S&W 686 Competitor Questions

[Archer99]

Hello,

This is my first post here. I am new to firearms, my prior "shooting" experience is 10 meter airgun in high school and competitive archery. I live in NY, and own two semi-autos primary for range/target shooting. Several guys at my range let me try different revolvers and I was hooked immediately. I decided that my next gun will be a revolver from Smith and Wesson.
Last month I was in another state and had an opportunity to visit large gun store. Guy who worked was super nice and showed my several Smith and Wesson revolvers including Perfomance Center 686 Competitor. I really like this gun. After doing some research online I noticed that some owners criticized quality control at S&W Performance Center.
I would like to ask owners of Performance Center revolvers is it a real issue?
Also, what are your thoughts and experience with 686 Competitor?
Looking forward to read your posts!

Thank you!!

 

[wolverine]

Hello,

This is my first post here. I am new to firearms, my prior "shooting" experience is 10 meter airgun in high school and competitive archery. I live in NY, and own two semi-autos primary for range/target shooting. Several guys at my range let me try different revolvers and I was hooked immediately. I decided that my next gun will be a revolver from Smith and Wesson.
Last month I was in another state and had an opportunity to visit large gun store. Guy who worked was super nice and showed my several Smith and Wesson revolvers including Perfomance Center 686 Competitor. I really like this gun. After doing some research online I noticed that some owners criticized quality control at S&W Performance Center.
I would like to ask owners of Performance Center revolvers is it a real issue?
Also, what are your thoughts and experience with 686 Competitor?
Looking forward to read your posts!

Afternoon Archer99

Everybody's opinion on gun quality is different with different expectations on quality.

My personal expectation on an (over $1000.00) gun is high & (in my opinion) the last few years S&W has been lacking in quality (even from the performance center).

The good news is-- while (to me) S&W has been allowing lower quality guns out the door the last few years their customer service is fairly decent so after a coupe of send-backs the guns usually end up pretty serviceable.

 

[Rick016]

Myself and another member, Jstanfield, both just got Competitors in the last few weeks. I know he had an issue with a canted barrel on a regular 686 and ended up having that Competitor kinda fall in his lap from his local supplier when he was looking into fixing/returning/exchanging it with his shop. He seems pleased with his. I'm liking mine very much. Mine was test fired in April, so we can assume produced sometime shortly there before, I can attest to the quality of mine being fine. I saw a video on YouTube of a guy who got one a few years ago and the frame was cracked just above the extractor rod. He had taken it out and put some rounds thru it as soon as he got it and then discovered the crack when cleaning it before doing his "unboxing" video. He sent his back and they replaced his frame. Ultimately, reading the comments, he couldn't get the bad taste out of his mouth about it and sold his. I suppose it's impossible to say whether it was that way when he got it or if it happened while shooting, he seemed pretty mad that it left the PC that way. While I understand the irritation, I entertain the possibility that it might have happened when shooting, but whether they missed it at the factory or if there happened to be some impurity in the metal and it happened while he was shooting it, they made it right in the end. As insaid, I like mine very much, it is a mean looking, study piece of hardware. You didn't say whether you were able to handle the one you saw, if not, let me tell you it is a hefty gun but that can be mildly modified by removing the weights, I haven't tried to remove mine yet. It barely twitches shooting .38 specials, gives a twitch shooting .38 special +P's and magnums have an easily manageable recoil.

Anyway, back to answering your question, while quality isn't 100% anywhere on anything, from what I've read it seems that the regular factory models have been having some issues with quailty and so has the PC but less. From the sound of things, they will make it right if you have an issue. Annoying yes, but I was willing to risk it to get mine.

 

[jstanfield103]

As Rick said above, I did send a new 686 with canted barrel back to the distrubuter and got the Competitor. It shoots accurate and stay's on target easily. Jerry Miculek has a video out where he stats that the competitor is his target accurate gun for chacking hand loaded rounds for accuracy. I really like mine and was very satisfied so far with the quality.

 

[Archer99]

Thank you guys for your response.
I was very surprised and upset in some sense, after finding out about issues with Performance Center firearms. Basically you specifically pay extra for Performance Center gun, in order to get higher quality product. Yet still might end up with defective weapon.
From what I read Smith and Wesson customer service is doing a good job in solving these issues.
To Rick:
Yes, I was able to handle the gun. I do not mind extra weight, I actually prefer relatively heavy handguns. Both semi-autos that I have are stainless steel.
By the way how was the trigger out of the box?

 

[jstanfield103]

I am not a trigger expert, but mine was smooth no creep and a clean light break.

 

[Rick016]

I am not a trigger expert, but mine was smooth no creep and a clean light break.

Uh....yeah, what he said, lol. I'm not even a trigger novice. What I can tell you is that cocked, it's a hair trigger compared to my other handgun, firing double action, it's nice and smooth.

 

[Archer99]

Thank you guys for all your help. Hopefully in a few months I will get this gun.

 

[Rick016]

Here's mine with the stock Hogue grips and after I put wood grips on it.

 

[Rick016]

Let's try that I slightly different way...

...and...

 

[Rick016]

Ok, that didn't work quite right...

 

[jstanfield103]

Rick those grips look great.

 

[stillhere]

I've had mine for over a year and put about 3500 rounds through it - mild to wild.
I run my 10 inch gong out 100 meters and I hit that quite well with my handloads.
I'm happy with it. The weight really help keep it steady.

 

[Archer99]

Awesome pictures guys! Thank you for the tease!!!
I am really happy to tell you guys, that I have everything lined up! Sending my paperwork to NYPD within a few days. Found Competitor in-stock at Kygunco and two reputable sellers at Gunbrocker.com
Now is the hardest part, waiting!!!