Almost bought a wheel gun today

Guns & Gear Guns
22

I posted this on the the 1st day of seriously considering a 357 . It has been on the back burner based on what ammo might be readily available when the next shortage occurs. This revolver will cover 2 configurations (38 and 357), so sort of a two birds with one stone concept. I just happened to be in a gun store that had 2 used S&W Model 19’s for sale. The salesman said one of them was from the '80’s and the other from the '90’s. Asking prices were just shy of $1k.

So, when I looked at the next store and they had the 686-6 marked down to $599, it made me question why it was so much more “economical”, and, why had they marked it down from their original $750 asking price? It looked virtually brand new based on visual examination by me. I am a well known face in this particular gun store, so I feel confident they would not recommend something with known issues, but I still didn’t know if the 686-6 was a model riddled with issues and they marked it down because everybody else knows this.

Based on my research back home, as well as great recommendations from this thread, I have put money down and have it held on 90 day layaway:

I thought I was going to be able to pick it up this Wednesday, but might have to wait a bit since we are expecting a hurricane on Wednesday.

Circling back to your question, no, I did not miss a good deal :smiley:

4 Likes
23

I had to do some research to see what you were talking about :rofl:

Thanks a lot! I didn’t even notice it, but now I’m going to see that every time I look at this revolver :thinking: Worse yet, I’m going to know the background :-1:

With that said, it looks like removing the internal parts will be an easy task. However, the visible hole will still be there. So, I’m thinking, depending on the thickness of material where the hole is, it might be feasible to drill, tap, and countersink the hole for a flat head SS screw?
image

1 Like
24

You still got a good deal. Even with the hole…lol

Its there but doesn’t mean it has to be used but its still there

Hope the storm misses you. Its already a tough time for you folks down there. My cousin is preparing now and shes just north of naples

5 Likes
25

Sounds like EVERY Gunner I know! (Welcome to the Fold!) :crazy_face:
‘Honey, I just happen to be in the Gun Shop…’ :rage: RUH ROE!

GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAY’S Brother! (Enjoy the good fortune! Smith & Wesson don’t make Junk!)

Job well done! Gary.

5 Likes
26

Regarding the “Hillary hole”, this is a more elegant solution than my SS screw:
Smith & Wesson Revolver Internal Lock Plug Replacement Kit – TK Custom Store

It is also available on Amazon and other sources, possibly without the plethora of finish choices:
Amazon.com : TK Custom S&W Revolver Internal Lock Plug™ for Smith J/K/L/N Frame Revolvers (J Frame Matte Finish) : Sports & Outdoors

2 Likes
27

I have a 686-6 that I got several years ago (like a bunch of years) for $500 and it was a good deal then. Your $599 price now is a fantastic deal, and I hope you are as happy with yours as I am with mine. And, having shot .357 through it, I can say confidently that it really didn’t kick all that much. Of course, I wasn’t shooting Buffalo Bore through it either…(I haven’t found any in the stores I’ve been in).

6 Likes
28

I think about wheel guns everyday… and then I think about all the semis that I can get for the same money or less.

There is that cool factor though and someday I’ll own one for the fun of it.

5 Likes
29

G
Congratulations, Gary, on obtaining that 686, and at an excellent price.

4 Likes
30

I was very impressed with the DA as well as the SA trigger pulls on the S&W revolvers when I was dry firing them in the stores. Now that I have the 686 home, I decided to test the pull on it. It measures 11 pounds in DA and 5 pounds in SA. They both “feel” like about half of that. How can that be?

I have two DA/SA semi-autos (FN and Berretta) that measure roughly the same as the S&W, but neither feels anywhere close to as smooth and light - weird!

3 Likes
31

I did not realize it at the time, but I think I know why this revolver called out to me.

No one I grew up with had a handgun, except, my Uncle. He was a Policeman in Las Vegas. His primary gun was a 357 and his BUG was a snub nose 38. He was at our house somewhere in Alabama when he asked me as a young teen if I would like to shoot his 357. We put a scrap piece of plywood at the base of a pine tree and I blew it to pieces with that 357. Somewhere in my subconscious, this 686 must have reminded me of that day.

Anyway, I picked the 686 up the Tuesday before hurricane Milton hit on Wednesday. After hurricane cleanup, I took it to the range and this is the 1st wheel load with it:

image
image589×919 52.4 KB

Ignore there are 8 shots, 2 of them are 300 Blackout before they told me I couldn’t shoot that on the upper deck. The 1st wheel was SA only, I have a lot of work to do to become proficient with DA!

