Hi,
I have the 642 but I am looking for a S&W .357 revolver to carry. If the handgun doesn't already have a bobbed hammer I will need to find a skilled gunsmith to take care of this. I prefer the frame not to be larger than "K" and the barrel to be under 4 inches. New/old/used it doesn't matter to me, I just don't know what to look for. Any recommendation/suggestions are appreciated.
Thank you,
Mary
HI MARY, WELCOME TO THE FORUM. IMHO THE M686 IS THE FINEST .357 MAGNUM REVOLVER IN CURRENT PRODUCTION. I EDC A 2 1/2" M686+. THEY ARE NOT SCARCE, AND CAN BE READILY FOUND USED, ON GUN BROKER, OR OTHER SITES, INCLUDING THIS FORUM......
MINE IS A NO-DASH THAT I PURCHASED ON GUNBROKER. BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT A GUN WITH AN INTERNAL LOCK, I CHOSE TO GO WITH AN OLDER USED ONE. (LOOK FOR ONE UP TO A -4 VERSION. THE -4 IS THOUGHT TO BE THE FINEST ITERATION OF THE M686, BY MANY) THE NO DASH 686, AND THE 686-1 ARE SUBJECT TO A FACTORY RECALL, AROUND A FIRING PIN ISSUE. SINCE MY GUN HAD NOT BEEN MODIFIED, AS PER THE RECALL, (MODIFIED GUNS ARE STAMPED WITH A LETTER M, UNDER THE CRANE) AND I INTENDED TO CARRY IT, I SENT IT TO THE FACTORY, WITH FREE SHIPPING BOTH WAYS, IF YOU CALL AND REQUEST A SHIPPING LABEL......
WHILE MY GUN WAS THERE, I REQUESTED THAT THEY FIT IT WITH A 7 ROUND CYLINDER. UPON ITS RETURN, I SHIPPED IT TO DENNY REICHARD @ SAND BURR GUN RANCH, FOR HIS "DELUXE ACTION JOB", WHICH IS 100% RELIABLE WITH ANY FACTORY AMMO, AND RENDERS THE GUN, SLICKER THAN SNOTS......
I SOLD MY ORIGINAL 6 ROUND CYLINDER, AND MY WOODEN COMBAT STOCKS ON THIS FORUM. I REPLACED THE STOCKS WITH A SET OF WELL USED MAGNAS, THAT I PURCHASED ON THIS FORUM. A FELLOW VIETNAM VET BROTHER REFINISHED THE STOCKS FOR ME, AS A FAVOR, AND I ADDED A TYLER-T GRIP ADAPTER....
I LIKE THE WAY THE PROJECT TURNED OUT, AND I DIDN'T BREAK THE BANK DOING IT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO FOLLOW A SIMILAR ROUTE, DENNY REICHARD COULD BOB YOUR HAMMER, AND YOU WOULD BE EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE QUALITY OF HIS WORK. HE IS MASSAD AYOOB'S GUNSMITH OF CHOICE, FOR ALL OF HIS S&W REVOLVERS.......