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6" 686?

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CalamityJane

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Dec 12, 2005
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Southwest USA
Hello all. I've been "visiting" a six-inch 686 (pre-owned) and just can't stop looking at it everytime I go in. I've usually preferred the appearance of a 4" barrel; just a personal preference. But this 6" one keeps waving me over to take another look. It is heavy, but not too much so, I don't think. I wouldn't be carrying it (not right away anyway--;) )

I mostly would target/practice shoot with this, and also use it as a home defense weapon; I shot two larger revolvers (larger than my 640), a model 15 and also a 64 the other day and it was a lot of fun. How would the 686 compare to these?

Any comments? Anyone here have one?

By the way, I picked up my permit to carry the other day. You guys have been a big help to me, giving lots of good advice and suggestions. I appreciate it.

CJ
 
6" 686 was my first firearm. It gets heavy carrying it around for long periods of time, but not really a big deal. Shot it when I started getting into IPSC. Obviously too slow, but the barrel and lug really helps for recovery. Great range gun, I think. 4" would be handier, but the extra weight has never been a problem target shooting.
 
I have one as well and it was my first pistol purchased when I became "legal".

They are great revolvers and the weight is nice when shooting the full power magnum rounds and the weight is equally nice to have when shooting .38 special rounds the weight just keeps the barrel were you point it.

ow the bad news 6" is way to big and to heavy for CC. I carry mine in a chest holster for hunting and have carried it as a back up to the issued MEU pistol in my LBG. 6" doesn't clear anything fast unless you practice a lot which I did.

I would pick it up and use it for a night stand gun and a target/hunting pistol it is well suited to all of those tasks.
 
Jane - first great news you have the CCW. :)

I always liked my 686 and these days have another which is 6". If it is not for permanent carry use then for HD and good target shooting it will serve very well. I have a thumping great home made barrel weight on mine for PPC - and it is a splendid platform for that with 38spl home loads.

Heavy? Yup LOL! Even with no add-ons tho - great gun, the near ideal L frame IMO.


m686-weight-49-s.jpg
 
My first revolver was a 6" 686 plus (still have it). If you subtract the barrel weight, it looks identical to P95's picture. It even has the same grips.

I used it for quite a few IPSC matches until I got a 610 for the convenience of using moonclips for matches. Compared to my heavy barrel 4" model 10 (using .38 loads of course), I like the 686 better but not by a wide margin. The recoil on the 686 just seems a little smoother and more controllable. The same goes for my Dan Wesson model 15 when it wears its 4" barrel including full power .357 loads. All are nice guns, but the 686 with its extra barrel length and weight seems to be easier to shoot.

I gave the model 10 to my daughter when she got married and moved away (just a few weeks ago). It was the gun she was most comfortable with. She likes the 686, but was a little big and heavy for her preferences.
 
My first was a 6" S&W 686+ (7-shot) revision -4.

All of the 686 series are great choices, IMO.
 
After a life of .45's, I finally discovered .44's, then nearing three years ago, finally bought my first .38 (2" 10) & .357M (6" 66). I prefer the partial lugs, and the 66 series is perfect for me, especially that 6". I have only shot my homebrews, from wimpy .38 WC's to wimpy Magnums, but it is super. I replaced the fine Uncle Mike's Combat grips with a set of Ahrends squared conversion finger-groove cocobolo stocks and the front sight with a HiViz (fiber optic) sight. For pinging steel plates, it just cannot be beat... well, almost. In our steel plate challenge, they have five plates and a tie-breaker for the 'shoot-offs'... miss one and you have to reload... a real disadvantage if you are paired with a competitor with a 9mm or .40 'race gun' with a 15-21 rd magazine!

I eventually was able, in late '04, to buy a new S&W 'Stocking Dealer Exclusive' 686+ - a 5"-er seven-shooter with a half lug, an oddity for a 686, and the very same HiViz front sight and stocks as I had put on my 6" 66! It also has a V-notch rear sight, which can, with experience, be quite effective with that fiber optic front sight, although admittedly, they are less than optimum for bullseye shooting. Oddly, that feature packed 686+ was less than a regular 4"-er. You may still find one, with some searching.

I like the partial lugged look and feel, so my view is jaded. If you do get a chance to hold one, see what you think. If you are going to target shoot/plink with it using .38's - and perhaps leave it by the bedside with some +P's, either is great. I suppose given a choice, the 7-shot would be better for HD - a whole one more round. If you want to shoot mainly .357M's, the additional muzzle heft of the standard 686/686+ would be better. Best advice here is to test the feel - and get what you like.

