swaping out a 7 for a 6 in an L frame

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Other than making sure the cylinder fits-is there anything else involved in swaping out a 6 shot cylinder for a 7 shot one in a 681!!!
I have a line on a 7 shot cylinder and would like to make my 681 a 7 shot and need to know if it is more complicated than just fitting a new cylinder.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Other than making sure the cylinder fits-is there anything else involved in swaping out a 6 shot cylinder for a 7 shot one in a 681!!!
I have a line on a 7 shot cylinder and would like to make my 681 a 7 shot and need to know if it is more complicated than just fitting a new cylinder.

 

[WR Moore]

There's more to cylinder fit than just if it can be inserted into the frame window. The hand may be different on the 7 shot also. Accent on the "may". You're still concerned with the usual issues on fitting a cylinder: endshake, alignment, headspace, barrel/cylinder gap and carryup.

 

[Jim Watson]

I went the other way, my 686 Plus being unsuited for IDPA and unsalable around here. So I paid the S&W shop for a six shot cylinder installation. I got back the seven shot cylinder and the seven shot hand. Everything else was as I sent it to them, they did not even throw away the hammer and trigger modified in an aftermarket action job.
So it can be done but it is not cheap. You would come out ahead just getting another gun.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

that's what I needed to hear. Thanks

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Originally posted by Jim Watson:
I went the other way, my 686 Plus being unsuited for IDPA and unsalable around here. So I paid the S&W shop for a six shot cylinder installation. I got back the seven shot cylinder and the seven shot hand. Everything else was as I sent it to them, they did not even throw away the hammer and trigger modified in an aftermarket action job.
So it can be done but it is not cheap. You would come out ahead just getting another gun.

Jim,

Thank you very much for your post. I had no idea that the labor cost for this type of conversion would be that high. I had been considering conversion of a 617 from a 6 shot cylinder to a 10 shot, but based on your experience, it really wouldn't be feasible from a cost perspective.

Regards,

Dave

 

[tomcatt51]

Originally posted by Double-O-Dave:
Jim,
Thank you very much for your post. I had no idea that the labor cost for this type of conversion would be that high. I had been considering conversion of a 617 from a 6 shot cylinder to a 10 shot, but based on your experience, it really wouldn't be feasible from a cost perspective.

Regards,

Dave

Call S&W, they can give you an idea what it will run. The 6 to 10 shot 617 is a pretty easy conversion.

 

[Hoptob]

I too had S&W fit 6 shot cylinder into my 686Plus. They kept all OEM parts except for the cylinder and ejector. Worked very well and the cost was reasonable.

Mike

 

[tomcatt51]

Originally posted by Hoptob:
I too had S&W install 6 shot cylinder into my 686Plus. They kept all OEM parts except for the cylinder and ejector. Worked very well and the cost was reasonable.

Mike

There are no other parts involved except maybe the hand. I'm not sure if the 6 vs 7 shot 686's use a different hand. May not.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I just when from a 7 to a 6 in this 686 and the best part is that it just dropped in without any change. The Head Space and barrel gap were perfect. Didn't change anything but the cylinder. The reason I done it is to have it cut for 9mm and 38 super with moon clips.

 

[bountyhunter]

Originally posted by tomcatt51:

Originally posted by Hoptob:
I too had S&W install 6 shot cylinder into my 686Plus. They kept all OEM parts except for the cylinder and ejector. Worked very well and the cost was reasonable.

Mike

There are no other parts involved except maybe the hand. I'm not sure if the 6 vs 7 shot 686's use a different hand. May not.

Even if the hand is the same part number, a new one would have to be fitted.