what is the real story on the 686

[OLDSTER]

686

You have started three separate threads and in all of them you allude to S&W "cheapening" their guns. You really should have qualified that with " in my opinion".

If you think that things like MIM components and ECM rifling have "cheapened" the guns, you are only half right. It HAS made them cheaper to produce. Your problem is that you seem to equate the use of new, more efficient technologies with cheapness, rather than improvement.

MIM components are more dimensionally stable, more precise and have smoother contact surfaces. ECM rifling, again, is more precise and, at one time, concerned the ATF because they thought it was so smooth and consistent you wouldn't be able to forensically differentiate one gun from another.

As for the lock, if you object to it on political grounds, you shouldn't be looking at a S&W in the first place.

If you object because you are afraid that it may malfunction, it takes all of 15 minutes to disable it without changing the external appearance whatsoever.

If you object to the lock on aesthetic grounds, remove it and plug the hole.

The guns being produced today are among the best ever. It seems that every succeeding generation lusts for guns from "back in the day". 20 years from now people will covet the firearms of today. I think you should get ahead of the curve.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Right on !! On all accounts

 

[tencrore]

This thread has made me doubt my 686-6 purchase

All this talk got me skeered as well!! Just picked up my -6 yesterday. Oh well, just another reason to look for a new gun!

In all seriousness, I am learning quite a bit from this forum as this is my first revolver. I thank you all for sharing your knowledge!

 

[Warren Sear]

Now you know why they made tasters and mase, guns just can't be trusted!!!

"Tasters and mase"? Is that a new brand of coffee?

 

[Engineer1911]

S&W L-frame revolvers, whether new or used, only have 1 (ONE) problem: They cost too much!

And I'm the proud owner of 10 of them, that I can recall.

 

[missiondude]

As a competitive shooter give me a dash 5 any day of the week. Last without the hillary hole, first with frame mounted firing pin so I can use the sweet Apex hammer, and easily replaceable front sight. Perfect for what I do with them. For a collector gun give me a dash 3 or dash 4...