S&W model 586/686 no dash or -1 no M question

[sebastiandangerfield]

Does anyone have any experience firing .357 mag ammo through one of these models that has not been sent back to the factory for the repair and M stamp? If so, please share what type .357 ammo, number of rounds fired in the weapon and whether the firing pin issue caused a malfunction. I read where .38 spec cycles just fine. I have a chance to pick up a pristine 586 no dash no M at a great price but I am not crazy about sending it back to Smith (assuming they still do the warranty work for the “kinda, sorta, not quite a full recall issue” in these no dash, -1 guns)
Thanks

 

[M118LR]

I've got plenty of experience firing .357 rounds out of the L-Frame prior to it being set to S&W for the Mod. It was Dad's experience on Duty that caused S&W to due the mod. Round count isn't part of the equation. It just takes one Hot 158 grain round to cause the failure, and it can be catastrophic if it happens at the worst time. My opinion, get it done or regulate the revolver to one way range ONLY USE. IT AIN'T WORTH YOUR LIFE! JMHO. YMMV.

 

[sebastiandangerfield]

Thank you. Your advice is well taken! BTW- when was your mod done and how was the experience? Any hiccups?

 

[M118LR]

Thank you. Your advice is well taken! BTW- when was your mod done and how was the experience? Any hiccups?

Dad had the experience years before the mod was authorized. Good thing he had a little H-H experience in Korea before he had to use it on The Street in Chicago since his Duty Sidearm Failed. Hope that answered your question satisfactorily?

 

[sebastiandangerfield]

Almost- did you send it off for the mod or did your pops do it before you got it? When was is it done and were there any issues such taking too long, etc? Thanks

 

[M118LR]

Almost- did you send it off for the mod or did your pops do it before you got it? When was is it done and were there any issues such taking too long, etc? Thanks

The revolver sat idle after the IA Review until S&W offered the first free modification notice to LE. I was overseas when Dad sent it in with all the other CPD Officers that chose to be so equipped. Since it's return from S&W it has been riding the pine everywhere but on the one way target range. Repair & return time was not relevant since the revolver could not be relied upon in Service. That was decades, centuries, and millennia ago. Probably over 40 years ago by now? Even if I had the answers from way back when, I doubt they would be of any use currently?

 

[sebastiandangerfield]

Probably not. Some deep dive stuff that I’ve read on the topic says the problem was because of the lower weight bullets with higher pressures that LE was using. But who knows?

 

[M118LR]

Probably not. Some deep dive stuff that I’ve read on the topic says the problem was because of the lower weight bullets with higher pressures that LE was using. But who knows?

Here is the notice: https://www.firearmsid.com/recalls/fa_recalls 5.htm The problem was that the cylinder wouldn't rotate due to the primer to hammer pin space when discharging Department Authorized 158 grain .38+ P (actually Hot .357 Mag loads) but the Public Affairs Office never listed a .357 Mag load back in those days. Back then the firing pin was part of the Hammer, S&W wasn't using the ladder bar system currently in use. Folks that carried Colts back in those days carried them with the Hammer/Firing Pin on an empty chamber to preclude an accidental discharge if dropped or knocked to the pavement. S&W supposedly had that cured back before the end of WWII except in this case. Since the revolver has never been back in-service since the incident, I can't give any first hand experience as to if the modification fixed all the problems that LEO actually encountered. But the Semiautomatic S&W 39/59 9 mm and eventually the S&W 645 .45 ACP rapidly replaced the wheelguns of that era. At least until the FBI came up with egg on their face in South Florida. As they say the rest is History. Since Dad & I shared time & effort together together training with that particular revolver it will always be my sentimental favorite, but it's days spent on other than the one way target range are long over, modification or not. Without the modification, use at your own risk!!!! YMMV. Even a sidearm that may fail is better than being unarmed! At least it's available to Pistol Whip a Perp?

 

[sebastiandangerfield]

Thank you for taking the time to post that.

 

[M118LR]

Thank you for taking the time to post that.

Your Welcome, but we do have a like button that also says Thank You. JMHO. Yet the truth I have passed along to you has stirred many a controversy online! Like Eeyore, Thanks for listening.