S&W 686 vs. 686+

[CessnaDriver]

I love my 686+.
No issues and a joy.

[scarville]

Since everyone is putting up pictures... This is my 686 w/3" bbl.

[Twinspool]

Not going to argue with what you said above, but I will say in my experience checking out new/late model MIM 686's, the gaps are much larger on average, timing isn't as good, nor is alignment (on average).

They don't build em the way they used to.


-Freq

The new guns have tighter maximum material conditions, in large part because tolerance spreads are tighter with the newer processes. I have not inspected a newer gun that had issues, but I like to buy Performance Center models because I prefer the ball-detent yokes and tighter B/C gaps.

The old guns were hand fitted and cheaper because labor was cheap and dollars were worth more. A lot has changed that has nothing to do with S&W's management.

[goofcat]

Thanks for all the info, keep it coming.

Damm! someone just sold a 686 3 inch today for $595! Got to remember to check ads several times a day

[Gryff]

Damm! someone just sold a 686 3 inch today for $595! Got to remember to check ads several times a day

That was a special run made for a foreign police department in somewhere like Brazil or Australia. They were made in .38 Special only (can't fire .357 Magnum). I saw one at a gun show in Florida a couple weeks back and posted here about it.

Funny how it is the same gun (other than the .38/.357 thing) as the 686 CS-1, but sell for 40% of the price.

That 3" full underlug sure has nice symmetry to it.

[saki302]

Dr. Lunde- of course your 686+ has Nill grips I'm becoming a Nill whore myself, but my revolvers have the factory rubber for now.

Bill Wiese has it right- I've done trigger work on both post and pre-MIM guns. Comparing them side to side, the trigger on my 625 (MIM pre-lock) is far better than my uncle's 625(old hammer mounted firing pin pre-MIM). Smoother, no stacking before hammer release, better fit and finish. This is after both revolvers received the same minor internal polishing and Wolff reduced power rib spring kits.

-Dave

[lunde]

Heck, I even have Nill grips on my S&W M&P 360:

[redcliff]

I own a number of Nill grips also; I think their coke-bottle reproduction has an extremely nice feel and beautiful wood and checkerring.