686 Chamber throat diameter

[Bearcat 74]

I have two 686's one 6" and one 4".  I shoot jacketed 158's from both and the diameter of the cylinders on the 6" gun are larger and it is much more accurate.  I can drop a bullet into the cylinder and it will pass about halfway through and with very little pressure fall on through. With the 4" gun I really have to use some muscle to get a bullet through.  Can I open up the cylinders myself?  I have read online and they show using a brass rod and emory cloth.  How about the flexhone tools?  Would I be better off taking this to a smith and having him open them up?  If I do this myself what diameter do I need to open them too?


Thanks

[Hank08]

BC 74, I think you meant chamber instead of cylinder and actually what your referring to is the throat of the chamber.  Have it done with a reamer and open it to the same diameter as the other one.  That may or may not make it as accurate as the other one.
H08

[Bearcat 74]

Yup, I meant chamber throat, sorry.   


The reason I was thinking it would help accuracy is because a couple are hard to push a bullet through and a couple are noticibly easier.

[Hank08]

Yep, they should all be the same but they seldom are.
H08

[AtlLaw]

I got the 44 Spl. itch some time back and finally gave up trying to find a S&W 696.  I ended up buying a Taurus... I hope Bill doesn't read this...    Medium frame (5 shot) 44 Mag. w/a 2 inch barrel.  The barrel sluged out at .430 and the chamber throats measured .428, as I remember.  Another member her on GB's had just finished reaming one of his S&W's throats and sent me his .431 reamer.  I reamed the throats on the Taurus no problem.  Do it yourself with the proper reamer.

Now Ima gonna shoot bullets sized .431 into my .430 barrel and see if that improves it's...  uh, accuracy.     When I get the parts I need to make the weapon shootable again that is...   

[Graybeard]

I hope Bill doesn't read this...

He did.  Tell us how that Taurus is working out Grasshopper. 

[Ken ONeill]

  "When I get the parts I need to make the weapon shootable again...."  ?? Yep, sounds like a Taurus to me !

[S.B.]

You could probably do this job yourself but, if you don't feel confident about doing this, have a competent gunsmith do it for you. The size you want would be the size of the bullet that drops through your other 686(with little force), that would also be the size of reamer, to look for.
Are you sure the chamber throats are you problem? Maybe call S&W and talk to them about your concerns? They do have an excellent customer service department and track record of fixing what ails a customers gun.
Steve

[Bearcat 74]

S.B.  after rechecking some things I decided to not try the cylinder throats right now.  I looked closely t the crown and noticed a few roughish places, so I was going to take it to the smith to get recrowned.  Then I found this write-up:  http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,493.0.html  After starting with 500 grit paper and working down to dremel polishing compound the crown looked great.  I went out and shot a 1.5" and a 1.75" 6 shot group at 25yds with my arms rested across a board.  I was getting 3"-5" groups at 25yds with the same ammo.