I've done a lot of serious accuracy checking with the 2.5 686 and have come to the conclusion that it is just as accurate as any of the longer barrels. The problem is the short sight radius which makes it more difficult to shoot accurately at extended range. My 2.5 will shoot an inch at 25 yards from a good rest with either the superb Penn 158 SWC or their even greater 158 TC BUT it is harder to turn that intrinsic accuracy into practical accuracy from field positions than it would be if you were shooting a longer barrel.