686-3 replacement hammer

[Steve in Allentown PA]

There's a fellow on Gun Broker selling a "Smith & Wesson S&W Mod. 686-681 L fr S/S hammer".

Do you think this hammer will fit and function correctly in a 686-3?

It'll be modified to double action only so I'm not worried about fiddling with the single action sear engagement.

[Carmoney]

Yep, it should work. They switched to the MIM hammer (for frame-mounted FP) with the 686-5 variant.

[bountyhunter]

There's a fellow on Gun Broker selling a "Smith & Wesson S&W Mod. 686-681 L fr S/S hammer".

Do you think this hammer will fit and function correctly in a 686-3?

It'll be modified to double action only so I'm not worried about fiddling with the single action sear engagement.

It might work, but SW hammer/trigger sets are fitted. According to Kuhnhausen they should always be changed AS SETS. One critical fit pertains to the DA pull "handoff" going from lifting the hammer with the trigger beak to the "step" and it is an absolutely critical fit. You might need to fit a new DA sear to the hammer. Edited April 10, 2013 by bountyhunter

[Carmoney]

The trick is to switch the original sear over to the new hammer--that usually solves the problem and the gun will function just fine.

[COF]

Mike, that's what I did when I had to replace my over-Carmonized hammer for my 686. Yes it is possible to get too much of a good thing - with a hammer mounted firing pin