This video compares two Smith & Wesson revolvers, highlighting the key differences between older 'pre-lock' models and newer ones featuring an internal safety lock. The older models are preferred by collectors for their traditional hammer-mounted firing pin and lack of the internal lock, often referred to as the 'Hillary hole'. The newer models have a frame-mounted firing pin and the internal lock.
This review covers two Smith & Wesson 686 L-Frame revolvers. One is a pre-lock, 6-shot model likely from the 1980s with a 4-inch barrel, featuring a firing pin on the hammer. The other is a newer Pro Series, 7-shot model with a 5-inch barrel and a transfer bar, which has undergone internal polishing and mainspring lightening for a 6.5-pound double-action trigger pull, making it suitable for competition. Both revolvers are praised for their reliability, accuracy, and comfortable grips, performing well with both .357 Magnum and .38 Special ammunition.
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