Is there anything better than a Smith 686?

[greyling22]

A while back I upgraded from a ruger to a 686 (prelock, trigger work) now I wonder if there is anything further to upgrade too? Is there anything better than a Smith 686 for less than $2k in a 357?

 

[ROAshooter]

686

You will be very hard pressed to find another 357 with a stronger following than the S&W 686....I too have a 686 no dash....since 1982.....still as tight as day I got it....with thousands of rounds down range.....

but I also own....nine Rugers....all single action....

 

[SwampWolf]

I prefer the "Plus" variant but it's no big deal. The 686 in any guise is hard to beat for an affordable, quality, reliable .357 Magnum revolver.

 

[Waveski]

Better than a 686? Certainly there is.

A 586 , preferably no dash , the original.

 

[Reloadron]

While I like my 586 I also like my Model 27 and Pre 27 guns and the Model 19 isn't a bad gun. Less than $2K buys other nice guns like a Colt Python and I also like the Colt Trooper.

Ron

 

[Curator]

No, The S&W 686 is the cat's meow! Dan Wessons come close, and there is nothing wrong with a Ruger GP100, but the smooth action and crisp trigger on the 686 is hard to beat. I have two, 6" and 4", and I got my daughter a 6" pre-hammer block which she loves. Stainless steel and adjustable sights is the way to go in hot, humid SW Florida.

 

[gbran]

I'm kind of partial to my 627PC.

 

[627PCFan]

With my username, you know where I stand but the N Frames are overkill these days. If I don't go 44 next gun it will be a 4 inch 686.

 

[Comrade Mike]

Yep, the 586. I hate shiny guns [emoji1]

 

[Barry the Bear]

I think the snub 19s and 66s beat it. But not by much.

 

[joem1945]

Model 27's but my 686 comes close.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

The 686 is a great gun. I would probably buy one, but I own a 27 & 28, the 27 IMHO, being the benchmark in S&W 357 revolvers. I also own a 1980 vintage Dan Wesson that is pretty darn nice. It would be hard to go wrong with a 686 though.

 

[Mosbyranger]

Better is a very subjective term. The 686 is a legendary performer in an affordable price range, and there is really no fault to be found with them. Do take a look however at the Ruger GP 100 Match Champion. Lots of nice features make it well worth consideration.
MR

 

[WestKentucky]

If your not opposed to ugly and heavily modified you could go with a "frankenruger"

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

The best of both, my 586 that had been hard chromed. I carried it on duty for several years.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I bought a new Model 686 last year. First new S&W revolver I have bought in 40 years. Frankly, quality wise it cannot hold a candle to my older Smiths. Ugly one piece rubber grip, lock, MIM parts, and the crane does not close up all the way like it should.





Here is the 686 with my Model 19-3 that I bought brand-spanky new in 1975. Sorry the trigger is not as crisp on the 686 as the Model 19 either.





Thought I would take a flyer on a new Smith to see what they are like. I doubt if I will be buying any more, I will stick with the classics.

 

[greyling22]

westkentucky, what's a frankenruger?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Are there better ones? Maybe. I'm pretty dang happy with both of mine though.

 

[WestKentucky]

westkentucky, what's a frankenruger?

This. The company specialises in this type of work.
http://bcgunworks.freeforums.net/thread/45/franken-ruger

And this video is what got me started on researching them when I had a gp100
https://youtu.be/ZcyPO0nPAf0

 

[il.bill]

Yes. A S&W 686+ is arguably over 16% better than a S&W 686.

 

[gotboostvr]

I'm a big fan of the 686's just happen to prefer either a model 19 for packing or a 627 Pro for range work.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I want a pre-lock model SO bad, 4" in stainless with Pachmayr presentation grips!!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have Colt Pythons, King Cobras and MKIII Troopers. All are fine guns. I bought a pair of 686's last year to give the Colts a break. One is a new Talo 7" 7 shooter. I have put 3k or so rounds thru it. It is a fine gun. The other is 30 year old 8 3/8". It is probably one if not the most accurate revolvers I have owned.

 

[rondog]

I'm just happy I finally found a 586!

 

[wjwlawz]

I have tried many 357s, but my 686 remains my favorite. Perhaps because it was my first gun ever---other than my BB gun @ age 7---back in the days when I thought I was going to buy just one gun. I note some people prefer the older 686s but I can't claim to know if they are right.

Has anyone tried a new out of the classic line from S & W? I'd be interested in your thoughts on how well they perform.