Smith & Wesson Model 686
- Thread starter Swifty
- Start date
Never had any bad experiences with my 686 or 586 and I have been shooting them for many years. They are both very accurate and reliable revolvers, in case you don't know the 586 is the same but blued steel. The only problem or glitch you could have is if you shoot alot of magnum rounds and the ejector rod is a bit loose it could unscrew a bit and make it so that you can't open the cylinder. If this happens you can screw it back in with your fingernail on the knurled end of the rod but remember it is a left hand thread so it is backwards to screw it in. This hasn't happened to my 686 or 586 but it has on my 629 44 Mag and it could happen to any S&W revolver. You can check the rod to make sure it is tight but don't use pliers on the the rod and especially not on the knurled end, I have seen it before and it looks bad if you do.
Hi Swifty, I bought mine 686-3 about 4 months ago and just love it. I'm new to the sport and I find that I shoot very well with this revolver. I've Shot about 600 rounds, both .38's and 357's through it. The only thing I did was change the Pachmayr grip to a Hogue grip for my small hand. I just love shooting 357mags through her and I can't think of anything bad to say about the gun. Besides they look sweeeeet!
Mine's from 1985 with thousands of .38 and hundreds of .357 Mag through it and about the only thing that would qualify as bad would be one time when a few grains of unburnt powder got caught under the extractor star and bound up the cylinder. My fault for not ensuring that the extractor star was dry and lubricant free before shooting. Oh, and the red ramp front sight sometimes fades out when shooting into the sunlight. Other than that it's been great—like Rodent I've recently installed a set of Hogue Monogrips on it after using Pachmayrs for years and really like the feel.
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There were some issues with the earliest 586/686 produced while S&W was a subsidiary of the Bangor Punta Corp. They either worked great, or were assembled with a sledge hammer. Biggest two problems were misalignment of the barrel with the cylinder due to warped frames, and a timing/hand issue.
I believe those issues were corrected by the -2 models. In general, the guns are workhorses and have few problems.
I believe those issues were corrected by the -2 models. In general, the guns are workhorses and have few problems.
I have an 8-3/8" 586 I bought in 1985. It was my first handgun. It was sent away for the hammernose bushing mod early on so it is now marked 586-M. I have around 15,000 trouble free rounds through it, mostly .38's or light .357's. I also picked up a 4" 586-1 a couple of years ago. I only have about 1000 through that one but no problems either. I haven't been able to find a grip I really like for mine. I can't use anything with finger grooves, so my choices are limited.
Auggie D.
Auggie D.
Hi
The first runs of 586/686 were recalled. a 586 686 586-1 686-1 were the ones affected. If the gun was "recalled", it should have a circled M near the number. I do know some people that had guns that should of been modified that never sent them in. "there is nothing wrong with my gun"
Idiots
Sticker
The first runs of 586/686 were recalled. a 586 686 586-1 686-1 were the ones affected. If the gun was "recalled", it should have a circled M near the number. I do know some people that had guns that should of been modified that never sent them in. "there is nothing wrong with my gun"
Idiots
Sticker
Sticker said:Hi
The first runs of 586/686 were recalled. a 586 686 586-1 686-1 were the ones affected. If the gun was "recalled", it should have a circled M near the number. I do know some people that had guns that should of been modified that never sent them in. "there is nothing wrong with my gun"
Idiots
Sticker
And yet, to a collector, the ones that don't have the M on them are worth more. Go figure. Idiots indeed. Oh, and a drop of Loctite will fix your ejector rod problem. Also, for those with older S&W's reading this with that problem, keep in mind they changed the direction of rotation on the rod way back when, so early ones will turn in the opposite direction of later ones. This was supposed to help with the rod problem, and it sort of does, just not completely. - dan
Hi Again
It was not an ejector rod problem. It was with the recoil sheild. A heavy magnum round would seize up the gun, and you would have a ##### of a time to pull back on the hammer to fire it again. I was more then happy to send my first 586-1 off for the recall. I bought a 586-2 soon after, still have it, must be 18 years now.
It was not an ejector rod problem. It was with the recoil sheild. A heavy magnum round would seize up the gun, and you would have a ##### of a time to pull back on the hammer to fire it again.
I was more then happy to send my first 586-1 off for the recall. I bought a 586-2 soon after, still have it, must be 18 years now. What year was this recall brought out, I bought my 586 in Jan 1985 and never heard about it. Of course I was in Germany then so my 586 also has German proof marks on it. I guess I am an idiot then because I never heard about the recall so it was never done and I have never had a problem with my 586.
I'm not 100% sure exactly, it was mid to late '80's...I'm guessing '86 or '87. It was just after I got mine in 1985. I'll admit to never having the mod done and (knock wood!) never having any problems with mag loads.Silverback said:
Silverback said:
Some of the frames were warped, badly, and the alignment with the cylinder and barrel was poor. Many of the guns would lead up the cylinder face and forcing cone area so bad they would seize withing a few hundred rounds. There was also an issue with the new improved hand system.
- Location
- Stellarton NS
S&W will do the mod for free, but if you haven't had a problem by now, it's not likely to occur.
Pat
Pat
