Normal wear and tear?? ??

[mpritchard]

Here is my 357 Mag S&W686. I have owned it for about 12 or 13 years and have probably shot it no more that 300 rounds through it. The previous owner put a box of ammo through it and sold it to me for $350. It is a real nice piece.

http://i40.tinypic.com/5wi0cl.jpg[/img] ]

It is the only pistol I ever owned and I love it. Now take a look at the seam in the photo:

I noticed the seam recently. I have never had the side plate off. Could it be from shooting too hot of loads, or is it normal wear and tear?? I know a lot of you on this site have the same gun, and am wondering if anyone has seen this??

 

[mpritchard]

Here is my 357 Mag S&W686. I have owned it for about 12 or 13 years and have probably shot it no more that 300 rounds through it. The previous owner put a box of ammo through it and sold it to me for $350. It is a real nice piece.

http://i40.tinypic.com/5wi0cl.jpg[/img] ]

It is the only pistol I ever owned and I love it. Now take a look at the seam in the photo:

I noticed the seam recently. I have never had the side plate off. Could it be from shooting too hot of loads, or is it normal wear and tear?? I know a lot of you on this site have the same gun, and am wondering if anyone has seen this??

 

[tbury]

With a proper sized, hollow ground screw driver, check the tightness of the 3 screws in the side plate. They should pull the side plate down to a flush fit. If they are loose the plate can move out of flush fit during recoil. DO NOT OVER TURN the screws and mess up the slot or scratch the side plate.

ps. the third screw is hidden under the right side of the stocks.

 

[Wayne M]

Follow tbury's suggestion but if it doesn't draw down don't worry about it. I've seen sideplates fit like yours, not always but sometimes. You have not hurt your gun. I've never worn out a 686, shot one more than 15K and sold it. Guy who bought it thought it was almost new(except for the slight cutting and even that wasn't much).

 

[bassoneer]

I've got one that is relatively new that also looks like that. I'm going to try tightening with a screwdriver to see what happens. Thanks, B

 

[Rock185]

It appears to me that someone once removed the sideplate improperly, by prying it from the bottom. It only takes once to cause that. It may have even gotten out of the factory that way. It is not normal wear-and-tear and not caused by too-hot loads.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I've owned several Smiths that didn't fit perfectly flush right at that point, and that was new in box. Sometimes they just get past final inspection like that.

Follow the above suggestions on tightening the screws, but before you do, loosen them up several turns. Then using thumb pressure, press down at the high point and hold while tightening the screws. I've had good luck getting a sideplate like that to go into place fully without boogering up the sideplate, just make sure that you back all the screws out SEVERAL turns first, especially the lower rear screw.

 

[who dey]

I have a 686 and mine is exactly like yours too. Don't worry about it, go shoot it and have fun!

 

[stevieboy]

This thread prompted me to check my Smith revolvers. Presently I own five and two of them have very slight unevenness at the juncture of the side plate with the frame in the exact location as is shown in the OP's revolver. I'm not going to waste time photographing this but the unevenness or gap or whatever looks like a clone of the gun shown in the photo. These are both somewhat older guns, one made in the early 70's, the other in the early 80's. My conclusion is that this unevenness is a normal variation in the fitting process and a testament to the fact that these older revolvers were fitted by hand. I ain't losing any sleep over it, that's for sure.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I agree that the front screw was taken out with a screwdriver that wasn't quite right, but I blew up the picture and looked closely at the rear screw and I don't believe it has been messed with. Your photo has some light reflecting off the screws which does make them look worse than they are. The front screw being taken out is no big deal as the owners manual recommends this to remove the yoke and cylinder for cleaning. You can get a new replacement screw from S&W or Brownells for a buck or two if it bothers you.

 

[bountyhunter]

Originally posted by Wayne M:
Follow tbury's suggestion but if it doesn't draw down don't worry about it. I've seen sideplates fit like yours, not always but sometimes.

I have seen some of those too, a couple of them are mine. Some of the sideplates just are not fitted right at the factory because they are lazy. I had a couple so tight they could not be removed using normal method, so I had to refit them.

 

[mpritchard]

Thanks for all your input.

I will get a properly fitting screwdriver and make sure the screws and side plate are secured properly!!

I took a closer look at the screws with a magnifying glass and to my surprise they have indeed been removed at one time. I wonder if the factory could have removed the side plate when I sent it in for the recall. ??

 

[Bullseye Smith]

If you have a piece of brass and lay that turned up edge down on it and tap with a brass hammer easy you can get rid of the up turn that way.

 

[Soon2bLEO]

Same issue

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=8841068...121072443#5121072443

 

[mpritchard]

A-B-Dam..
Sure enough. I will see about trying to fix my problem and update this thread as soon as I do!!

Thanks for the replies!!

Mark

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by mpritchard:
Here is my 357 Mag S&W686. I have owned it for about 12 or 13 years and have probably shot it no more that 300 rounds through it. The previous owner put a box of ammo through it and sold it to me for $350. It is a real nice piece.

It is the only pistol I ever owned and I love it. Now take a look at the seam in the photo:

I noticed the seam recently. I have never had the side plate off. Could it be from shooting too hot of loads, or is it normal wear and tear?? I know a lot of you on this site have the same gun, and am wondering if anyone has seen this??

The shooting you have described would not have caused the issue you mention in the photo. You should shoot it for many thousands of rounds, and enjoy it.

 

[mpritchard]

I took the screws out of the side plate... they were not loose, and I could not easily remove the side plate, so I put the screws back in will let it be for now. I am afraid if I take the side plate off then replace it, the condition may worsen after I put it back on.