Should I......?

[willstill]

Hey all,

So I have a new 686. I've had it since march. I love it, but I want to make it MINE, add my own personality to it. I've just purchased new grips for it and considering getting a unfluted cylinder for it. Is there any pros or cons to an unfluted cylinder? Where should I look at getting one? Are they expensive?

Also, I'm wanting to put a different finish on it. I love the high polished look, but I HATE the maintenance. Working full time, school full time, and being a full time dad, I don't have the time to sit for hours on end polishing after every trip to the range. I was thinking maybe a bead blast finish? I like the matte look, makes it a little more tactical I guess too. lol

Another alternative to the bead blast I've been pondering is, nickel. I know I said I don't like the time it takes to polish, but the nickel is pretty BA looking too! Are there any drawbacks to nickel? Is it more/less maintenance then the high polish stainless look?

What's everyone's opinion? You guys mind sharing some pics of what you've all done?

Thanks!

 

[ma96782]

Me....I wouldn't. IMHO, you have other obligations for the money that would be a better investment. Remember, you're a father. Doing the mods doesn't mean that you'll end up shooting any better vs. your stock firearm (OK, maybe grips).

Practice more (buy ammo).......thank me later for the advice.

Aloha, Mark

 

[cbr600f3]

I do not care much for the unfluted look. I would look into engraving if i was after a personalized look.

 

[Vaman49]

I wouldn't bother with the expense of the unfluted cylinder if it were me. If you want to have it bead blasted that is a more reasonable modification to make in my opinion. I had a scruffed up 681 bead blasted and it came out very nice. I'm at work so I can't post a pic of it but I'll try to do that later.

 

[Jdavis]

Take the advice of ma96782. Grips are OK but an unfluted cylinder will be difficult to get, set you back hundreds, plus it will more than likely have to be fitted. Applying a different finish is probably your least expensive option with a soft bead blasting the best choice. Keep in mind that most modifications will reduce the resale value of your gun and will make it more difficult to sell in the future.

 

[wheelyfun66]

Bead blast can be done for a reasonable cost, but fitting a new cylinder could get crazy (financially)

How about getting some custom leather instead? That way, you are getting a unique look for your revolver to reside in!

How about several sets of stocks, some for BBQ, some for night carry, some for range visits, etc..?

In that way, you might satisfy the need for making it yours, but also not need to send the gun away for hand-fitting of a cylinder.
Just some thoughts!

 

[snubbyfan]

When I think of making a revolver mine I think of doing a trigger job, grip change, taking it to the range and adjusting the sights to my favorite load and making a custom holster. Then I consider it mine.

 

[Frizzman]

Your 686 was designed by qualified engineers to do what it does well. It doesn't need to be radically altered or monkeyed with. Bright nickel is not very durable and expensive to have applied and it can be a problem if it is applied to the front sight. I have seen too many nice guns that were made awful or buggered up by somebody trying to "personalize" them...My best advice is leave it in standard OEM condition. Grips and leather are worth buying if needed. Spend any additional money on ammo and range time...The way you really make it yours is getting good with it and using it to learn to be a marksman.

 

[Vaman49]

Here's my 681 I had bead blasted a while ago. It was banged up pretty bad and has the import marks where it came back in the country. It's a great shooter and doesn't look too bad now.

 

[Breechloader]

I would add another revolver if I wanted a non fluted cylinder.
Yolo

 

[M&P Freak]

Grips, leather & ammo. Lots of ammo.

 

[Mr Pokeyman]

It's your gun, do what you want. I have a 686 too. Actually, I have a bunch of SS guns. If I had your mindset about maintenance, I would sell them and just have blued guns. They do show dirt, carbon, etc., and can drive you nuts if you let it. You just need to get over it, its all part of shooting. You should get a nice old blued shooter and start having fun shooting. Check out the guns in the for sale section. It will cost less than what all you are thinking about doing to a perfectly nice 686. And, you'll have a second gun to show off.

