Hey all,

I just remembered a S&W that I ran across that I thought was one of the coolest revolvers I have ever seen or handled.

I had stopped at an out of the way, tiny, po-dunk shop that I thought wouldn't have a box of ammo let alone any decent firearms in stock. I started chatting with the owner and looking over his stuff and something caught my eye. It was one of those PC Briefcases. I had to check it out.

The guy got it out of the case and it was one of the 586 L-Comp revolvers from the Performance Center. Boy was it nice. I would've loved to take that baby home with me, but it was pretty pricey at the time and this was 6 or 8 years ago. I handled it for a while and left. The impression that PC revolver left on me stayed with me for a while. I just remembered it when reading through the thread about the 3 inch Model 66's. I think he also had one of those 3 inchers with the fiber optic sights on it. It was really nice too, but at the time if given the choice I would've taken the 586 L-Comp in a double heartbeat.

Anyone have one of those babies?

Nalajr

They're back in production again, though with the IL.

I think it would be a pretty good gun if it didn't have the compensated barrel. Don't really see any use for more than 1 hole in the barrel.

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~ S&WCA No.2159 ~

I've got a second generation 586 L-Comp (w/IL), bought it from a forum member a couple of years ago. I like it a lot, very nice gun, very accurate, terrific action. The port doesn't bother me because it actually works, the recoil pushes back rather than up, makes the gun must faster to shoot. I had the front edge of the cylinder broken just a bit to make it easier to holster and the charge holes chamfered a little more aggressively for faster loading. Also had the hammer and trigger bright polished and the gun parkerized since it had to be refinished anyway. I carry it regularly for field and woods work and occasionally on duty.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

I have one from the original issue, that supposedly saw some rough duty as an undercover detective's backup gun. Whoever it was, he sweated a lot, as there is pitting all over the grip frame.

I have thought about selling or trading it several times, but could never "pull the trigger". It's just a really neat, nicely balanced piece.

I'm ambivalent about the porting. I can't convince myself it really helps and the gun would look better with the sight on the end of the barrel, IMO. And I don't know what the deal was on the PC revolver night sights, they lasted about 15 minutes. I had a K-Comp as well, and both were stone dead before I bought the guns.

I love mine. I have had it for at least a decade now.



The single expansion chamber compensator that S&W some times refers to as a Power Port and others as the Carry Comp is quite effective at reducing muzzle climb. All anyone that is not convinced of this needs to do is shoot a 3" 586 or 686 next to the L-comp utilizing the same ammunition.

The revolvers are VERY accurate plus you have 7 rounds of 357 Magnum ammunition and the ability to use moon clips if you desire.



Whats not to like?

The issue with the sights is not that they go dead (take them into a dark room and look at them they are still glowing), the issue is that a vial of tritium small enough to fit into a standard width S&W front sight does not contain enough of the gas to generate a level of illumination that most folks can easily see. People that have very good night vision can barely make them out.

This is why the Night Guards are wearing the Ashley Big Dot front sight. It allows for a much larger tritium vial.

RufusG,
If your sights were truly dead get them replaced. They have a 10 year warranty.

Nice revolvers! A good friend has one like yours w/o the IL. It too is a very accurate piece. You are correct as that port does work like a champ, especially with magnums. Been bugging him for a couple of years to sell it to me and I have 1st shot if he does break down (doubtful). BTW his sights are dead as we did some night shoots with it. I'll tell him about the warranty as it didn't cross my mind. The muzzle flash from the port with SGD's in .357 mag was not bad as I was shooting my unported 4" 586 and they both lit up rather brightly when the rounds went off.

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V/R
Roger / SG

Thanks for the insight on the tritium sights. My PC Model 19, K Comp tritium sights have "expired" or just too dim for my old eyes to see...time to figure out what the best replacement should be...I am open for ideas.

Thanks,
Kurt

That is not entirely accurate. The XS front sight on the night guard series is the standard dot. The difference between the standard dot and big dot front sight is the size of the white outline around the vial. Trijicon is making the vials for the market and they are all pretty much the same size. For example, Trijicon sells vials to XS.

Here is my 586 L Comp PC version with 7-shots and an unfluted cylinder:

Wow, what a gun! Are those Badger grips?

I don't have one. Have been considering buying one. I like the same type port on my 3" PC 629, it works very well in reducing muzzle rise. Thanks for all the great pics, now the fire is lit again for an L-Comp....

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

I don't own a an L-Comp, but I do have a 586-4 with a three inch barrel. It is a great gun and the only three-inch L frame I own right now. It only holds six rounds, but is very accurate - like most L frames. I have been thinking about buying one of the current 7-shot 686 three inch guns. It is my favorite barrel length.

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+1

After discovering the 3" barreled .357's, I can't immagine how I'd like another length better. I've had both 4" and 2" and the 3's are just perfect IMHO. They offer the ideal compromise of shootability, handiness, and concealment.

The 586-L Comp was on my short list last week when I went to buy my first revolver in years (I had no revolvers at the time). After checking out the 586-L and the 60 Pro Series, the J-frame won out. But only by a narrow margin. I think that if I could only ever have one revolver again it would be one of those two.

