S&W 686 vs. 686 Plus
- Thread starter LonesomePigeon
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UncleEd
Member
I suggest that a perspective user check out RevolverGuy.com reviews and
also factor in availability and cost besides reliability.
Rock185
Member
Lonesome, I've had multiples of both and still have one 686 with both 6 and 7-shot cylinders. I'm not an engineer, but the 6-shot version, due to more steel, would seem the more robust to me. That being said, I have shot heavy 357 ammunition, like Buffalo Bore 180@1400 FPS, in both without any issues at all.
The 7-shot cylinder obviously locks up sooner, but the lockwork and trigger pull is the same, 6 or 7-shot.
The 7-shot cylinder obviously locks up sooner, but the lockwork and trigger pull is the same, 6 or 7-shot.
For competition, IDPA and ICORE classic, 6 shot is preferred. Oh wait, you can swap cylinders, most of the time, with out any issues. So I purchase a PC 686 plus then substituted a 6 shot cylinder. You have to stay within engineering revisions of course.
This is the right answer, buy the gun not the capacity. I would prefer an older no lock model, no mim etc. After a few years and checking out maybe 50+ examples, I took home a 685 plus 2.5.
2 soeedloaders were easily sourced and I found some great leather for about s 35 bucks, made in turkey, excellent guy. 2.5 holsters aren't cheap or readily available (in my experience).
Like it enough it's replaced a governor in the nightstand.
It seems logical that if you only have to move the cylinder 51 degrees rather than 60 degrees, less trigger effort would be required given the same trigger travel.
scotty
Member
I have a 6" 686+ that I used in USPSA competition 20+ years ago until it got replaced with a 610. I used HKS speedloaders which were necessarily very thin between chambers and had a tendency to crack there and would not release rounds into the chambers. I had to keep a close eye on them and replace them as necessary. Other than that, it is a very nice gun. Accurate and reliable. For competition use, the 610 was better due to the moonclips and I could make major using .40 ammo.
Styx
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@LonesomePigeon So you seem to have purchased a 686. Which did you choose to go with?
LonesomePigeon
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Hi Styx. Yes I did! I got the 6 shot version. I chose the 6 shot partly because it seemed more traditional and partly because that was what they had at my local gun shop. So I was able to inspect the firearm before purchase and I was able to support a local business. Let me see if I can post a pic.
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CajunBass
Member
IF I was going to get a 686, I'd look for a six shot one. I have a weird reason for that. I'm one of those anal people who only loads five rounds at the range. A box of cartridges is 50 rounds. Ten rows of five. Nice, neat, and "just right" for my mild OCD. I can load 5, close up with an empty under the hammer, and I'm ready to go. Works with 100 round reload boxes too.
I did look at a 4" 686 "7 shooter" yesterday and must admit that I thought it was pretty nice, but there's that extra round.
I did look at a 4" 686 "7 shooter" yesterday and must admit that I thought it was pretty nice, but there's that extra round.
Styx
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I prefer the extra round as I carry for self-defense purposes, and it would make zero sense to opt for less ammo in an already low capacity platform. Moon clips, speedstrip, and 3 or so IIRC companies offer speedloaders for 7 round cylinders.
It seems that no one has ever had an issue with the sandard 7 rounds in single stack 9mm's or 1911s or anything else for that matter. The Springfield Hellcat has an 11 round magazine, a lot of subcompacts have 13 round mags, the Glock 27 is a 9 rounder, it's 10+1 for 11 rounds total for all those who carry one in the chamber with a full 10 round mag, e.g., Sig P365, S&W Shield Plus, Glock 26.
I've never understood why no one ever has an issue or volunteers to have less capacity in anything else from rifles, shotguns, and semiautos because the capacity is an odd number. Their brain can handle shooting odd numbers and different capacities in different platforms and guns, but not when it comes to revolvers? I can fully understand and comprehend the logic behind wanting a 6 or 8 round cylinder if your revolver will be used for competitive shooting, or if you MUST have and only will use Safariland speed loaders. I can't wrap my brain around the other reason given though not that it matters.
No judgement, but I'm just generally curious lol.
I don't get it. 
