Howdy from Oklahoma!

Hi all! Balota here, from Glenpool, Oklahoma. Also from FirearmsTalk Forum. Winds invited me.

I shoot IDPA, currently Marksman in 4 divisions. As soon as I can get 100 rounds of 357mag, I'm going to try to make 5 gun Marksman!

I carry XDm 9mm Compact daily. I also have XDm 5.25 Competition Series 45ACP, which I use for the IDPA Classifier. That run gets me all 3 of the pistol classifications.

For revolver, I have a S&W 686 in 357mag/38spl. I have not modified it for moon clips, so when I try for ESR, I'll be running with speedloaders. But I'm so slow anyway, that the speed penalty is negligible.

 

I'd love my 686 a lot better if the spring didn't weigh 16-20 lb. The spring is crazy heavy. And at the point where the cylinder locks in place, the trigger hits a ledge. Takes another 4 lb to clear the ledge with no apparent trigger movement until it snaps. I'm thinking of returning it to S&W to see if they'll fix it. I think it's too heavy for spec, but they know their specs pretty well. If it's really "in spec", then I'll pay for the trigger job to get it down to a dull roar, maybe 10-13 lb. Be really nice if the ledge at the end was smaller.

 

Just for kicks, I tried to measure the pull weight. I made a loop of jump cord (negligible weight). I wrapped it around one end of a 15 lb dumbell. If I lift slowly and carefully, I can lift it off the ground without snapping the trigger. I added 2.5 lb to the dumbell (smallest increment I have handy). At 17.5 lb the trigger snaps every time. Not a high precision measurement, but the pull weight is between those weights.

I have a request in to Smith and Wesson to see if they'll let me return it under warranty. If not, I'll pay for the trigger job to reduce pull to about 13 lb.