Never one to not fully understand how something works, this is what it looked like on the inside. This photo is after I had already kind of polished up the trigger and hammer prior to disassembly. Also not fully evident, there is enough oil inside to fuel my SUV for a week!

image
image1308×919 148 KB

Not fully happy with what I saw, this is what it looks like inside and outside today:

image
image1920×865 194 KB

image
image1752×919 191 KB

The Oh-■■■■ moment of the reassembly was when the spring that connects the trigger to the part that rotates the wheel popped out. Thank goodness I found a YouTube video where a guy showed how to install it using a $300 tool. I successfully substituted a regular old flat head screwdriver and moved forward :slight_smile: I will say I am glad I do own some gunsmith flathead bits that help prevent external scratches when doing this kind of work.

Edit: It turns out this is an 8 year old revolver. I did not take photos, but the front of the wheel had a lot of lead/carbon build up on it. Again, a guy on YouTube advised not to go steel wool on it, so I used a Remington lead removal chemical to clean it up. All in all, I am very happy with it.

7 Likes
32

Congrats and excellent work getting it cleaned up, it looks great!

2 Likes
33

Beautiful! You’ll have that the rest of your life, and then your kids and/or grandkids will enjoy it (if you have kids or grandkids) :smile: Florida needs to pass open carry so you can keep that on your hip as the perfect woods gun. I know you can open carry it while fishing, but I always prefer a plastic semiauto on the boat in case it and I go in the saltwater. That’s too nice to risk in the salt. But, anyway, that gun needs to be open carried in a classic leather holster.

3 Likes
34

Alright, a quick revisit to the 686-6.

I got my Wheeler Digital Trigger Pull Gauge and a Wolff Power Rib Type 2 Reduced Power Spring Kit. The kit includes the Reduced Power Mainspring and 3 different Rebound Springs. Not knowing the history of this revolver, I also bought a Standard Strain Screw and an Extended Strain Screw from Wolff. The “as bought” strain screw is visually shorter than the new Standard one from Wolff, but I did not make measurements.

By the numbers:

As Bought Configuration:
Double Action, 5 pull average: 11lbs - 7.1oz
Single Action, 5 pull average: 4lbs - 11.0oz

Wolff Reduced Power Mainspring w/as bought Strain Screw:
Double Action, 5 pull average: 7lb -11.1oz (33% reduction)
Single Action, 5 pull average: 4lb - 9.9oz

Subjectively, the firing pin “shoots” a wood pencil out the barrel about the same with either mainspring. Since my objective is to reduce the DA trigger pull, I don’t expect to experiment with the rebound springs, but knowing myself, I probably will :smile:

Now I need some range time to validate no light primer strikes. If there are, then I’ll start swapping out the longer Strain Screws for reliable firing.

Edit: I guess I should of said why I want the DA pull reduced. It’s pretty simple, I have Dupuytren’s Contracture Disease in my hands and I really can’t handle a 12lb pull for very long any more. I am currently recovering from my 2nd surgery on my dominant hand … so range testing will be hopefully in a couple weeks.

3 Likes
35

That’s an awesome looking gun. Glad it was a good buy!

2 Likes
36

I’ve been thinking about your comment for a couple months now. I don’t carry them all, but for some reason have felt obligated to have at least 1 holster for each handgun.

Anyway, I have begun my search and figured out this gun needs an exposed trigger with hammer strap to adequately show off its beauty. I like the Bianchi 5BHL, but it I want black, but it only comes in brown:

image
image294×589 75.1 KB

Any suggestions?

4 Likes
37

Perhaps, dye?

3 Likes
38

You can dye, but it’s a process.
First you have to remove original coating with stripper.
Then use oil based dye and finish with sealer.

Contact Fiebing’s for help and information - these guys are best for such work.

3 Likes
39

I have not used ebay for quite some time now, but I purchased a used, made in USA (as opposed to current Mexican manufacturing), unlined Bianchi 5BH holster. This was by far the worst ebay seller I’ve ever delt with, but after a procurement that started on 22 January, the holster is in my hands on 8 February (17 days):

image
image411×911 53 KB

Now I need help on how to use the holster :rofl: I see 3 ways to thread the belt thru the holster. I “think” from what I’ve read one of these ways is intended for cross-draw, but I need some guidance here.
image
image411×911 43.5 KB

Thread pattern 1

image
image411×911 47.6 KB

Thread pattern 2

image
image411×911 46.2 KB

Thread pattern 3

I’ve also ordered VZ grips that should be arriving some time this coming week. Since the VZ grips don’t wrap around the backstrap, it should shorten the LOP ~3/16" according to my calculations. This should help me with the DA pull since I have short fingers! After debate with myself I am going to leave the holster brown for a while. I like the contrast of the black grip against the brown holster, so the new grips are black.

8 Likes
40

Nice, Gary!

No idea which is “correct”, but I’d go with under-over, #2, as it gives 2 areas for failure, which would be unlikely, before becoming completely detached from your belt.

3 Likes
42

Got the VZ Grips and love 'em :+1: They fit my hand much better than the original and look great too!

Installed:

image
image537×911 52.2 KB

Original grip on left, VZ Grip on right:

image
image1160×911 96.7 KB

6 Likes