Performance Center 686 Fails. Locks Up

[kennyb]

dang...getting interesting

 

[MO_mule]

I have a dumb question: should Robert put a cloth or something between the hammer and the frame to prevent the hammer from contacting the firing pin? I know that the action is locked up and unlikely to unlock by itself but shouldn't there be some sort of soft block installed? Maybe I am just a nervous little dog.

Chris

 

[XTrooper]

I have a dumb question: should Robert put a cloth or something between the hammer and the frame to prevent the hammer from contacting the firing pin? I know that the action is locked up and unlikely to unlock by itself but shouldn't there be some sort of soft block installed? Maybe I am just a nervous little dog.

Chris

It's unloaded, Chris. Fortunately, it locked up after he fired the last round.

 

[tdan]

This one caught my eye as I have a 686-6 PC revolver. Can you tell us what model this is? It does appear from your pic that the flag is partially raised. If you cannot insert your key and turn clockwise to lower the flag below the frame, there is something amiss with the lock mechanism. Recently, over on the Smithing forum, another poster had received a new PC revolver that appeared to have a miscast MIM trigger lever. It is possible that somehow the trigger lever has broken and now prevents the rebound slide from moving forward on your gun. This will bind up both the trigger and hammer in the rear position. Keep us posted on this! I find this rather disturbing. One thing for sure, if you have a broken MIM trigger lever, I will definitely be replacing mine with an old one. I pretty much use this 686 for silhouette and long range plinking, but I would be really pissed if the gun failed me in a match. I have enough to concentrate on without being concerned with a gun that may not go bang when I pull the trigger. At any rate, I'd give Smith a call and ask to speak directly with someone in the PC. Explain the situation. They will definitely send out a shipping label and give this gun prompt attention!

 

[MO_mule]

XTrooper:

OK, thanks. I must've missed that in the previous posts. ... no more anxious feeling about that cocked 686 now

Chris

 

[Robert Farago]

First please note: I was shooting .357 Federals (from the box) not .38s. I'd forgotten that I'd switched caliber for the test. My bad.

OK, so, I just got back from the gunsmith: Dave Sunturri in North Attleboro, MA. Dave confirms it: the 686's internal lock failed. It engaged after firing. Dave unlocked the gun, removed the spent cartridges and then demo-ed the problem.

I'll be sending the Smith to Smith. I'll let you know what they have to say. Meanwhile, my faith in modern Smiths has been shaken, not stirred. Oh, and if you want me to demo anything or take a picture of some part of the gun let me know. Thanks.

 

[RonS]

By "demo" do you mean you can duplicate the problem? If you could video that I think you could put a lot of questions to rest.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

First please note: I was shooting .357 Federals (from the box) not .38s. I'd forgotten that I'd switched caliber for the test. My bad.

OK, so, I just got back from the gunsmith: Dave Sunturri in North Attleboro, MA. Dave confirms it: the 686's internal lock failed. It engaged after firing. Dave unlocked the gun, removed the spent cartridges and then demo-ed the problem.

I'll be sending the Smith to Smith. I'll let you know what they have to say. Meanwhile, my faith in modern Smiths has been shaken, not stirred. Oh, and if you want me to demo anything or take a picture of some part of the gun let me know. Thanks.

It was obvious from the photo that there was a good chance that the lock was involved, at least on some level. Knowing that, I would be interested in seeing S&W's repair information that comes back with the gun.........

 

[tdan]

How exactly was your gunsmith able to demo the problem? Still waiting to hear what 686 PC model that you are having this issue with.

 

[Robert Farago]

I'm using the wrong word here. I don't mean demo the problem as in recreate it. I mean, show what went wrong. The video of my gunsmith examining the gun's on guntruth on YouTube.

I am amazed that the weapon malfunctioned. I am astounded that it happened while I was videoing it in action. What are the odds? And why can't that kind of thing happen to me in the lottery ticket part of my life?

Anyway, I'll call Smith tomorrow and report back here. Thanks again for helping me see this in perspective.

 

[RonS]

For anyone else who wants to find the vid, I found it by searching for "gunsmith" and sorting by upload date. The Youtube poster's user name is GUNTRUTH.

I had hoped for video of the gun locking up while dry firing or shooting, but the smith appears to be locking it with the key after cocking it. Not sure if that is supposed to be possible or not.

OP, I take it you are an active firearms journalist?

 

[Black_Sheep]

It may be an internal lock failure, which some consider an "urban myth." I

The same thing happened to my 60-14 except there was still live rounds in the gun. I was able to free it up with the key by manipulating the hammer and trigger while keeping it pointed safely down range. It is the last IL revolver I will ever buy...