Model 19 classic or 586 or 686?

I already did. I never had any interest in the 5/686 series for some reason but I really like my 19-9.

Probably 19. The new L-frames Ive handled lately are pretty cruddy compared to my 686 no dash.

I’d go with the 686, if I were to buy a 19 I’d rather have an older one.

I recently bought the 19 classic. carries nicely. With the new materials and the new crane lock, magnums won't be an issue like the first runs. No need for the L frame.
No white outline rear though, and the older sight blades won't fit it. Action is smoothing out nicely with use.

I don't like the EDM (i think thats what its called) rifling S&W is using now. It doesn't seem to shoot as well as the older rifling they used to use. I would be looking for an older version of the gun of your choice. I shoot a lot of lead bullets so thats important to me. But they shoot fine with jacketed bullets.

Just my thoughts.

I have the 19 classic and the 586 classic but I am biased towards blued revolvers but I do have an older 686 so get all three then you can enjoy all of them as well...!!!

Lock prejudice won't result in a better choice of revolver. I can't comment comprehensively on S&W's production through all the decades, but based on my experience and everything I've learned, it's inconsistent. It didn't change with the beginning of the "lock era," but it changed several times over the course of S&W history and was not uniformly better or worse with the advent of the lock.

The craftsmanship and quality were almost certainly at their zenith during the C.R. Hellstrom era, but by the end of 1965 that golden age had begun its end. In my mind, there are few production guns that exude the quality and craftsmanship of a 1950's S&W, but fine examples of those guns from 60 or 70-odd years ago are prized by collectors and not always especially practical. Looking at the much more abundant and prolific 70's and 80's Smiths, the quality of these guns is more often lacking than not. I believe revolver production slowed in the 90's through the end of the pre-lock era. What I've noticed about current production S&W revolvers is very poor quality control, but excellent production standards and technology. They have the machines and tools to produce a fantastic revolver, but it seems they ship everything without looking at it. Fortunately, they support their products after the sale but it's a pity they've chosen to let their customers do all the QC.

The rifling on current production is ECM (electro-chemical machining). It's amazing if it's done right. I have one barrel that just stuns me when I examine it under high magnification. It's perfect. It may not result in any meaningful difference in how the gun shoots, but I've never seen rifling produced by any other method that is so exactly uniform on the surface. The gun looks better on the inside than on the outside.

Some people still complain about MIM (metal-injection-molding) parts, but these parts are more consistent than anything comparable that S&W produced in its prior history. The parts do not lack hardness or durability at all. I rate them as easily better than the old pre-MIM parts. What can be superior to a MIM part might be a wire-EDM part but those aren't always economical on full production scale. But the old parts machined from bar stock or a forging were not better. At best, they were as good as a MIM part. They had a far greater chance of being inconsistent due to a problem with the tooling or the operator during the machining process.

People can form their own opinions and make up their own mind about what they want, but the revolvers produced with MIM parts and ECM barrels are better in every way than the old ones. The lock has no practical effect on the gun and it's lame not to consider new S&W revolvers because they're better. They're not the same thing as a Hellstrom, Gold-box era gun. But a 70's or 80's or 90's gun isn't better than the ones produced today. There's a good chance they're worse. I suggest checking the quality of a new one before buying, expecting to send it to S&W to have issues fixed, and then enjoying the better technology of a new gun.

The 686 is better than the 586 or 19 too. That's more my opinion, but I believe the balance and shootability of the 686 are better with a 4 or 5" barrel. The 19 is still really a .38 Special that's been magnumized. They did a better job of magnumizing it on the 19-9 and 66-8 than they did on the earlier versions but it's still better suited to 38 Special or mid-range magnums -- not because of durability, but because of shootability. The stainless steel frame and round butt of the 686 is better than the 586. The blueing and square butt look good but the blueing causes me too much fuss and the square butt forces the use of an antiquated grip shape. The round butt can use all the round butt grips as well as conversion grips that give the shape of the square butt. Note that the 19-9 even though it is blued uses a round butt. I like grips that are slim or narrow and while the 19-9 "Classic" has slimmer grips than the traditional target grips, I'd rather take the rubber grips, toss them, and find some aftermarket grips I like best.