Stainz
 
Greeting's All-

Well, count me in the 6" S&W 686 owners crowd; as I have a -5 model
that I use for long range targets. I shoot everything from .38 Special
L-SWC's to HOT 125 grain JHP's from this weapon. I bought it NIB in
April of 2001, and although it doesn't get shot a lot; its like a good
neighbor cuz "its always there when I need it"~!:D
 
My first revolver was also a six inch 686. Concealed carry is not allowed in my state, so carrying it has never been an issue. The 686 has been an excellent range gun and new shooters enjoyed shooting it with .38 wad cutters. For a short while it served as a home defense pistol. It was only replaced by a Ruger Security Six because the wife liked the Ruger, excuse me, "her Ruger." I would take the 686 to the range more often, but I have been bitten bad by the surplus rifle bug. Another plus for the 686 is that it takes up less room in my safe than my K31 :)
 
I usually find that when I have been visiting a gun in a gunshop and somebody else buys it, I have long lasting regret.

David
 
Geez - a lot of folks who bought a 686 as their first handgun!

Count me among them! :)

My 686 is a -1 with a 6" tube; I believe purchased in 1989. I still have it. As it was my first ever firearm, I can't ever see selling it. I've come close! I paid $305 for it NIB & some of the used samples I see going for $350-$370 aren't near as clean as mine. But I always decide to hang onto it.

However, if I had to do it all over I'd probably buy a 4" model. Not that I have any regrets, but I think the 4" barrel is an all around better handling gun. I keep my eye open for a 4" & a 2½" whenever I do a gun show or visit a gunshop, but the samples I've seen when I had cash to buy were priced too high.

The 686 is a great revolver. You could do worse!
 
Jane,

Good choice for the target/practice shooting you intend to do. I bought one of the first one's made when they came out in 1981 or 1982, and still have it. The weight helps negate recoil, and allows for quick followup shots. I'd say go for it.

Don
 
6" 686

Not my first but I'll never be without at least one. Bought my first,a 686- nothing from an individual 10-12 years ago. My son shot it so well at a father/son shoot that I gave it to him. Missed it so bad I picked up another which happened to be the smooth cylindered classic 686-3. It's even better than the first. If you like revolvers even a little you will never regret the purchase of a 686.
 
Thank you all very much for your input on the 686. And David, you're most likely right, about visiting a gun and then someone else buying it--and then having those regrets. I'll probably pick it up in the next few days; it has the ported barrel, already has a trigger job, and has hi-viz sites; probably would regret not getting it a long time after if I let it get gone, and probably will NOT regret buying it.

Thanks too for the congrats on my getting my CCW license; proud to join the ranks.
 
IMHO shooting the 6" vs. the 4" is day and night. I LOVE the 6".

The 4" might be more practical to keep in a quick-access safe, a purse, or wherever, but the 6" shoots like a dream. The barrel just sits on the target, at least for me. Recoil is pleasant with the 6", more snappy with the 4".

Some say a 4" is better for home defense because an attacker is less likely to be able to grab it from you. I don't know about that from any personal experience, but it makes some sense I guess.

If I get a .357 Smith, it'll be a 6" 686+ (7-shot), or one of the tiny ones.

The 686 is an excellent gun either way, though.
 
The 686 was not my first handgun--not even close--nor my first revolver, nor my first .357, nor my first Smith and Wesson .357. It is, however, one of the slickest, easiest pointing, most well-balanced guns I have ever held. I got the 5" dealer special mentioned earlier, and, after years of admiring the 686, I think it is the best variant to come out yet. Do a google search for "smith wesson dealer special 686" and you will find plenty of articles and reviews by people who agree wholeheartedly.
 
Well, what can I add after the above? Similar story here. Got a 6" 686+ as an all around handgun--reliable (can feed it just about anything), portable enough, very accurate. I thought it would be my only opportunity and I needed "everything" in one package.

Take that one home.
 
That particular 686 may be a great buy. I, too have the deepest sadness when that gun I've drooled over at the pusher's is finally sold... and not to me. But, a purchase of such a goodie generally also produces a different 'buyer's remorse'... I usually think "Why did I wait so long??". Enjoy your purchase!

Stainz
 
Was at my local range one day and happened to mention to the counterman (who I trusted as being up front and honest) about looking for a S&W .357. He just happened to be selling his own 6" 686PP. I bought it on the spot. I had a gunsmith do a trigger job and I ordered a set of Eagle grips. I'm keeping her.

DSCN2043.gif
 
Got It!

Got it, shot it, love it! I'm very happy it was still there waiting for me; thanks everybody for your comments. Appreciate it.

CJ
 
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