Hello,
I am contemplating an affordable (in relative terms) S&W revolver.

I will rarely if ever shoot .357 mags out of it, so its not that much of a plus to a 686.
I will mostly shoot handloaded 148 HBWC rounds in .38special at paper

I was originally set on a 6" 686.
Then I heard all of the praise on the original K38s and I want one, but I dont like buying used guns. I would like the model 14 "classic" but im wondering 3 things:

With the 148grn HBWC in .38 special, whats more accurate?
686 6"
model 14 6"
Also, hows the repro model 14 compare to the original in regards to function/accuracy?


Thanks!
GlennP

You don't like buying used guns and I don't buy new guns.
I have bought a lot of used guns in my life and never got a
bad one. If the gun looks really nice on the outside then
there is a real good chance it's good on the inside.
I think you would have more fun and shoot better with a
model 14. They are known for their accuracy. In fact they
have been used in competition. Don

__________________
"Don't worry be happy"

So the new ones are up to par with the "old" ones in terms of accuracy?

I would guess they will shoot as well as the old ones do.

Welcome to the forum.

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

The new one is twice the cost of a pristine used one, the new one has the IL and from the picture on S&W's site does not have target grips, pinned barrel, or case colored hammer and trigger.

I would not call them up to par with the older ones but they seem like they might be OK.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I heard they shot well I think on this forum. I have never shot the one I bought and do not plan to. Wish I could be of more help. Never have shot a bad shooting Model 14.

That said, I saw a young man at the range a couple of years ago or so dancing a tennis ball around on the ground using double action with a 686 one day..........

If you're a purist and the aesthetics of the newer Smiths offend you, then go out and look for a used Model 14 in good condition. If, on the other hand, you're unconcerned about some of the things our members like to rant about (lock, unpinned barrels, MIM internal parts spring to mind), then the Classic 14 might be worth taking a look at.

I own a 686, a -6, complete with lock, unpinned barrel, and MIM internals. It would shoot the wings off gnats at 25 yards if I could only hold it steady enough. I have a friend who owns an older model 14. It also would shoot the wings off gnats at 25 yards if I could only hold it steady enough. Bottom line, the older Smiths and the newer ones all perform exceptionally well.

And, just to tip my hand: at the moment I'm lusting after a "Classic" Model 22. I know, unpinned barrel, lock, MIM internals, yadda yadda, but it also is exactly what I'm looking for, a 4" fixed sight .45 ACP revolver. So, I'll buy it when I can get the cash together.

I'm looking for a shooter.
Accuracy is my 100% concern. I dont care if it has the lawyer lock etc, if it shoots it shoots. Looks are nice, I do prefer the classic looks but it isnt a main concern. I like to buy new, I dont like not knowing the entire history of a firearm (and theres barely anything used local to find...im in NJ. Ide have to gunbroker one)

So basically the reduced version of my original question:
Whats more accurate out of the box?
The repro model 14
original model 14
686
all 6" barrels

The 14 has a little bit on the 686 without having to do the jump from cylinder to barrel. Other wise the weight of the 686 is better, but some have problems because it is to heavy to hold up. The 14 is a great gun easy to screw up the bluing than the stainless of the 686. I have both and love my 686, the 14 is in the safe. You need to hold both and own both because one can do more than the other in its own way (HOPE THAT MAKES SENCE). Plus the kids and wife will like the weight of the 14, hope this helps in making up your mine. You are the only one that can do that, when the wife lets you .

You will find more accuracy difference between individual examples of both than you will comparing one model to the other.

I have even found a specific 14 that likes the 158 grains better than the 148 grains....think it was a full lug dash six.

ANY of the guns you mention will be far more accurate then you are....the 14 and 686 are fine guns...i shoot both...686 gives u the advantage of shooting 357 of course...nothing wrong whatsoever with a used or new guns...i have both and can see no differance in accuracy

I take very good care of my firearms, I love the look of a nice blued revolver. That said almost everything I have is stainless, so go figure. I would lean more to the 686 having used one in Bullseye. I like the extra weight, but for some that is to much for one handed shooting. I did use 148WC in 357 cases for awhile but couldn't see any difference between them and the 38 loaded ones. Other than needing a good chamber brush to clean the cylinder out with every now and then it gave me the option of always using magnums. If you want to stay with 38s' I have a line on a few new 686 38 special only guns.

Get a M14 (K-38 Masterpiece).

But, do not get one unless you are fully prepared to get a M17 (K-22 Masterpiece)...and spend the rest of your life looking for a companion M16 (K-32 Masterpiece).

They were named "Masterpiece" for good reason.

I have the Model 14 Classic and I'm very happy with it...very accurate and a lot of fun to shoot.

They are sort of habit forming. FWIW, I lent my machine rest to a friend at the range to check his new (Classic series) m-14 and m-22. His groups with the m-14 and 148 gr BB wadcutters were in the 1.5-2" range (he was shooting at 20 yards because the endless rain has turned the last five yards of the 25 yd berm into a swamp) with the 158 SWC doing as well or a little better.

As one gentleman mentioned earlier, gun to gun variation is liable to be greater than the difference between "old" and "new". I don't think you can go wrong either way.

Charles

Buff nailed it when he said you will find more variations among individual guns that you will find among models.

If you are really fussy, you may have to buy 3 or 4 before you find the 'perfect' one FOR YOU. This is not a bad thing.

FWIW, my 1953 [pre-14] Target Masterpiece is slightly less accurate than my later 14-2; both shoot considerably under 2" at 25 yards rested. [My somewhat worn Model 15 will outshoot either!] My two L frames [a 586 and a 686+] also differ; the one with the lock is more accurate with most loads. The 586 is just under 2" and the 686 is about 1.3" @ 25 yds, rested. Again, FWIW, my old pre-27 3.5" shoots as well with irons as the 686 with a scope. Who'd 'a thunk it? They all differ, in my experience.

Used are definitely less expensive. Be sure to carefully check out any used. There is checklist @ http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=1430

Buy a bunch of S&Ws and let the fun begin!!

Cheers,

Dyson