Why so few 620s?

[carguychris]

Why do I seldom see 620s at gun stores or at the range, and why do so few people seem to talk about them on the 'Net?

People heap praise on the 4" 686+. It seems to me that the less expensive 620 would be more popular. Is the 620 the Rodney Dangerfield of .357Mag Smiths, or is it just me? Is the two-piece barrel really that bad?

I'm contemplating buying heavier-frame .357Mag than my former M19, so I'm curious about this. Any thoughts?

 

[carguychris]

Why do I seldom see 620s at gun stores or at the range, and why do so few people seem to talk about them on the 'Net?

People heap praise on the 4" 686+. It seems to me that the less expensive 620 would be more popular. Is the 620 the Rodney Dangerfield of .357Mag Smiths, or is it just me? Is the two-piece barrel really that bad?

I'm contemplating buying heavier-frame .357Mag than my former M19, so I'm curious about this. Any thoughts?

 

[diamonback68]

For me, I don't like two piece barrels. Either make the gun or don't, stop patching.

 

[st regis]

I have noticed the same thing. Have you thought about a good used 586 or 686? They are hard to beat. Still have my issued 681 and it is a favorite.

 

[18DAI]

Try a 681, or the pre lock 686+. I have both and while the 681 is my favorite L-frame, the 686-4 + is a superb revolver.

As to why the 620 is not popular, my opinion is that it costs more than nicer, older S&W revolvers, that don't have locks and two piece barrels. Regards 18DAI.

 

[carguychris]

Originally posted by st regis:
Have you thought about a good used 586 or 686? They are hard to beat.

Yes, absolutely! I noticed the relative lack of 620s while I've been shopping and that's what made me curious.

 

[qballwill]

I dont see the purpose of the gun.... correct me if Im wrong but other than the 2 piece barrel, isnt it just a 686 plus without the full underlug? The gun was meant to replace the K frame 66 wasnt it? Why replace a model with a gun that is a minimally modified version of an existing model (686). I think as far as marketing goes, S&W would have done better just calling it a 686 with a half lug barrel.

 

[GC]

Why so little talk of the 620? Because it has a hole in the sideplate with a useless lock, a two piece barrel, and MIM parts. Three reasons I will never own one.

 

[jmorrell]

A year ago, when I was shopping for my first S&W, I held a both a 4" 686+ and a 620 at my local gun store. The 620 just felt better balanced in my hands, so I bought it. I haven't been dissatisfied with my purchase: it is a pleasure to shoot, and neither the lock nor two piece barrel concern me. Having said that, I did buy a pre-owned 686+ 6" this past May to add to the collection.

 

[carguychris]

Originally posted by GC:
Why so little talk of the 620? Because it has a hole in the sideplate with a useless lock, a two piece barrel, and MIM parts.

...but S&W evidently sells plenty of 686s this way!

Originally posted by qballwill:
I think as far as marketing goes, S&W would have done better just calling it a 686 with a half lug barrel.

Maybe they rejected the originally proposed name, "686 Minus".

 

[doublesharp]

I like mine. Looks like a 7 shot Mountain Gun. I've had 2, Sold one to one of my best friends and he still thanks me. Both have extra smooth triggers and are more accurate than I am.

 

[GC]

Originally posted by carguychris:

Originally posted by GC:
Why so little talk of the 620? Because it has a hole in the sideplate with a useless lock, a two piece barrel, and MIM parts.

...but S&W evidently sells plenty of 686s this way!

Originally posted by qballwill:
I think as far as marketing goes, S&W would have done better just calling it a 686 with a half lug barrel.

Maybe they rejected the originally proposed name, "686 Minus".

The 686 doesn't have the two piece barrel. Addressing the other problems, many of us have older L-frames without the unwanted lock and MIM. I wouldn't buy a new 686 either.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I'd have been really interested but for the new methods of manufacture and the lock.

 

[carguychris]

For those of you who bought one, what was the street price difference between it and the 686+?

 

[jmorrell]

It's been almost a year since I bought my 620, but if I remember correctly, the 620 was around $25 less than the 686+ at my local gun store.

 

[JayDubya]

I have a 686+, so I don't need a slightly modified version like a 620. My 686 has MIM parts and an internal lock, as does my 637. I don't care a whit about that, because I have fired thousands of rounds through both, and nothing has fallen off yet.
Cordially, Jack

 

[Wyatt Earp]

So a two piece barrel is bad because of WHY?

Some of you guys would love a **** sandwich if it came in an old, blue cardboard S&W box.

 

[qballwill]

Some of you guys would love a **** sandwich if it came in an old, blue cardboard S&W box.


If the box comes free, I will take one of those sandwiches

 

[18DAI]

And if the current company calling itself Smith & Wesson bottled warm urine, a few people here would proclaim it to be great beer.

Regards 18DAI.

 

[carguychris]

Originally posted by Wyatt Earp:
Some of you guys would love a **** sandwich if it came in an old, blue cardboard S&W box.

Does the box-end label have a matching serial number?

j/k

 

[18DAI]

Newsflash: You should heed your own advice Wyatt Earp. Regards 18DAI.

 

[S&WIowegan]

WOW! This is getting ugly

I bought a 620 and a 619 as a pair when they came out. I was amazed at how good they were. The actions were literally way better than ALL of my Performance Center guns(a local wag says PC stands for Pretty Crappy). They both are very accurate and thanks for reminding me they're in my safe.

 

[GC]

Wyatt Earp,
You are a real charmer aren't you? You certainly have a way with words.

Annihilator,
Good advice, I have had MIM parts break on my Kimber. They were replaced with heat treated tool steel immediately. I also wouldn't buy the older Springfield 1911's with the two piece barrel. My Dan Wesson cylinder stop fell completely out of my revolvers frame after a couple thousand rounds. After my experiences if I choose not to buy MIM or whatever it is my prerogative. I'm alright with my decisions...

 

[remat457]

Not much interest in the 620 from me because it is not the equivalent of a K-frame which it replaced.

Not enough difference from a 686 to justify it to me.

 

[stevieboy]

To complicate matters a bit, I have a 686-6 6" and a 686SSR 4". The SSR does not have a full underlug barrel -- it has sort of a semi-full underlug arrel that tapers from the front end of the extractor rod towards the end of the barrel -- and weighs 36 ounces, compared to the 686's 44 ounces. I hadn't thought about it when I bought it but, in reality, it comes closer in physical specs. to the 620 than to the 686. Yet, when you look at the model series # under the crane it reads "686-6". Go figure.

I think both guns are fantastic and yes, they have 2-piece barrels, are not pinned and recessed, have locks, and have MIM parts. I can find absolutely no difference in quality between these guns and the older Smiths that I own.

 

[Sgt Preston]

Sgt Preston back again. FYI,I can buy the 620 for $675 & the 686+ x 4" for $700. The 620 is a little bit lighter due to the half lug on the 620 & full underlug on the 686. It's not a money thing, it's what feels best in the lady's hand. Sgt Preston USMC LLA

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree it's the ILS that made the M619 and M620 so unpopular. I had a M619 for about a year and it shot well. As a matter of fact it was very accurate. I'm sure it it weren't for the ILS the M620 would be a lot more popular. Reason IMO, it feels and shoots more like a K frame than a L frame. I like the feel of those revolvers.