Thick sides, thin sides, it has nothing to do with the year the gun is going to fall apart. My 680 series gun has had tens of thousands of rounds shot through it, only the locking pin set has been replaced and only because I am a bit anal about lever position. The shoulders and trunnions should never need to be replaced. My gun was made about 1986, has been shot regularly every year since. I would buy a used 686 Sporting for $1200 before I would consider paying what people pay for a new 682.