I've had one for a very long time. I bought it for the barrel length and I liked the unfluted cylinder.

The stock grips were some of the worst designed things I have ever used. While they are very thin at the top, allowing for good reloads with a speed loader, they force a very low hold on the gun. I prefer to get up high, so those were swapped out for ahrends stocks and I never missed the originals.

The unfluted cylinder is pretty, but it adds a tiny bit more weight. Shooting in IDPA I find it a little harder to index the loader to the cyl without looking, but I'm not shooting for high score so it didn't bother me when I was using it.

Overall I think the 3" 686 is the perfect sized L frame, it just feels right in my hands and I am glad that I own it.