My only real complaint with the newer Smiths, is the lack of choice between round but and square butt. I like the snubbies with a RB, and the 4" guns with a SB.

I do wish they would go back to making the stocks (both grip types) like they used to though. You know, the plain old Magnas that now go for around $50-$75! Their new wood grips are cheezy.
I don't like their rubber grips either. The back strap needs to be exposed to make the trigger reach right and to spread out the recoil, instead of focusing it into your palm.

Never really cared about the locks. Any of the guns I have that have them, have never been a problem.

The answer to your question on which one, the 19 or one of the 86's? Its "yes", one of each of course.

I have a Model 19. How do I know if it's a 19-9?.

Charlie Martinez said:

I have a Model 19. How do I know if it's a 19-9?.

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Open the cylinder and look inside on the frame under the barrel. It should have the model number stamped there, along with the "dash" if it has one.

I like all 3. But if only one could be had. I'd go with the 686-1 or 686-2

If I were deadlocked trying to decide on one of 3 I would get all three of them.

If there was no way I could afford 3 new revolvers and had to decide..... M19, 586 or 686 the choice would be simple....686

i had an older 19 and liked it, but i liked the model 13 better. both could hit the 100 yard gong... if i held my mouth right.

686

I personally will not own another Smith with a lock. I have owned a few and while I'll be the first to admit that in no way did they make the gun perform bad, I think they are just butt ugly. I'd spend the money on pre lock guns. I like both the K frame and the L Frame. For carry and casual shooting the K frame is my favorite, but if I'm going to give it a steady diet of .357 Mag, I'd go for the L frame. The little bit of extra weight and the full length lug under the barrel make the L frame much easier and more pleasant to shoot the hotter loads. I also think the MIM parts get a bad reputation. I can't tell the difference and I've got several pre locks with the MIM parts that shoot great and have very smooth actions. My most used Hunting Revolver is a 686-5 with the MIM parts and it will shoot with anything I own. Not sure why many people don't like the internal firing pin with the MIM guns as the Colt Python has the internal firing pin and is one of the most collectable guns on the planet!

ontarget said:

Model 19 classic or 586 or 686?

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I chose a late '60s 19-3, because it's just the loveliest 357 that man's been given.

. . . and an early '80s 586, because I needed to balance off the 10-6, 642, and that weird looking GP100 thang on the end.

To shoot, and carry: Model 19, preferably old.
To shoot, and shoot, and shoot, silhouettes and tankbusters, 586.

Eddietruett said:

I personally will not own another Smith with a lock!

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‘Nuff said.

Labnoti post #9 was an excellent write up. It almost makes me want to buy a new S&W.

I own 6 S&W revolvers. 4 are pre lock, 2 have locks. I love them all. I trust them all. My next S&W revolver will have the lock. Some don’t like them. That is none of my business. I am glad people don’t like them. Leaves more options open for me and those that don’t care about the lock.

My choice is 686, however I still prefer -3 or lower. YMMV. tom.

My Smiths from the 1950's and early 1960's are nicer guns than any of the brand-new ones. You don't have to pay through the nose for one if you are patient and check GB daily. It's well worth the effort.

ontarget said:

I prefer the pre lock models but don't see many locally at reasonable prices. All my current Smiths are 38 Spl and looking to add a 357. I really like the K frames so that's why the 19 Classic is on the list.

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If you want to shoot lots of 357 Magnum full power ammunition, get an L-frame or the new design Model 19. S&W has redesigned the Model 19, the Classic Model, to handle a steady diet of full power 357 Magnum.

If you want a gun to match with your 38 Special K-frames, look for an older Model 19 or Model 66. It will match well with your existing collection. Just do not shoot lots of full power 357 Magnum rounds in an early Model 19 or Model 66.

I bought my first Model 19 around 1980 and cracked the forcing cone shooting IHMSA Silhouettes revolver class with the gun within a few years later. S&W repaired the revolver back in the day but parts are no longer available for the older Model 19's exept what can be found in the surplus market.