New to me 686-6

[Quackattack]

While being a Ruger guy for years, I must admit I’ve secretly always wanted a 686. Being married, I have to ask permission for larger ticket items. However, I finally got the green light. I found a used local 686 4 inch and scooped it up. Unfortunately it has the dreaded lock. Which after thinking about it doesn’t bother me as much.

I finally got to shoot some Gatorade bottles today and had an ear to ear grin! This smith shoots like a dream! I’m really hoping this smith doesn’t start multiplying (6inch, 3inch, etc).

 

[entropy]

Bwahahahaha! It will!

 

[Jonesy814]

My first 357magnum was a 4 inch, no dash 686. I really like it, and like it enough I got a dash 6 with a 2.5 inch barrel. They are great guns and make shooting magnums fun. A buddy of mine just got a 6 inch no dash a few months ago. I'll probably end up with a 6 inch sooner or later

 

[Cokeman]

My 686 has the dreaded lock. Unfortunately, it’s badass.



We shoot it more than any of our other guns now.

 

[bannockburn]

Quackattack

This smith shoots like a dream! I’m really hoping this smith doesn’t start multiplying (6inch, 3inch, etc).

And somehow you think that a Model 686 multiplying into more Model 686s is a bad thing? Not in my book!

Enjoy your new-to-you Model 686; it's a great revolver!

 

[George P]

Once you have crossed over the to the S&W dark side, there is no turning back..........

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

While I like Rugers too, there is no comparison to an L-frame. I want to be buried with my 6" no-dash, but that would just be cruel to my kids, lol.

 

[RA40]

I'll put this here to encourage 6", 686 addition/s:
View attachment 798173

 

[Walkalong]

Congrats on purchasing a fine gun.

I foolishly sold a 4" 686 no dash. Sometimes I worry about me, a lot. One of the worst decisions gun wise I have made.

I do still have my 2 1/2" 686-3. Plinking at clay pigeons on the 100 yard berm raises some eyebrows. I scare them (The pigeons) pretty good with it.

 

[Quackattack]

Gee thanks guys. All these pics of beautiful wheelguns is making me want another and another haha! I will say the six inch 686 will probably be next on my list.

Some years ago I bought a 3 inch gp100 and while it was very nice, it never wowed me. Recently I looked a new gp100 and was surprised the finish and trigger were a lot better than in the past. Still though, it didn’t grab me. Until I held a 4 inch 686 and it was a perfect fit. Mine has the hogue monogrip but I really liked the rubber grips on the new 686.

Cokeman, who makes the grips on your 3 inch?

 

[Quackattack]

She’s a little dirty. Hasn’t had her bath yet.

 

[bannockburn]

Walkalong

Years ago I had a tough decision to make with three .357s where I could only keep one (had to sell the others to pay for school). Came down to two (the Ruger GP100 was the first to go as I really didn't care for it all that much), a very nice Colt Trooper Mk.V (which was one sweet revolver), and a S&W Model 686-no dash. The factory grips of the Colt fit me perfectly, the gun had a decent DA/SA trigger, and overall it had a really great fit and finish. The S&W Model 686 had the usual target grips which are a horrible fit for me (but easily replaced with a set of Pachmayr Gripper grips), the best DA/SA trigger right out of the box of any revolver I have ever had, and was similarly well built like the Colt. In the end it came down to the Model 686 having the best trigger that made it the one to keep.

 

[Cokeman]

Gee thanks guys. All these pics of beautiful wheelguns is making me want another and another haha! I will say the six inch 686 will probably be next on my list.

Some years ago I bought a 3 inch gp100 and while it was very nice, it never wowed me. Recently I looked a new gp100 and was surprised the finish and trigger were a lot better than in the past. Still though, it didn’t grab me. Until I held a 4 inch 686 and it was a perfect fit. Mine has the hogue monogrip but I really liked the rubber grips on the new 686.

Cokeman, who makes the grips on your 3 inch?

They are just the grips that it came from S&W with. I have been thinking about getting some cool wood grips for it, but haven’t yet.

 

[Walkalong]

the Model 686 having the best trigger that made it the one to keep.

My no dash had a sweet trigger as well...... mentally whacks myself again.... *Sigh*

You're a smart fellow.

Oh, and I greatly prefer the MkIII over the MkIV, bought a used one of each and then either traded or sold the Mk IV. And the Colt grips fit me very well too.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a 4" M686-2 that will never be sold. It rarely stays home on a handgun range trip. As everyone who shoots one knows, it's a really sweet revolver.

Congratulations on finding your M686.

 

[MrBorland]

A 686-6 was my primary match gun. A (mostly*) fine revolver - with over 70k rounds through it, I only relegated it to backup status after I got a low-mileage 686-5.

*that red ramp front site has to go, though. It's meant to be a jack-of-all, but it's a master of none .

 

[I6turbo]

Quackattack, I'll bet you are going to continue to love the 686. They are great guns, IMO.

