3" 686 + or Glock 19 for carry

THIS IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION. I OWN BOTH, I LOVE BOTH. IMO THERE'S NOT MUCH COMPARISON, BUT THAT IS PRECISELY WHY I DO HAVE BOTH. WE COULD DEBATE CALIBER, ROUND COUNT, RECOIL, AMMO COST, FEEL, FIT, FUNCTION, CONCEALIBITY, ACCESSORIES, COST, RELIABILITY.........YOU NAME IT. AND IN THE FOLLOWING REPLIES, YOU WILL HEAR EVERY ANGLE TO ALL OF THOSE DEBATES. I'M GOING TO GO AGAINST THE GRAIN OF THIS WEBSITE AND NOT GIVE YOU MY OPINION ON WHICH GUN IS BETTER, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY TWO HUMANS EXPERIENCE OF THE SAME THING VASTLY DIFFER. ALL I WILL SAY IS THAT IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO SHOOT BOTH IF YOU CAN, AND GO WITH WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST FEELING OF CONFIDENCE......BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT 99% OF CARRYING IS......CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN TAKE ON MOST SITUATIONS AND SURVIVE. THE OTHER 1% DEPENDS ON A GREAT MANY THINGS.......MOST OF WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.

ENJOY WHICH EVER YOU CHOOSE.

SAFE SHOOTING.
USA

In theory - the revolver is technically more reliable.

In reality though, the 19 is extremely reliable.

I routinely carry Glocks for reliability reasons.

As for weight:

Smith 686 = 35 oz unloaded
Glock 19 = 20.99 oz unloaded 29.98 oz loaded

so the loaded 19 weighs less than the unloaded 686

for practice ammo 9mm is generally going to be cheaper

reloading with a semi is much easier than with a revolver

As for ease of use, it's a tie. Glocks are easy to use, as are Smith revolvers. You will feel less recoil with the Glock 19 though because the slide absorbs some of the recoil (and at the same time adds some too - so it's a tradeoff).

All in all - I'd say go with the Glock 19.

That's not to say there isn't an advantage to a 686 though. You know with a revolver, it will go bang no matter what... no jams, nothing.... pretty much any of the things that can go wrong with a semi can't go wrong with a revolver (ie: a dead cartridge just means pull the trigger again). Despite that though, having carried both revolvers and Glocks, and eventually getting rid of the revolvers and buying more Glocks - my favor falls with Glocks.

Between the two I'd pick the Glock 19. I've been carying the Glock 19 for 6 months and decided to scale down to the Glock 26. I love the 686 but it's rather cumbersome to carry all day and not the lightest or best feeling CCW. I carry a 642, until next week when it will become my BUG to the G26.

Not much choice

I WAS going to weigh in with my two-cent opinion, but I re-read the original post and noted High Plains Drifter also asked about "price new".

New Smith & Wessons have the Lawyer Lock. I have no-lock Colts and Smiths -
I don't want a revolver designed by a lawyer.

For me, that would leave the Glock. Shot a few. Not impressed. Also don't like polymer. My non-milsurp semi-autos are Springfields and Smiths.

Could I suggest doing a little more reseach and coming up with different choices? Maybe pre-lock "K" frame Smiths or Ruger Speed/Service/Security Six for revolvers? Springfield or Smith semi-autos?

I also won't have the Smiths with locks.

Now one of the OLD 686's would make it harder.

go for the glock.

While revolvers are a joy to shoot, autos are- as a rule- easier to clean (or neglect as the case may be) which can translate into more range-time, more practice, and greater proficiency. Glocks can be more easily self-maintained, serviced, and repaired than a revolver IMO, potentially less time at the 'smith or factory... again, translating into more use. Finally, being lighter, generally, means more comfort which means you'll be more inclined to carry it... making it more likely it's by your side when you need it.

Its a toss up. Wheel guns tend to be more reliable then semi's, but carry less ammo and are wider and harder to concel than semis. The Glock will hold more rounds and is slimmer easier to concel, but is prone to jamming. As for knockdown power I think the 9mm in the longer barrel will produce more power than a 3" barrelled 38.
My $.02

If after following this link you don't want a glock I'd be surprised.

http://www.theprepared.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90&Item

I'd take the Glock but it's largly in part to the fact that the 686 is a pretty large gun for carry. If you would have said Ruger Sp101 versus Glock 19 I would have went with the SP101.

Less weight, more capacity and weather resistant.............go for the Glock 19.

Steve

I like the G19...flatter, more rounds

For packing when camping, hiking or fishing I pick a .357 mag revolver. For the city where I may hav to deal with multiple assailants I carry my Glock 19.

Go with which ever you feel most comfortable carrying and shooting.