 

[sophie]

I am sure they are members out there that have a preference of having a gun with a non-fluted cylinder versus a fluted cylinder. Personally I like the fluted cylinder and would not change my M686. I like it the way it is. As far as cleaning and maintenance goes the stainless is not a problem.

 

[tgmr05]

For the cost of what you want to do, unfluted cylinder, bead blast, grips, etc., well, you could pick up another revolver.

Want to make it yours?, then engrave your initials, somehow, on the frame under the grip, or inside the sideplate. Then, resale is not greatly lowered. Most of the time, personalizing guns winds up costing waayyy too much, down the road.

If you have that much disposable income, pick up another stock revolver to pass to your heirs, that they can shoot along side of you. Your children would appreciate that, much more....

 

[TucsonMTB]

When I think of making a revolver mine I think of doing a trigger job, grip change, taking it to the range and adjusting the sights to my favorite load and making a custom holster. Then I consider it mine.

+1 . . . Except that mine is a pocket gun, so substitute "replace stainless cylinder with a Titanium cylinder" for the "making a custom holster" and the sights are not adjustable.

The Titanium cylinder is a standard S&W replacement part purchased from Midway. It is exactly the same length as the original stainless steel cylinder. So, the gap did not change.

In this gun, it dropped right in using the original extractor, already cut for timing. The weight reduction is very noticeable in your pocket.

Unless your existing trigger is exceptional, I believe a trigger job would provide the most joy when shooting.

Oh, and I have to agree with the several posters who suggested learning to live with burn marks. If you can, your cylinder and frame will thank you for the reduced wear and you will save some energy for playing with your family.

Oh, and Congratulations! I'm glad you are enjoying your very handsome revolver.

 

[ken158]

+1 on Frizzman as his advice is what I was going to say.... also, never seen a stainless gun nickeled before... if you think maintenance is time consuming with stainless, you never had a nickel gun before... The unfluted cylinder is expensive, swings harder against your ratchet and cylinder stop and will have to be timed. Advice regarding leather, grips and more ammo is good advice too.

 

[Arik]

Im a function over form guy so to me the finish is irrelevant so long as its there. Shiny, dull, blued, duracoated....whatever. ..so long as its there. As for the cylinder. ..I'd rather spend the money on ammo and practice. Youre not gonna impress the perp into leaving by showing a unflutted cylinder.

Nut thats just me. YMMV. Some people buy guns with the thought of "how does it fit my collection". And that's perfectly fine. For me its "how does it fit into training and self defense"

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[old bear]

Instead of spending more $$ on customizing your revolver, put the money in either an IRA or some sort of 501 savings for the kids education; this is not as much fun but in the long run it will be a much better investment.

 

[WaMike]

Instead of spending more $$ on customizing your revolver, put the money in either an IRA or some sort of 501 savings for the kids education; this is not as much fun but in the long run it will be a much better investment.

Good advise. Of course, keep in mind the kid (s) will turn on you at age 12, but almost always come back sometime in the early 20s.....

 

[Rock185]

will, I had S&W fit a new cylinder to one of my 686s about four years ago, IIRC. I'd have to hunt up the invoice to say for sure, but seems like the cylinder and fitting came to about $150.00. I went with a fluted cylinder, but I believe unfluted was about the same price. Stainless does not have to be "polished" when the gun is cleaned. Just clean the gun as you would any other. The blackened flash/burn marks do not have to be removed from the front of the cylinder unless there is also lead build up, etc. I have purchased factory bead blasted stainless guns, and have bead blasted some of my own. It's a practical finish that certainly does not require the polishing you mention, but it will show scratches and wear too. The advantage here is that it is easily and inexpensively refinished. Nickel is soft and will show scratches big time. Some folks do report using fine metal polish to polish scratches out of nickel. I guess they don't realize, or don't care, that they are actually wearing away the soft nickel in removing the scratches. I guess I wouldn't invest a lot in trying to make any of my guns look more "BA". I have some pretty nice guns, and when I go to the range, etc, nobody seems to be the least interested in what I'm shooting or how it looks...ymmv