So I bought a new 686 4.2" model...

skypilot said:
So I bought a 686. I hated it. Worst firearm I ever owned. It jammed more than a Rem 742 30-06. The primers would back out regardless of ammo maker and it took channel lock pliers to rotate the cylinder to free it when that happened.

Our Major was a S&W cert. gunsmith and installed/replaced the parts recommended by S&W.
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How long ago did this happen? Could it be you had one of the first 686 no-dash units? These first units had the primer flow issue and were recalled by the factory. This problem was corrected in succeeding production runs.
 
Paying for a new S&W and getting one that's scraped up with buggered up screw heads ? Restocking fee,,,No way!That's totally unacceptable ! You should have gotten a full refund.It's not like you bought some Mil/Surp junk or brand X gun.
Let's have the dealers name so no one else here gets shafted !
 
easyrider604 said:
How long ago did this happen? Could it be you had one of the first 686 no-dash units? These first units had the primer flow issue and were recalled by the factory. This problem was corrected in succeeding production runs.
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This would have been IIRC late 90s early 2000?. I do remember our Major looking at a couple numbers on the pistol and going yep this one needs a modification kit.

It was ok afterwards but I wanted no part of it.
 
cableguy said:
Take it back.
A few stray tool marks near the plate , I could probably live with.
Those gouges on the muzzle are not pleasing to the eyes.
Maybe I've been lucky over the years....owned about 6 different S&W revolvers , including this 4.2 and they all have been flawless.
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Will the target or zombie ever notice the marks on the muzzle? :D

I have an identical 686 and it is flawless as well. I have handled other S&W revolvers and pistol: All are fine and function flawlessly. The only issue I've experienced in the 686 was a result of a dented cartridge rim, which was dented enough to prevent the cylinder from rotating that case past the receiver. I am in the process of adding another S&W to the line: An older 44 magnum, prior to hammer lock. The red tape hasn't cleared, but I am already excited.

It is disappointing that the revolver was scratched, but there shouldn't be tool marks at those places. As to the new revolvers being test fired before being sold: I suppose that is worth it considering that if they weren't test fired, how would the manufacturer know the gun was machined to correct tolerances and was reliable? And that many states in the U.S. allow carrying open or concealed and this is a popular revolver, reliability would be a big issue. Being careless in the disassembling/assembly process is poor business practice but I would attribute this case to the particular tester: His girlfriend probably took a giant dump on him or something. Emotional difficulty is not as easy to bear as a kick in the plums.

I'd have cleaned the screw heads and scratches before paying $85.00 to restock the revolver and sent a letter to S&W about the problem: They might have sent you a nice pair of grips or speedloaders for your suffering. Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner as no one else suggested this.
 
sask farmboy said:
Is that not more an ammo issue then the gun? honest question. I just bought a new 4.2 686 too

And for what its worth the marks on the end of the barrel are NOT machining marks, they are from being mishandled. I used to machine for a living. a mark like that is from smacking it against something or being hit by something.
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I don't think it was ammo related although that would be most logical.

When I told our gunsmith he looked at it a knew immediately what was wrong base on serial/model #. This was late 1990s or early 2000.

I have pretty much always used a semi and only carried a revolver Colt Cobra inside my body armour as a 2nd gun so not a chronic revolver user.:D
 
Yes, there were other options available to him before he took it back. I would have never taken it back if I had to pay a restocking fee. I guarantee it was new, but the employees at the store banged it all over the place moving it around. I would always expect some slight flaws from the factory, but obvious scratches/marks wouldn't fly with me. I purchased one used (saved lots of $) and it looks flawless.

Tell us who the seller was, get them back for stealing your $85.
 
i also just bought a 686 4.2" model and i had a quick question that i didn't think deserved another thread.

Is the barrel length 4.2" or 4.25"? I ask because on the case, it is labeled as having a 4.25" barrel.
 
Donster 125 said:
i also just bought a 686 4.2" model and i had a quick question that i didn't think deserved another thread.

Is the barrel length 4.2" or 4.25"? I ask because on the case, it is labeled as having a 4.25" barrel.
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I could be wrong but I believe the barrel's 107 mm = 4.21 inches.

Is it a standard model?
 
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