smith&wesson 357

[gunslinger7]

guys can you tell something about this gun. tried to run a couple of
rounds tru this and im encountered problems,fired shell primer stuckon the firing pin bushing resulting the gun not to cycle.
i used reloaded ammo at the time.

 

[bigmoose]

There was a design flaw on the early 686s. The firing pin bushing was weak and could be "set back" causing your problem. I believe S&W will fix it for free as they once issued a recall for this very problem. Others more knowledgeable will certainly chime in.
It definitely needs repair, no doubt about it. But you will have one awesome gun when it is done.

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the Forum! Nice 686! You can get this taken care of through S&W. You did not mention what kind of rounds you were firing other than reloads. I believe that the big cause of malfunctions were Federal 125 gr. .357 Magnums. Someone will surely give you more info. I have a 586 no dash, and never sent gun back. (no issues) It mainly eats .38 Specials. Have you tried other kinds of ammo? Probably where I would start. Good Luck! Bob

 

[ronnie gore]

686

you need to send it back, as I can see in the picture that the bushing is recessed into the recoil shield. they should send you a call tag so it won't cost you anything.

 

[Pizza Bob]

It would appear that this particular gun has already been back for the recall ("M" stamped ahead of the model number) - however, the recessed bushing is what was supposed to have been replaced. Make sure you call and actually talk to someone before asking for a call tag for the recall. If you don't, when it gets back to Smith, the tech will see the "M" already stamped and is likely to just box it up and send it back.

Good luck.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[2rott]

I have the exact same model a M 686-1. I don't believe gunslinger 7's 686 has been back to S&W for the recall because mine also has another M stamped above the -1 that looks like it was added after the original stamp. I'm not sure what the first M that we both have on our revolvers is for, but if he calls S&W I'm sure they will clarify it for him.

 

[FlyFish]

I have the exact same model a M 686-1. I don't believe gunslinger 7's 686 has been back to S&W for the recall because mine also has another M stamped above the -1 that looks like it was added after the original stamp. I'm not sure what the first M that we both have on our revolvers is for, but if he calls S&W I'm sure they will clarify it for him.

Yes. The "M" that's part of the model number stands for "Model" (or at least that's what I've always assumed). The overstamped "M" indicating that the gun has been back for the recall (I have 5 of them) looks quite different and usually appears above the model number, as you say. The OP's gun has not had the fix, and S&W will take care of it, with shipping both ways, on their nickel.

 

[2rott]

Yes. The "M" that's part of the model number stands for "Model" (or at least that's what I've always assumed). The overstamped "M" indicating that the gun has been back for the recall (I have 5 of them) looks quite different and usually appears above the model number, as you say. The OP's gun has not had the fix, and S&W will take care of it, with shipping both ways, on their nickel.

Thanks for clarifying that for us.

 

[Engine49guy]

While an isolated "M" stamp does indicate the hammer nose bushing mod was done by a licensed S&W gunsmith mine are all no dash versions and are stamped Mod. 686 not M686 , (the one pictured below has the isolated "M" stamp


To be certain we need someone with a Model 686-1 that has not had the M mod done to post up a pic of the yoke stamp to be sure S&W didnt change the model stamp from Mod 686 to simply M686-1 to save room for the dash and 1.
(On a side note my 686-4 has no Mod or M prefix).

IMO if a member has an unaltered gun that just says 686-1 the M Mod has probably been done but Im leaning towards they shortened Mod to M and that it hasnt.

Pretty sure a call to S&W customer service will reveal if it has had the mod done using the serial.
.

 

[murphydog]

In the photo, the entire hammer nose bushing seems to be set back as the post above mentioned. The primer flowback issue was an issue with the size of the opening in the bushing, not the entire piece moving...either way, I agree the factory will do the warranty repair if you contact them, and the problem should be fixed.

 

[Pizza Bob]

This has really piqued my interest, so first I went in search in my own meager collection of S&W revolvers. I did find one that used the "M" as an abbreviation for "Mod", rather than as an indicator that a modification had been done and that was a 625-2 (1988). All of my other post 57 Smiths used "Mod" or had just the model number, with the newer ones using the latter format.

So I widened my search to the Internet and came across this picture (actually was posted on this forum at some point in the past)...

As you can see, this gun uses the "M" as an abbreviation for model and also has the "M" stamp for the recall modification.

