Drew78

Hi everyone-

Just yesterday I was in my local gun shop and happened across a 686 with a 4" bbl. I had never held a Smith before and must say that it felt about 1000 times more refined than my Rugers, not to take anything away from them. I am in the market for a .357 utility gun (woods gun) and thought this gem would fit the bill well.

I dont know anything about Smith's, so what can you all tell me about it? Proven track record, dependable, any problems, accurate...
Whats all this MIM stuff? Is it made with weak parts?

Just looking for some thoughts to see if this is a good gun that will last.

Thanks in advance, and I look forward to any comments.

-Drew

M. Hall

Hi Drew!
In my experience, I find the S&W to be a better fit/finished wheelgun than the Ruger, but the
Ruger definitely has the edge in strength. The strength issue comes at a price, with weight
and attractiveness, but that will matter little if you like to shoot big power ammo. I'd also
say that S&W has a much better trigger, at least all of the models I've had did. I cannot speak
for the trigger lock/MIM guns, as I won't have one. With a little searching, a NIB 686 can be
had at a fair price. A 686 will stand many, many rounds of 'regular' full-power .357 before
needing service-my last one had over 75k through 'er, and the only noticeable thing wrong
was that the cylinder wobbled a bit, and I'd say 80% (roughly) was magnum loadings.
I do admire the Ruger when carrying Buffalo Bore or Garrett cartridges for it's brutish strength,
but these loads seldom see the kind of use a standard load will (who the heck can afford to
shoot those bad boys all that much.... :wink: ), but overall I'd rather a S&W. JMHO, of course.

Drew78

Thank you for the reply.

Do these current run 686 guns contain MIM parts? If they do, and you believe that these guns will stand thousands upon thousands what dose it matter? Right...? Just curious about that part.

I currently have a GP-100 6" bbl and it is a beast. The trigger is crap, and am trying to locate someone to "lighten" it for me. When I dry fired the 686 yesterday I almost fell over due to the trigger out of the box!!!

Thanks again-

Drew

Edited to ask the following...

Can anyone give me a reason NOT to buy a current production 686 in speaking to the guns construction and or design?

Thanks again!

BigBoar

deleted

bullethead

I have a 686-0 (very first run) and it doesn't have that "M" which means it is to be recalled, which I will do soon. I bought it new in the box and unfired....until I bought it that is. The early 686 models were recalled and are still fixed for free, including postage both ways. I believe after that model designation 686-2 the modifications were done. Until these are done, it is recommended to only shoot 38's.

one eye joe

Don't fear MIM parts ! They are just as durable and are built to tighter tolerances than their predecessors. The rare inadvertent lock ups of the IL system have been observed in large caliber scandium revolvers which recoil violently enough with heavy loads to cause the IL to rotate.....

Swamp

What's an MIM part and an IL system? Speak up man, speak up and say it!!

Wild Bill Caldwell

Your Kimbers are full of MIM parts......I guess a search on here will clue You in....It was covered many times in Pistolsmiths earlier days

Wild Bill

Swamp

Are you serious? Wait, let me get into my time machine and travel back when someone called an MIM what it really is; and I notice this is your first post meaning you must have done the search and now are being a smart a$$ and trying to make me look stupid. You also didn't address an IL system or couldn't you find that Mr. Smart A$$.

Now lets examine this, you could have typed out the words that the letters MIM and IL abbreviate (well actually not abbreviate but jsut a smart a$$ shortcut to try and look like a big time gun guy; abbreviations are commonly recognized by any reader that made it through grade school) in far less than half the typing you did to continue the smart a$$ routine but NOOOOOO you've got to be one of those who more than likely know little about guns and in an attempt to look smart, use the first letter of a word so people dont know what you're talking about. You dont fool me; if you had a self esteem and knew your stuff, you wouldn't have to attempt to prove how smart you are by leaving out a clue as to what you are saying and just typing the first letter of each word.

Anybody out there actually know what MIM and an IL system are and arent a smart a$$?

Wild Bill Caldwell

DAMM RIGHT I"M A SMART ASS and nobody needs to try to make You look STUPID , STUPID, You do a Damm good job of it without any Help....Your first STUPID move , STUPID Was thinkin' This is My first PISTOLSMITH post....Seems like I had close to a Thousand when this show changed hands , when I registered looks like I was bumped back to one , best I remember I joined PISTOLSMITH back in 2001

Normally I don't talk to a PUNK like You unless I can do it face to face...A Punk like You will always chooose his words a lot more carefull if We are face to face

Just so You will Know , Stupid , I've been buildin' Custom 1911s since the mid 1960s.....also custom rifles , .....I was one of the first if not the first to build DAMASCUS knives in this country an I don't say this braggin'

Before this show changed hands I had a place on here to write ...Wild Bill Caldwell Veiw from the Hills....I see now it has been moved to the lounge...Take a look there PUNK....See some of the pistol cartridges I've invented and built 1911s to run them....What have You ever done ????? from Your Posts not a DAMM thing except run YOUR NO KNOWIN' STUPID mouth.

You don't know what mim is...Yet You post on here like You are all knowin' ???? You STUPID FOOL....,...MIM has been covered thousands of times on here and beat to death...here and other forums....This shows your total lack of experience.....From the very first of Your post I knew You were BULLSH%T

I don't have time for PUNKS like You ....If This is what Pistolsmith is sinkin' to I WANT NO PART OF IT

Wild Bill Caldwell