New 686+ 3 inch barrel

[Spade5]

I have wanted a three inch for probably 30 years and regret not picking up the US Custom Service new when I had the chance.

I was really unsure about S&W after reading about the horrid lock, barrels being canted and crappy triggers but I decided to take a chance. I knew it was a different gun than my 686-3 six inch but I decided to take a chance.

I really don't have any other revolver to compare it to but I think the gun is fine. Fit and finish is good. Probably could have been polished a little better. Very tight out of the box but has loosened up now that I have shot it. Grip is fine in my hand.

I always shot my -3 single action because I was target shooting but I decided to shoot the plus double action. I am not a great shot by any means but as far as a defensive firearm, it did fine shooting double action. I really could not see the sights very well at the indoor range but it was grouping pretty good at 10 yards. Of course it must the the gun's fault and my 70 year old eyes have nothing to do with it.

Some will probably say I just got a good one, and I will have to agree with that. Your results may differ.

 

[khari]

Most of what I've heard about S&W revolvers is pretty positive with the exception of people hating the lock. I don't feel as though you "just got a good one". Can they be improved upon? Sure but in my experience, S&W revolvers are pretty damn good.

 

[jnichols2]

Spade5,

I REALLY like my S&W 686 with a 4" barrel. I may try a 3" someday.

Re your comments about your 70 year old eyes, and not seeing the sights.
Mine has the orange insert on the front sight, and it shows up fine to my 70 year old eyes.

If you don't have the orange insert, it's easy to fix.
I painted the front sight on my J-Frame with nail polish. First a base coat of white, then bright red over the base coat.
It shows up really good.

 

[Saddlebag Preacher]

PICS PLEASE! I haven't seen a 3" 686 in years.

 

[mikey98e]

I bought a 686+ 3-inch a couple of years ago and enjoy shooting it. If fact I went through a box of 357 reloads last night after work.
-mike

 

[Blkhrt13]

Good score

 

[Armybrat]

Well, my 72 year old eyes must be really bad, as they can't see any pictures.

Sounds like a nice score though.... congratulations!

 

[gotboostvr]

Between my 4" 686 and my 2.5" 19, I don't really need a 3" 686 but holy cow do I want one.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

PICS PLEASE! I haven't seen a 3" 686 in years.

I'm not the OP, but to tide you over.....

686+

• Zaydok Allen
• Oct 28, 2016

muzzle

686+

• Zaydok Allen
• Oct 28, 2016

Nill Grips

 

[buck460XVR]

There's hundreds of new 686's bought everyday and only occasional posts on the various gun forums about lemons. IOWs, it's not unusual to get a good one, but the norm. Is your new Smith a standard production, or distributors special? Talo had a nice 3" 686+ out for a while, only new three incher I saw offered for quite a while. I have their 5" model. Took a few hundred shots to break her in, but she's a sweet shooter now.

Enjoy and shoot safe!

 

[Spade5]

Mine is just the standard version.

This is just the basic version. I thought about the un-fluted cylinder with the fancy wood grips but decided, just to go with the base version. I couldn't be happier with the way it feels and shoots. I wanted the full length ejector so I passed on the 2 1/2 inch. This guy is going to be a regular shooter so most likely it will stay the way it is right now. It was nice going to the range and not chasing brass. A habit I cannot break no matter how much I have on hand. I don't shoot hot loads and prefer the 357 over 38. I did try a cylinder of some that I had loaded on the warm side for my six inch and I could feel it in my wrist. So right now my go to is 158 grain over 7.5 Longshot. I can live with the lock but I wish it was a six shot. For some reason that just seems the way it ought to be. Every time I swing the cylinder out, it just looks wrong.

 

[Spade5]

Spade5,

I REALLY like my S&W 686 with a 4" barrel. I may try a 3" someday.

Re your comments about your 70 year old eyes, and not seeing the sights.
Mine has the orange insert on the front sight, and it shows up fine to my 70 year old eyes.

If you don't have the orange insert, it's easy to fix.
I painted the front sight on my J-Frame with nail polish. First a base coat of white, then bright red over the base coat.
It shows up really good.

The orange insert is there and it is OK outside. The indoor range has light behind you and at 7, 10 and 15 yards so the firing line is kind of low light. Of course, I had to start wearing bifocals in the third grade and it hasn't gotten any better with age. I have the same issue with my 1966 commercial 1911 but I cheated and put a dab of white on the front sight.

 

[340PD]

Love my 3" 686/586 seven round guns. They are my most carried guns while at work. Heavy enough to absorb recoil yet accurate at long distance.

 

[ROD KLOMP]

Here's my Talo 686+, great gun