Based on that, the OP should contact S&W and get a call tag for the recall. However, as was pointed out by a subsequent poster to this thread, the recall replaced the bushing because the hole was too large and allowed the primers to flow into the hole, thus locking up the gun - the whole bushing was not being pushed into the frame as the OP's picture clearly shows - but since that is the part they replace, and his gun has not yet had the recall performed, he should be GTG.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[budster]

Those guns were recalled as the Winchester 357 Ammo would have primers wrap around the FP. S&W installed a smaller holed recoil shield along with a smaller nosed FP. S&W tested all of the major ammo makers at the time and found only the Winchester gave problems due to the softer primer.

 

[Lancer1]

Great info here. I have a 686 purchased new in 1986 and have had no issues with it. Fired a variety of ammo including both 38 and 357. Easily one of the best guns I've ever had. Also has the best looking stocks I've ever seen.

 

[spad124]

I sent my 686-1 in for the bushing recall in November 2013. First, the M indicating the recall work was performed is stamped between the SN and the model number.

Second, email S&W customer service for shipping. They send FedEx prepaid shipping and instructions. I sent my revolver in an inexpensive hard case in a plain shipping box. The turn around time for me was 10 days from the day I placed my revolver with FedEx. It was shipped back in a FedEx medium box.

Quality of work was excellent.

 

[snubbiefan]

I went thru all this with two guns. I solved the entire problem (or potential problem) by dumping the ND's I had when I ran across a -4. It's very difficult for one to be able to tell the good guys from the bad guys and a lot of research is often necessary. I use to think the ND was the cats pajamas in about any model. I have learned a great deal since then and only purchase guns with what I perceive to be the "right" gun employing the engineering changes I look for. It's a learning curve....and often cost a lot of $$$ to get the education.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

S&W 686-1

Welcome aboard,gunslinger7!

The problem/issue that you described is similar to the ones that caused S&W to issue the recall notification. The problem affected Models 586s & 686s, both "No Dash" and "Dash 1". Dash 2s and subsequent versions did not have the problem.

The S&W factory modification involves replacing the hammer nose (with a shorter one) and the hammer nose bushing. After the Mod has been completed the letter "M" will be stamped below the serial number and above the model number inside the crane, just as the pictures from Engine49guy & Pizza Bob show.

Yes. The "M" that's part of the model number stands for "Model" (or at least that's what I've always assumed). The overstamped "M" indicating that the gun has been back for the recall (I have 5 of them) looks quite different and usually appears above the model number, as you say. The OP's gun has not had the fix, and S&W will take care of it, with shipping both ways, on their nickel.

 

[gunslinger7]

Welcome to the Forum! Nice 686! You can get this taken care of through S&W. You did not mention what kind of rounds you were firing other than reloads. I believe that the big cause of malfunctions were Federal 125 gr. .357 Magnums. Someone will surely give you more info. I have a 586 no dash, and never sent gun back. (no issues) It mainly eats .38 Specials. Have you tried other kinds of ammo? Probably where I would start. Good Luck! Bob

i was firing a 357 reloaded ammo.can anyone here post a pict showing the firing pin bushing on their 686?just want to compare with mine, i think it was realy set back as shown in the picture.

 

[gunslinger7]

I sent my 686-1 in for the bushing recall in November 2013. First, the M indicating the recall work was performed is stamped between the SN and the model number.

Second, email S&W customer service for shipping. They send FedEx prepaid shipping and instructions. I sent my revolver in a an inexpensive hard case in a plain shipping box. The turn around time for me was 10 days from the day I placed my revolver with FedEx. It was shipped back in a FedEx medium box.

Quality of work was excellent.

problem is that im here in the philippines and shipping it is next to imposible. what i did was ask them the appropriate parts needed for modification and have it done here by a competent gunsmith. still waiting for their reply though.

 

[FlyFish]

problem is that im here in the philippines and shipping it is next to imposible. what i did was ask them the appropriate parts needed for modification and have it done here by a competent gunsmith. still waiting for their reply though.

Oh. That does put a different spin on things. Please let us know what S&W has to say when you hear back from them.

 

[gunslinger7]

they acknowledge my email and sent this reply

"Thank you for contacting us!

We have received your inquiry and are assigning it to a representative. Due to the high volume of correspondence we are currently receiving it can take up to 5 business days to receive a response.

To help track your inquiry we have generated a reference number. Your ticket code is LTK111770883144X. Please use this code in any further communication. "