove combat grips. I had exactly the same problem you've described, but in the opposite direction: With the rear sight centered, the gun was hitting far to the right, and I had to crank that sight all the way to the left in order to get the gun to shoot where I aimed it.

Finally, I looked at the barrel, specifically the positioning of the barrel relative to the frame, and I saw that the two didn't quite line up, that the barrel had been slightly over-tightened, thus causing the front sight to tilt ever-so-slightly to the left. It was almost imperceptible, but on that short-barreled gun, it made a big difference in point of impact.

I sent the 686 back to Smith, but, if memory serves me, they failed to correct the problem. I raised enough hell with their customer service department that they agreed to replace the gun, and that new replacement 686 shot just fine.

I'd suggest you look closely at the joint where the frame and barrel meet, and make sure they are aligned properly.

Good Luck!

 

[Denver Dick]

Interesting, erikrichard. I got a 686-4 4" (7 shooter) earlier this year. The rear sight blade is (after adjustment) about two clicks from being flush with the right side of the rear sight, i.e., it's about two clicks inside (no hang-over). Then, I recently acquired a 596-4 4" and, after adjustment, the rear sight blade is in almost the same position as the 686-4. I'm a bit anal, so it bothered me at first, but since groups from both are very tight and right on the money, I eased up a bit. I mean with groups like those below, I should just get over it, shut-up and shoot . . .

The kicker is that other 686s that I've seen for sale also have the rear sights to the right. Go figure.

 

[OKFC05]

Originally posted by Bat Guano:
I picked up an allegedly minty M66-2 some time back. Same thing. On most of my AS guns I have to put on a couple of clicks to the right, but with this thing it's all the way over.

It may or may not be "in spec", but as far as I'm concerned it's the gun.

I'm inclined to send it in to S&W and tell them to beat on it with a babbitt bar until it comes into line better. If it doesn't respond to that, it'll get sold, "in spec" or not.

That's why they call them adjustable sights.

I met another fellow with your attitude: came into a tire shop and demanded "perfect" tires and wheels so he would not have "those unsightly wheel weights" on his car.
Took off a practically new set and put on the most expensive tires and wheels in the place. They guys got them balanced close with the flat "stick on" weights out of sight on the back of the wheels, and he drove off happy as a clam with his "perfect" tires and wheels.

 

[J. Galt]

They guys got them balanced close with the flat "stick on" weights out of sight on the back of the wheels, and he drove off happy as a clam with his "perfect" tires and wheels.

 

[erikrichard]

That is funny. All anal man had to do was have $20 worth of dyna balancing beads put in his tires and all weights could have come off.
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/

 

[Wayne M]

Your revolver is ok, shoot and enjoy. The next one you buy may need that sight cranked dead center. You never know and no two are alike. Just the way it is.

 

[boneman]

I shoot like that quite often my one friend is always telling me it's cause I'm to cheap to keep buying targets. Shoot the crap out of the left side turn it upside down like the crook is crawling out of your attic and shoot the other side. Like I tell him it may not be bullseyes but someone is not getting out unscathed. Larry

 

[Denver Dick]

I shoot like that quite often my one friend is always telling me it's cause I'm to cheap to keep buying targets.

Let's keep in mind, every dollar we save on targets is another dollar to go into the S&W gun-fund envelope.

 

[Ailog]

Originally posted by Beemerguy53:
"that the barrel had been slightly over-tightened, thus causing the front sight to tilt ever-so-slightly to the left."

Same thing on my pre 15. Barrel over clocked just a tad. The barrel is pinned also. The front sight had been bent back to compensate.

 

[GB]

You don't say if what you 686 is a no dash. If it is, I bought two of them when they first came out for myself and another LEO. I kept the best looking one for myself (best grips and best trigger) Then I went and shot it..Couldn't get enough right clicks to center a B-27 at 25 yds.. Sent unit back to Smith...They put the barrel on straight...No further problems..Look down the barrel but not at the sights. If the barrel looks like it is at an angle, it is..

 

[Rich S]

I have a M-63 with a similar problem, but with mine cranked all the way right it still shoots a couple inches left (nice groups though) i will send it to S&W one day soon, i've had good luck with their service on other guns.
Regards,
Rich

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by erikrichard:
My 4" 686 consistantly shoots to the left. Today I went to the range with 50 rounds of .357 mag (.38 sp also go left). After 12 shots going about 3 inches left at 25 feet I tightened the sight adj screw 4 clicks clockwise - it still shot a couple inches left. I then cranked about 5 more clicks clockwise, and I had a 6 shot group within an inch of each other right at the bullseye. The sight is now flush with the right side, looks very cockeyed. I had a very experience shooter who works there shoot it after my adjustments, and he also shot right at the bullseye. He said it was very unusual for the sight to be adjusted so extreme to shoot straight, and suggested I had a bent front sight. It looks perfect to me, anyone know how to check alignment? should I just leave it alone or try to figure this out?

Are you right handed? Many right handed shooters have to sort of "crank" the hand around to the right side of the revolver to get good leverage on the trigger for DA work. This invariably results in the force of recoil sending the shots to the left. The gun recoils while the bullet is still in the barrel, and this is why consistent grip is so important, so that the gun recoils in the hand the same way each time, so that the shots are consistently placed. Thus, if your hand is cranked around as described, you can correct the shooting left by getting the arm lined up directly behind the gun so the gun does not deflect to the side on recoil, or you can adjust the sights or if the sights are not adjustable, you can just hold off a little. Since you have adjustable sights, you can move them. If you don't like how they look way off to one side, then center them and figure out how far your shots go left at a given distance and hold off. Remember to sight in at 25 yards.