Gunsmithing question....!! 686 barrel removal

S

Swift516

Active member
I have a S&W 686 with a 4" barrel and would like to put a 6" barrel on it. Does anyone have any experience changing barrels on these revolvers??

From the looks of it they just screw on and off, is there more to it...??
 
Yep there is, first the barrel has got to be in a set of vise blocks that fit. then somtimes it helps to heat the frame a bit to unscrew it off of the barrel. Remember the frame screws on and off the barrel not the other way around.
BTW it helps to be familiar with the assmebly and disassembly of the revolver since the frame will have to be fully disassembeld
 
you can get the barrel vice and wrench from Brownell's. You can also get a book from them that tells you how to remove and install that new barrel.

There are some technical things that need to be done when installing and removing Smith revolver barrels. Unlike a rifle barrel it needs indexed so the underlug is in the right place.

The tools necessary are not inexpensive. You might give thought to just having Smith and Wesson put a new barrel on for you if your the least uncomfortable doing this. At the least get the book Brownells has on gunsmithing the Smith and Wesson and read it first.

Nice guns those 686's.
 
S&W uses a crush fit for their revolver barrels, messing with a barrel on a Smith is a job best left for a professional, if you try to shade tree it, you will likely destroy it in the process.
 
Back
Top