I have a 586 and 686, both no-dash. I've had the 686 since the mid-'80s, it has has a lightened main spring and rebound spring, fabulous 2.3# S/A, 6.5# D/A. I've only recently acquired the 586, it's stock, but I plan to do the same spring mods to it because it's noticeably heavier in D/A than the 686, and not as light in S/A (but still very nice). Also want to get some grips that suit me better than the factory wood.

 

[thomas15]

I have 3 competition revolvers, one is a 686 4" and the other two are 929s. The oldest is 4 years old so they are all modern and have the dreaded locks.

All three had had smooth but very heavy triggers out of the box. Heavy as in +/- 14 pounds DA. I have no idea what the SA pull was/is since they are competition guns. So I have had a lot of work done on them to make them useable. That includes action work, ball detents, chamfering and front sights. Plus more stuff. Figure about $400.00 each plus sights, grips, cylinder thumb latches, and so forth.

To my way of thinking and I'm no expert, but the issue about the dreaded locks is minor compared to what is needed to make these revolvers sing. There are several ways to deal with the dreaded locks. I have on each of my three revos roughly 20k (some more) rounds thru them (these are guns that I have had for less than 4 years) and have no issues with the dreaded locks. I live/compete in a geographical area where there are a lot of high volume revo shooters that compete. All of them use S&Ws, all of them have had post sale action work done and none of them ever talk about the dreaded locks. The only place I ever hear anyone talking about the dreaded locks is on the interwebs.

 

[Walkalong]

o my way of thinking and I'm no expert, but the issue about the dreaded locks is minor compared to what is needed to make these revolvers sing.

No doubt, but I still don't like em though.

That said, my latest auto has a lock. *Sigh*

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Being married, I have to ask permission for larger ticket items.

Funny, I've had a gun pulled on me, but I've never been shot at.

And yet I have dodged bullets twice in my life.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

A 686-6 was my primary match gun. A (mostly*) fine revolver - with over 70k rounds through it, I only relegated it to backup status after I got a low-mileage 686-5.

*that red ramp front site has to go, though. It's meant to be a jack-of-all, but it's a master of none .

View attachment 798304

Mr B, question on your grip on that photo. Your thumb looks in line with the BC gap. Ever have any issue with burns? I mean I see you have it nice and low, but I'm just wondering.

I imagine you were shooting competition loads and not barn burners. Probably helps reduce the gas escaping?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I’m really hoping this smith doesn’t start multiplying (6inch, 3inch, etc).

Hope you're kidding.

686+

• Zaydok Allen
• Oct 28, 2016

Nill Grips

View media item 96

 

[MrBorland]

Your thumb looks in line with the BC gap. Ever have any issue with burns? I mean I see you have it nice and low, but I'm just wondering.

I was expecting that question, and considered putting in a second "*" to address it. It's a common competition grip, and few shoot magnum loads. My thumb is fine (you'll note it's still clean and free of powder burn residue). I've not taught new shooters this grip, nor do I advise anyone to use this same grip with magnum loads, but for the right application and with the right loads, it's a perfectly fine grip.

BTW, it's thumbs-forward grip, but less noticeable is that it's also a thumbs-off grip. The thumbs do little or nothing for your (or this) grip, so they're otherwise 2 more points of contact to apply consistently if they're in contact with the revolver. Best to just leave them off entirely.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I was expecting that question, and considered putting in a second "*" to address it. It's a common competition grip, and few shoot magnum loads. My thumb is fine (you'll note it's still clean and free of powder burn residue). I've not taught new shooters this grip, nor do I advise anyone to use this same grip with magnum loads, but for the right application and with the right loads, it's a perfectly fine grip.

BTW, it's thumbs-forward grip, but less noticeable is that it's also a thumbs-off grip. The thumbs do little or nothing for your (or this) grip, so they're otherwise 2 more points of contact to apply consistently if they're in contact with the revolver. Best to just leave them off entirely.

Ok, that sounds like what I figured. I've been shooting thumbs forward on my autoloaders for several years and I have seen this grip used by competitors with revolvers several times. However I mostly shoot magnums anymore and don't compete, so I've always figured it wasn't for me.

I actually find I have to keep both thumbs cocked way off to the side of the gun or I tend to hit the slide release/lock and get failures to lock back on the last round in many autoloaders.

 

[I6turbo]

For me, the lock is primarily something that I don't want because of the reminder of the connection to the anti-gunners. A defacement essentially put there by them, and by S&W's lack of conviction at the time. Appearance wise, it's similar to, but worse than, the Ruger guns with the ugly READ THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL paragraph roll-marked on the barrel. I also believe, based upon reports from people who own both, that the actions on the lock guns aren't generally as nice unless they have some work done to them.

But that said, I still think the new guns are great. A friend of mine has a Model 69 and I find nothing wrong with it. It could use some lightening of the action to get it closer to where my older N Frames are, but it's a great gun.