Needed a birthday present for myself, and bought one a couple of days ago. Can't wait to take "her" out. Don't know how it is where "yall" are but ammo hard to come by here in the "Great Northwest", PDX, or Portland. Glad to see all of the positive comments.

Why settle for a M686 of current production when you could trade that standard old 3" M586-4 for this L-Comp....

If you are interested, I'd be up for a trade, the 3" M586-4 is a pretty skookum piece... just sayin!

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.............SmithNut

I picked up an L-Comp off an add here on the forum. Gun was used but mechanically sound and the price was about half of what I've seen them priced on GunBroker. Anyway, liked it the first time I shot it and it's become one of my favorite L-frames. The comp really does keep the muzzle down but doesn't reduce felt recoil much. That's OK with me as getting back on target is more important than what hits my palm.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

The more pics I see of these L-Comps the more I want one. They are such a great looking pistol.

I think it would make a great carry pistol too. Aside from the reloading edge, you'd be right there with any other carry gun these days. 7 rounds of 357mag speaks pretty darn forcefully.

I bet it would make helluva packing gun for woods bumming or as a go along piece when bow hunting wild hogs.

Thanks for the pics and info guys.

Anyone have pics with it in a carry rig?

Nalajr

Sorry to dig up an old forum. Where did you find one with an unfluted barrel? I haven't seen that before. I am in the market for one and an unfluted barrel IMHO makes this gun even better. These things must be pretty nice based on the price they are demanding on gunbroker- $1039. That is stout.

Great gun.

Calling a foul! Yours a 19 K-comp not a 586 L-comp.

Bought this one several years ago, later sold it to a friend, then bought it back when the opportunity presented itself. I don't plan on letting it go, again, anytime soon.

Interesting. My 586 L-Comp came with a Trijicon front night sight that is so tiny and dim I had TK Custom upgrade it to an XS regular dot (XS Item: SW-0004S-4).

My L-Comp is my primary carry gun. Positively the finest carry gun I've ever owned. Very accurate and very controllable using Remington 125 grain Golden Saber.



The one issue is using lead bullets. This I never do because of the comp. My solution? Another gun to practice with! Picked up a seven-shot 686 with a 2.5" barrel. Basically, the same handling characteristics but no worries with lead ammo. It's currently at the Performance Center for a Master Action Job and a tritium front sight.



Keith

Absolutely agree with your high praise of this weapon as a carry gun. In another thread I used the picture below to show via the moon clips how much narrower the L-Frame is than an N Frame 8-Shot.

Is your 686 or your L-Comp at the PC for sight and action job? What does the Perf Ctr charge and what was the turn around time? I had the exact same work done at TK Custom:

$90 for the XS regular dot sight, I believe around $35 for installation, $150 for the action job, $155 for round trip over-night insured shipping, and a very reasonable turn-around time with a little pre-ship coordination.

P.S. - The Remington Golden Sabre 38 +P mentioned by cprher is on clearance at MidwayUSA. - UPDATE - The 25 count $23.28 clearance sold out, but remains available at $26.99.

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The 686 is at the PC. I'm attempting to get both actions to feel the same, and asked them to attempt to do that in the letter of instruction I sent with the gun. The turn around time for me has been 2-3 months on average. I shipped this gun to them overnight on 16 July and have been told it will be in my hands on or about 16 Sep. That's a bit shorter than normal.

The cost for this work is $110 for the front sight installed, and $165 for the Master Revolver Action Package. With tax it comes to $288.

Keith

I got my 686-5 back from the Performance Center and it had several major issues. Most important, about half the time the gun in double action would rotate the cylinder, but not cock the hammer. The sloppy bolt fit to the cylinder notches had been addressed as had the end shake. But in the process of being worked on the cylinder had been scratched up pretty much all over. In addition, the action really was not any smoother than it was when I sent it in. I called Customer Service and spoke with Mark Rossini. He was a real gentleman and very professional. He understood my complaints immediately and sent me a FedEx return label. I asked if Gene could do the work for me, but Mark told me Gene was now retired. Apparently, one of the new guys had done the work on my gun and it had not been properly QC'd before it shipped. It goes back to the PC tomorrow and I've asked for a quick turn around.

I am sure you expect that they replace the cylinder too. Let us know how it turns out.

Performance Center is starting in some ways to merely mean luxury tax without as much behind it as their used to be.

This year I purchased my fourth and fifth Perf Ctr revolvers, and I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that PC purchases need to go to a master revolver smith shortly after purchase. As I mentioned previously, my own 586 L-Comp went to TK Custom, my 627 UDR is shipping back to me Sept. 22. My 586 L-Comp was delivered with almost a 13 lbs. trigger.

So when I was shopping a PC 929 two weeks ago, I immediately add about $300 - $400 to the cost of the gun depending on what I will have done and shipping. But at a minimum I'm getting polishing, fitting, and stoning of the contact parts to make it what it should of been before it ever left the S&W PC shop.

hi, does smith still sell this no-lock version of the 586 L-comp?

is the current one on their website identical to the no-lock version besides the lock...?

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308win, 357mag, that's all...

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looks like tungsten grey cerakoting...

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308win, 357mag, that's all...