686 4.2 " accuracy ?

Brewster20

Brewster20

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I have a 686 with a 4.2 " barrel, shooting .38 full and semi wad cutter reloads. Even from a rest, the shots are all over the target, about a 6-7 inch spread at 25 yards. This gun has done this since new. It has about 1,500 shots thru it, and still shoots wild. Is it me, or the gun...I also shoot a 6" 686, same ammo, no problems at all.
I'm open to suggestion !:confused:
 
Group size has nothing to do with sight adjustment, and you're not flinching with other revolver. Check the cylinder exit hole sizes, if bullets aren't a snug fit, can cause problems. Using .357 mag cases may help(less jump to end chamber), or a slightly heavier load. Same thing happened to me with a S&W model 27(8" groups rested). A good load should be capable of 1 1/2" groups at 25 yd(rested, 2 hand) good luck
 
When you say all over, do you mean you mean elevation wise or windage? If its windage, just and make sure your rear sight screw is stiff. If its loose it may be moving around.
 
I had a 2 1/2" 686 that was almost as accurate as my 6" so don't worry about barrel length. It's not your ammo or your technique. It comes down to the cylinder, forcing cone, barrel and crown of your 4".

As others have said, start measuring. Look at the cylinder and measure the chamber exit sizes. One thing you can try is to shoot a group using the same chamber. Load one round into that chamber, fire, load another into the same chamber and fire again. Check the group size of the chambers fired individually. Also is the gun spitting lead? this could indicate it's mis-timed.

Measure barrel/ chamber gap with feeler gage, should be .006 but check S+W on this

Forcing cone, even, no dings, no assymmetry, no lead buildup, no pitting or defects.

Barrel, slug for dimensions, this is really important. Find some one at your gun club and use their borescope to check the barrel out. Crown area is esp important.

Hopefully others will chime in with some ideas.
 
The barrel length would not matter. If you're shooting a 6" 686 well then you should be able to duplicate the same accuracy from the 4.2 inch barrel. Especially from a rest.

So it would appear that you're the victim of S&W's new world order where they rely on the customer to do the last QC checks. It's time to box it up and send it in for warranty work I'm afraid.

Once upon a time S&W shot each gun not only to test for function but also for acceptable accuracy. Sadly it appears that those times are gone or something like this would not have made it out of the factory.
 
X2 Heddok, my 2 1/2" s&w model 66 shoots very well, my old s&w K frame 6" was too tight, had to size and load .3565 cast to prevent onion ring fouling in chambers.
 
A second chance

I did @ one time have the new 4.2 686 S&W but I sold it. I to found it hard to shoot. On the other hand I did not give the gun a fair chance and it just sat in the safe most of the time. I just purchased a new 4.2 again S&W because this will be the closet revolver to a 12.6 I will ever get to own. I was told by a very experienced shooter to start @ 10 yards for a while and gradually move the yards up to 25 yards. He says you will become very accurate in time just be patient no matter if its 38`s or 357`s your shooting.
 
Thank you all for the suggestions

Thank you all for the suggestions, I think its going to a gunsmith for some testing. I'm lucky here in that we have a registered gunsmith in Ottawa who is quite good, but also busy.
PS just how do you get warranty work from S&W in the US ?
Cheers
 
Brewster20 said:
I have a 686 with a 4.2 " barrel, shooting .38 full and semi wad cutter reloads. Even from a rest, the shots are all over the target, about a 6-7 inch spread at 25 yards. This gun has done this since new. It has about 1,500 shots thru it, and still shoots wild. Is it me, or the gun...I also shoot a 6" 686, same ammo, no problems at all.
I'm open to suggestion !:confused:
Click to expand...

Heres my targets. It was at 30 feet. Those are kinda all over the place, but they were not bench rested it. Still not great.


IMG_0435.jpg
 
Brewster20 said:
Thank you all for the suggestions, I think its going to a gunsmith for some testing. I'm lucky here in that we have a registered gunsmith in Ottawa who is quite good, but also busy.
PS just how do you get warranty work from S&W in the US ?
Cheers
Click to expand...

If you know somebody who's a decent shooter, get them to try it first. Maybe your just a bad shot lol, kidding.
 
Unless you are bench resting or are an extremely expert shot the targets really don't say much about the accuracy of the revolver--they are more of a reflection of the shooter--no disrespect to your abilities--short barreled revolvers take a fair bit of practice to master. There may be an issue with the revolver but I would try shooting it from a proper rest to see if that makes an improvement. fwiw.
 
Brewster20 said:
Thank you all for the suggestions, I think its going to a gunsmith for some testing. I'm lucky here in that we have a registered gunsmith in Ottawa who is quite good, but also busy.
PS just how do you get warranty work from S&W in the US ?
Cheers
Click to expand...

Wortner's gun works in Chattam is a S&W warrantee center. And he does very good work.
 
well! at 30 feet i'd expect the holes to be touching, so yeah, it's either you, the ammo or the gun.

that would be my order of suspicion as well, no dissrespect intended. I've had a lot of guys with "inaccurate" pistols, who's gun shot just fine with someone else behind it.

That being said, it could very well be the gun. Your local smith, if he's a good revolver smith should be able to tell you in short order.

Do you see any sign of heavy leading in the forcing cone, or in the chambers? Do you get any shaving or spitting when shooting?

Is your rifleing leaded up?
 
Cocked&Locked said:
well! at 30 feet i'd expect the holes to be touching, so yeah, it's either you, the ammo or the gun.

that would be my order of suspicion as well, no dissrespect intended. I've had a lot of guys with "inaccurate" pistols, who's gun shot just fine with someone else behind it.

That being said, it could very well be the gun. Your local smith, if he's a good revolver smith should be able to tell you in short order.

Do you see any sign of heavy leading in the forcing cone, or in the chambers? Do you get any shaving or spitting when shooting?

Is your rifleing leaded up?
Click to expand...

Those targets are mine not the ops, i was just showing them to him as there was nothing wrong with my gun. I know it was me lol.
 
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