686 vs 686+ trigger pull

O

obeatty

Inactive
Does anyone notice a significant difference in the trigger pull of the 6 shot vs the 7 shot 686 models? I fired a friends and he has a 6 shot 686 and a 7 shot 686+ and thought the 6 shot had a bit lighter trigger pull. The guns reportedly had similar amounts of rounds through them.

Could it be that the timing of the 6-shot vs the timing of the 7-shot gives the trigger a significantly different feel?

Thanks!
 
Interestingly enough, individual handguns vary widely as to action feel, even when they're the same model... I've got a lot of wheelguns (mostly Smiths) and the feel of each one is unique. There are a lot of elements inside the gun that contribute to different action feels during different stages of the action movement... there is also a lot that can be done to make a not-so-great action feel very, very good indeed! Even with J-frames and their coil mainspring.
 
I agree with DHart as each individual gun seems to be unique. Also, they can be tuned. I have a 686+ that has been tuned and tolerances set to minimum and the double action is 6.7 pounds and it will fire magnum primers. On an untuned 686+ I had it required near 9 pounds to work in double action. From a theoretical point the cylinder on a 7 shot does not require as much rotation as a 6 shot so that would cut down on the total work required. The experts say the trigger stroke is shorter on the plus version, also. This might cancel some of the advantage of less cylinder rotation, I don't know. At any rate I cannot see the trigger pull being heavier for the plus all other things equal.
 
I have a 6" Smith N' Wesson 686-5 that has a WOLFF spring kit
installed (13 lb. trigger return spring), and its action is as smooth
as butter.

Best Wishes,
 
the 686 has a longer DA trigger travel hammer fall. that longer travel gives it more mechcanical advantage to rotate the next chamber in line with the barrel...when compared to the 686+...take a look at the 6-shot m-17 compared to the 10-shot m-617

given identical factory fitting (unlikely) or identical tunning the 686 should have a better, lighter and smoother, DA trigger stroke.
 
That is the interesting part. The 6 shot does have a greater mechanical advantage but must rotate the cylinder 60 degrees whereas the 7 shot must rotate the cylinder ~51.43 degrees. Does the mechanical advantage offset the greater amount of work to rotate the extra 8.57 degrees? Or do they cancel out? Is the hammer arc on the 7 shot reduced so that a stronger mainspring tension is required? Interesting?
 
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