Just thought I'd tell you a story about my 686. Earlier this year I ran into some bad primer. Hot gases wound up blowing by the primer hole and ate up the hammer nose bushing on my 686. I knew that M D Charlton on the Island would be able to repair it but I sourced out a local 'smith because I didn't want to pay for shipping to/from the Island which would've added up to about 60 dollars both ways. I wound up taking it to the 'smith in Ladner because I read some posts saying that this fella was 'good'. 5 months later I get my 686 back and the following Saturday I take it to the range and.........light primer strikes. I call the 'smith and he says that it's my reloads. I go buy some factory ammo and the following weekend I get the same. I ask some of the people at the range if they've used this particular 'smith. Of the three people who have used him, none had good things to say about him. 
The following week I go to various Lower Mainland gunstores and starting making inquiries and the general consensus is that he runs hot and cold and I must've caught him during a 'cold spell'. Okay, no more messing around I call M D Charlton and make arrangements for them to repair my 686. Their turnaround time including shipping both ways was less than three weeks!!!! What did M D Charlton find? The hammer nose bushing was installed upside down which lead to the hammer nose being peened down. They replaced both the bushing and the hammer nose. Now, that's fast service. And I have no doubt that the revolver will work as it should this weekend.
I tried to save $60 bucks and wound up throwing away 150 bucks.
Yes, in the long run cheap is expensive......
The following week I go to various Lower Mainland gunstores and starting making inquiries and the general consensus is that he runs hot and cold and I must've caught him during a 'cold spell'. Okay, no more messing around I call M D Charlton and make arrangements for them to repair my 686. Their turnaround time including shipping both ways was less than three weeks!!!! What did M D Charlton find? The hammer nose bushing was installed upside down which lead to the hammer nose being peened down. They replaced both the bushing and the hammer nose. Now, that's fast service. And I have no doubt that the revolver will work as it should this weekend.I tried to save $60 bucks and wound up throwing away 150 bucks.
Yes, in the long run cheap is expensive......
