Smith & Wesson 686 Plus Issues

[User 1234]

This is 2024. Go to Reddit, and find suggestions for some stippling and a 1991 Tapco SKS stock. That 686 will be reeeeeel nice!

 

[nammac]

Well, this may still be an issue as I had a couple failures to fire today. Fast facts:

• I shot five cylinders worth, so 35 cartridges, of MagTech 158-grain cartridges.*
• Two (2) failed to discharge.
• A second hammer drop discharged both.
• Both failures were in single-action mode.

Riddle me this, NWFA. Should I:

• Ignore it.
• Engage in some home gunsmithing, which is ...
• Return to Smith & Wesson.
• Have a local gunsmith take a look.

Inquiring minds, well one wacky one, want to know.

*
View attachment 1957294

If she's under warranty, send her home for a chiropractic adjustment.

 

[CountryGent]

If she's under warranty

Good question. I bought that wheelgun new in the summer of 2019. So, don't know if still under warranty from Smith. Though I can contact them.

 

[nammac]

Good question. I bought that wheelgun new in the summer of 2019. So, don't know if still under warranty from Smith. Though I can contact them.

You should be covered, they initiated the lifetime service policy on revolvers back in 1989. I'd give them a jingle, may as well have them do the work. Unless of course you have a gunsmith available that's a Smith wiz. Then it'll boil down to your preference.

 

[CountryGent]

@nammac thanks for the heads up. If Smith covers it, that makes the most sense all around. I'll contact them Monday.

Come to think of it, with the various Smith & Wessons, new(er) and vintage, we have in the battery this the only one that ever had an issue requiring reaching out to them.

 

[Cavedweller]

This is 2024. Go to Reddit, and find suggestions for some stippling and a 1991 Tapco SKS stock. That 686 will be reeeeeel nice!

View attachment 1957363

What?

 

[CountryGent]

What?

Good to know I wasn't the only one who had no idea what that meant.

 

[User 1234]

What?

It was an attempt at comedy. More of a dad joke.

 

[orygun]

With my recent experience of S&W "handling" a problem with my 329 misfiring, I would like to suggest that you resist the immediate urge to send it back, but I can't.
Since the strain screw has been checked and the gun cleaned, even though it pains me, I have to say, "Send it back."
They will arrange the shipping both ways before you ship the gun and will repair it, no charge. All that you are out is the time. The one I sent back earlier this year and had it back in 5-6 weeks.
I believe my gun's problem is more of a design flaw where yours is more likely a part out of spec.

edit to add, I've shot a fair amount of that Magtech ammo with zero issues.

And edit to read weeks, not months!

 

[dangerranger60]

Hopefully the factory smith will check the firing pin length, the protrusion, the return spring, etc. And head space. These are all things that if they are right on the end of the specs could cause intermittent failures. Good Luck DR

 

[CountryGent]

I corresponded with Smith and they're sending me a prepaid FedEx label to return. I normally chuck gun boxes, but keep S&W blue ones just because. A quick trip to the lower shed and I found the one for the 686+ Deluxe. So, when the aforementioned label comes in, I'll send it back to have it checked out. The last time I sent back a full-sized, 6" barrel .357, it was absconded with, but I doubt S&W is so sleazy as to pull such a maneuver.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Good question. I bought that wheelgun new in the summer of 2019. So, don't know if still under warranty from Smith. Though I can contact them.

Did you put different springs in the gun?

 

[CountryGent]

Did you put different springs in the gun?

No.

 

[orygun]

With my recent experience of S&W "handling" a problem with my 329 misfiring, I would like to suggest that you resist the immediate urge to send it back, but I can't.
Since the strain screw has been checked and the gun cleaned, even though it pains me, I have to say, "Send it back."
They will arrange the shipping both ways before you ship the gun and will repair it, no charge. All that you are out is the time. The one I sent back earlier this year and had it back in 5-6 weeks.
I believe my gun's problem is more of a design flaw where yours is more likely a part out of spec.

edit to add, I've shot a fair amount of that Magtech ammo with zero issues.

And edit to read weeks, not months!

I noticed that I originally said 5-6 months for the turnaround at S&W and edited it to correctly read "5-6 weeks".

 

[WAYNO]

Ya know something we don't often discuss, is Davidson's. They are a huge distributor of firearms, and their lifetime warranty is unbeatable. A person needs to keep track of where their guns originated, and if it was from Davidson's or other places with a similar warranty, the difference could be a brand new gun, or waiting for a factory repair. I'm not saying one is necessarily better than the other, but it's nice to know options.

 

[Newberg]

Call S&W explain intermittent issues.

They will issue a shipping label and resolve it.

I have used them a few times for various work, they aren't great with communication from the repair shop, but work is usually done well.

 

[CountryGent]

I've got it boxed up with letter, label, etc. now and will drop at FedEx tomorrow whilst in the city on a medical visit. I appreciate the thoughts on this one. Hopefully Smith can track it down. We have multiple wheelguns from them (in .38, .357, .44, .45, and .500) and they've all worked great sans this one, so not bad results, considering. Good to hear the turnaround time on repairs is measured in weeks, not months.

 

[CountryGent]

Well, according to an email I received, S&W is sending the revolver back today and should be here on Thursday. Other than that, the only communication I received from them was a canned message saying they received the piece that arrived a couple days after FedEx said it got there. So, at this point, have no idea what they did or didn't do, but will give a spin when it comes in.

 

[nammac]

Well, according to an email I received, S&W is sending the revolver back today and should be here on Thursday. Other than that, the only communication I received from them was a canned message saying they received the piece that arrived a couple days after FedEx said it got there. So, at this point, have no idea what they did or didn't do, but will give a spin when it comes in.

Hopefully they will provide a detailed work order with it so you have an idea what they touched and fixed/adjusted.

 

[TTSX]

Hopefully they will provide a detailed work order with it so you have an idea what they touched and fixed/adjusted.

"Gun was dirty and dry, added 1 drop of oil and test fired"


Gun still has issues and around the mulberry bush we go.... I have no faith after reading many warranty claim posts from many manufacturers