It seems that no one has ever had an issue with the sandard 7 rounds in single stack 9mm's or 1911s or anything else for that matter. The Springfield Hellcat has an 11 round magazine, a lot of subcompacts have 13 round mags, the Glock 27 is a 9 rounder, it's 10+1 for 11 rounds total for all those who carry one in the chamber with a full 10 round mag, e.g., Sig P365, S&W Shield Plus, Glock 26.
I've never understood why no one ever has an issue or volunteers to have less capacity in anything else from rifles, shotguns, and semiautos because the capacity is an odd number. Their brain can handle shooting odd numbers and different capacities in different platforms and guns, but not when it comes to revolvers? I can fully understand and comprehend the logic behind wanting a 6 or 8 round cylinder if your revolver will be used for competitive shooting, or if you MUST have and only will use Safariland speed loaders. I can't wrap my brain around the other reason given though not that it matters.
No judgement, but I'm just generally curious lol.
Why couldn't you load 5 in a 686+ while at the range and still with an empty under the hammer? It's still the same difference, e.i, 5 shots and then an audible click. Lol
I don't get it.
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CajunBass
Member
I never said it made ANY sense did I?Why couldn't you load 5 in a 686+ while at the range and still with an empty under the hammer? It's still the same difference, e.i, 5 shots and then an audible click. Lol
FWIW, the first of the 7 shot 686s was the -4 variant and those were made for only a few years before the -5 came out. The -4+ is the most desirable among 686 enthusiasts because it still has the hammer mounted firing pin and no lock. The -5+ has no lock, but has a frame mounted firing pin. Some will argue that is better but I like the look of the firing pin on the hammer. I have a 2.5 inch and a 4 inch -4+. I rarely carry those due to their increasing value. So the 686 I carry is a -6+ with a 3 inch barrel. The 686 is my favorite 357 magnum revolver ever made.
Two -4+ guns
-6+ 3 inch
Two -4+ guns
-6+ 3 inch
Anchorite
Member
Trust your gut instinct. Stick with six. You’re used to six shots.
trackskippy
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I like the added round, its just my brain is so wired for 6 rounds in revolvers, that, when shooting where Im shooting quickly and theres a reload and carry on involved, Im dumping them a lot of times at 6 without thinking about it and finding loaded rounds in the piles with my empties when I scrounge my brass. If I were carrying my 686, and shooting it and constantly practicing with it every week, like the gun I carry, Im sure it wouldn't be an issue.I prefer the extra round as I carry for self-defense purposes, and it would make zero sense to opt for less ammo in an already low capacity platform. Moon clips, speedstrip, and 3 or so IIRC companies offer speedloaders for 7 round cylinders.
It seems that no one has ever had an issue with the sandard 7 rounds in single stack 9mm's or 1911s or anything else for that matter. The Springfield Hellcat has an 11 round magazine, a lot of subcompacts have 13 round mags, the Glock 27 is a 9 rounder, it's 10+1 for 11 rounds total for all those who carry one in the chamber with a full 10 round mag, e.g., Sig P365, S&W Shield Plus, Glock 26.
I've never understood why no one ever has an issue or volunteers to have less capacity in anything else from rifles, shotguns, and semiautos because the capacity is an odd number. Their brain can handle shooting odd numbers and different capacities in different platforms and guns, but not when it comes to revolvers? I can fully understand and comprehend the logic behind wanting a 6 or 8 round cylinder if your revolver will be used for competitive shooting, or if you MUST have and only will use Safariland speed loaders. I can't wrap my brain around the other reason given though not that it matters.
No judgement, but I'm just generally curious lol.
The issue with the speed loaders, at least for me is, that some are definitely better than others. Those that hold the rounds tight, with no or little movement, work best, and the more rounds you put in them, the more important that seems to become.
I have 7 round HKS speed loaders for my 686, and they work, but they are "sloppy", and I always found it a lot easier to reload my 6 shot 686 with a Safariland loader, than trying to jiggle the 7 rounds into the cylinder with the HKS. That added charge hole changes things and requires more precision from you too.
