Older 686 parts availability

[loki.fish]

1. From my understanding, older S&W revolvers have different barrels than the current versions, so how hard is finding and replacing a barrel in say a 686-4?

2. This brings up another question. What about fixing any other things that may get worn out/broken? Are parts for these older models readily available (forged hammer/trigger for example)?

 

[OKFC05]

Here's a link to Brownells S&W schematics and parts lists by model. Take a look for yourself at whatever you want:
http://www.brownells.com/schematics/Smith-Wesson-/L-Frame-686-4-sid561.aspx

 

[loki.fish]

Looks like parts would be problem...

So while older, pre-lock/pre-mim are always recommended on various forums over the new versions, when something goes wrong, it becomes a paperweight.

 

[loki.fish]

Found a 686-4 for sale that has a chip in the barrel where the cylinder meets up. Seeing what it would cost to replace. Unsure if it would be an issue or just me being bugged by it, so better safe than sorry.

ETA: Not a gunsmith, never heard of a Numrich. Also new to revolvers, so there is much ignorance in me.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Keep looking!
There is no reason to buy a gun with a problem that concerns you.
There are plenty of 686s out there.

 

[Gunhacker]

Beside Numrich (Gun Parts Corp.), the online auction sites like eBay and Gunbroker have listings for "parts kits" and often listings barrels individually.

"Parts kits" are usually all of the usable parts salvaged from guns impounded by a PD that were mandated for destruction by having frames cut/torched in half. It's become a regular business for some getting those destroyed guns to strip the parts and then sell them.

I'm more leery of individual barrels because it is not unknown for unscrupulous people to dump a defective barrel on an auction website that was replaced on a gun.

You say the barrel has a chip in it where the cylinder meets up?

That sounds very much like a broken forcing cone and if it has a piece missing, that's usually indicative that someone has been giving the gun a steady diet of some really HOT ammo through it for an extended amount of of time.

For that reason alone, I would not touch it and look for something else, because there could be other present from that abuse.

Plus by the time you buy the gun, buy a replacement barrel and pay the cost to have the barrels swapped, unless you buy the gun dirt cheap in the end you'll end up paying way too much for that gun when you can find other one in much better shape, for less than what you might end up investing in a "fixer upper".

 

[loki.fish]

Well that settles it then.

Thank you Gunhacker

 

[loki.fish]

Didn't offend me, if that's what you think.

Numrich eased my mind on the parts problem.

The actual gun is from gunbroker, I was being a bit paranoid and lowering competition

 

[Gunhacker]

loki.fish... you're new to the forum, remove that link to the active auction, it's against forum rules and you risk getting dinged by a moderator.

Having said that, I looked at that gun. There is nothing wrong with it, that "chip" looks more like the edge of the cylinder caught the edge of the barrel when it was closed.... most likely resulting from the gun was being held muzzle down and flipping the cylinder closed via the Hollywood "wrist flip", which is NEVER a good idea to do on a S&W revolver.

When you mentioned a chip, I envisioned something much larger, that's more cosmetic than anything that would materially affect the performance of the gun.

The $395 starting price is decent, and I would not be reluctant to go as high as $600 on it, based on the condition that I can see in the pics, the
-4 version is considered the best version number made.

Ironic the seller is in California, but specifically states "NO California Sales". But it's understandable, when one knows how complicated our CA handgun sale laws are, with what can and what cannot be sold here and all of the in's and out's that govern it.

 

[loki.fish]

Thanks again Gunhacker!