While I do like moonclips, I dont have a lot of experience with 357 moonclips. I had a Chappa Rhino that took them, and wasn't real wild about them. I have more experience with them in my 625 ad Governor using 45acp, and they seem to work better there than the longer 357's.
Of course, as with anything, whatever you use and practice with the most, youre going to figure things out and tend to be more on top of your game with them.
Styx
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You know there's a company named 5 Star Firearms who makes a more robust all aluminum speedloader for the 7 round L frames that has an action simular to Safariland's speedloader. They're only about $6 or so more.
As far as moonclips are concerned, I don't have much experience with them either, and I wouldn't trust them for EDC. I like them too, and they're probably the fastest way to reload, but I just don't trust carrying them each and every day without them getting bent. For competition and home defense use, they make more sense to me.
Yes, everything else is a training issue just as you stated. I have a question though that has come to mind via your response. I've never heard of anyone having the problem you describe with their "brain being hardwired for 6 rounds" mentioning that they had any difficulties while shooting the 5, 6, or even 8 round revolvers they own (J, K, and N frames). They only seem to have a problem and vocal complaint when it's 7 rounds, but 5, 6, and 8 seem to be okay which I also find weird. I've NEVER heard anyone not want to buy or like J-frames, K-frames, or N-frames, respectively, because they're use to a specific round count. If there was any consistency, then I could wrap my brain around this phenomenon.
What's your experience? Do you you pull the trigger an extra time on an empty casing while shooting J-frames, and do you extract 2 rounds while shooting N frames? Maybe you only own 6 shot revolvers?
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trackskippy
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The 686+ and a 620 are the only 7 shooters I have, and while they do get shot pretty regularly, they dont get shot as much as my 6 shooters.
The only time I find loaded rounds (that I wasnt expecting) mixed in with the brass is when Im shooting the 7 shooters. I dont know why, and Im just saying my brain must just be wired for 6, for a lack of any other reason. It doesnt happen every time either, but enough that there are usually a number of live rounds on the ground with the brass when Im done shooting.
When Im shooting my 642, I do usually do get a click on that "6th round", and I am aware of it. Im accustomed to shooting in at least pairs, and Im just used to quickly stroking the trigger. Maybe with the 7 shooters it is my subconscious counting and telling me its time to dump, or maybe it is more of an odd number thing and we are just conditioned to certain things in the way we shoot. I really dont remember shooting to a click with the 6 shooters.
I dont really remember hitting that "8th round" with the 7 shooters either, but Im thinking I must be doing it when I do shoot all 7. But none of it is a conscious thing when it happens either way.
The only time I find loaded rounds (that I wasnt expecting) mixed in with the brass is when Im shooting the 7 shooters. I dont know why, and Im just saying my brain must just be wired for 6, for a lack of any other reason. It doesnt happen every time either, but enough that there are usually a number of live rounds on the ground with the brass when Im done shooting.
When Im shooting my 642, I do usually do get a click on that "6th round", and I am aware of it. Im accustomed to shooting in at least pairs, and Im just used to quickly stroking the trigger. Maybe with the 7 shooters it is my subconscious counting and telling me its time to dump, or maybe it is more of an odd number thing and we are just conditioned to certain things in the way we shoot. I really dont remember shooting to a click with the 6 shooters.
I dont really remember hitting that "8th round" with the 7 shooters either, but Im thinking I must be doing it when I do shoot all 7. But none of it is a conscious thing when it happens either way.
Jim Watson
Member
I had a Plus. It was soon obsoleted for USPSA by the eight shooters, I could not make a sale or trade, so I paid S&W to put in a six shot cylinder and hand for IDPA.
With regards to speedloaders for the 7 shot guns one must note that there is a copy of the SL Variant German speedloader being made now in the Orient. See below:
www.slvariant.com
L-272 (7-Shot / L-Frame /.38SPL / .357MAG)
This one holds 7 rounds of .38/.357 ammo. Fit 7 shot revolver (S&W L-Frame, 686; /Taurus 617, 817, 827, 66). *Please Note: this model is a precise REPLICA of S.L. Variant Speedloader. *Please Note: Extension Grip Adapter and Holster are not included. *Please Note: We do not assume any liability...
www.slvariant.com
