I have been wanting a S&W .357 for a very long time but for the past few years every extra cent I have scraped together has gone to the kiddos for some reason or another. Out of the blue last night my wife says to me you should get that revolver you wanted. After I got over the giddiness the dilemma hit me.

For the longest time I have been going back and forth between the 686 SSR and the 686 Plus 4".

- I do mostly target shooting
- I also want something I can pack on a day hike.
- I don't need a concealed carry I already have a 442.
- I have a concern about the finish of the SSR I hear it is hard to clean
- I also wonder if the SSR has enough weight behind it to absorb the recoil of full load .357. I am not afraid of recoil but I don't want a sore hand at the end of the day either.

So if you guys could give me your 2 cents which would buy?

I also know there are a lot of other options out there like the 627 and 629 but I really have my mind made up on either the SSR or 686 plus 4".

I vote for the ssr cuz its set up for competition and I like the aesthetics better, including the stocks.

+1 on the SSR. Finish isn't difficult to clean. Just a matte stainless finish. I also like the aesthetics of it over the plain 686.

My vote is for the 686+. I have a 686+-6 in 4" and am absolutely in love with that gun. I personally prefer the full underlug and find 686+ to have a classier look and feel than the SSR’s slanted underlug.

Now, I have never shot an SSR but my 686+ is dead accurate at the range. It handles everything and recoil with my camping/outdoors load (Buffalo Bore .357 Magnum 180 grain LFNGC) is brisk but manageable. It was my first revolver and I feel it provides everything I would want in a wheel-gun both aesthetically and performance-wise (with the exception of the IL which no longer resides anywhere near my 686).

In the end, I don’t think the extra round really matters that much to most, but I like it. I’d also imagine it would help with the resale value of the gun. Also, the 686+ is about $100 cheaper if money is an issue. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Edit:
According to the S&W website, the SSR weighs 38.3oz and the 686+ weights 38.9 so no real difference.

Can't comment on the SSR, but 4" 686+ is a superb handgun. Accurate, reliable, smooth DA pull, SA is a target trigger. Nothing not to like.

I have a 686+ with a 4" barrel, and it is accurate and well balanced. The 7 chamber cylinder has the locking cutouts between chambers rather than over the thinnest part as in the 6 shot models. It is slightly more barrel heavy than the SSR, but some matches don't allow 7 shot revolvers. I'm not a big fan of full-length lugs, but it looks better proportioned at 4" than 6". The trigger is smooth, but on the heavy side for DA. SA is ... there aren't words to describe it. I just loaded 500 magnum rounds, which won't last long.

I've handled the SSR at Cabelas. It is highly refined and well balanced for carry. In particular, it is basically a Performance Center revolver, and the trigger has definitely been to charm school at S&W. The street price is about $100 more than the 686+, if that means anything. I really like the sleek lines of this gun. It's like a 627 that fits a normal sized hand perfectly. If I'd seen it a month earlier, I would have jumped for it.

To sum up, each has its virtues, and neither has anything really against it. It might boil down to 7 rounds vs a $100 trigger job and 21st century lines. Whichever one you pick is a winner.

Both come with rubber Hogue monogrips, which I don't like very well - too narrow and sticky. I put on a set of Ahrends Tactical grips within a week, and haven't looked back.

I have both except in 6 rounds. Both handle well, and look nice, the finish on the 686 will put up with going in and out of the holster better than the SSR.



If you think you may get into compitions many wont let you have 7 rounds.
If you or your wife are going to grab it for home defense I would go for the extra round.

On looks alone I like the SSR

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

I have two 686+ 4" guns, one a dash 4 and the other a dash 6. I'm absolutely sold on both of them. I shoot nothing but hot magnum loads, which they handle without issues. Recoil is easily manageable. Accuracy is superb, which isn't even necessary for these guns since they are strictly home defense weapons.

I'm sure that the SSR is a fine gun also, but I don't own one so I can't speak from experience. I don't like the looks of them, and so for that reason don't plan to ever buy one.

Let us know what you decide and how it goes for you.
Andy

The SSR handles better for me.

Besides, I'm a Luddite. Revolvers are meant to only hold six cartridges.

Thank you all for your input! I was unaware of not allowing 7 shots in competition. There really aren't any competitions around me (I live in Upstate NY) but if one where to come up I would like to have that option.

@bryan87 thanks for the info on the weight. I should have looked that up and not just gone by how it felt.

@roundgunner I like the looks of the ssr better but the finish is what worries me. Do you have trouble cleaning the carbon off at all? Does the bead blast finish show scratches more than other finishes? Since you have both the 686 and the 686 ssr is there one that you prefer to shoot for a regular range day.

Thank you all for your input! I was unaware of not allowing 7 shots in competition. There really aren't any competitions around me (I live in Upstate NY) but if one where to come up I would like to have that option.

@bryan87 thanks for the info on the weight. I should have looked that up and not just gone by how it felt.

@roundgunner I like the looks of the ssr better but the finish is what worries me. Do you have trouble cleaning the carbon off at all? Does the bead blast finish show scratches more than other finishes? Since you have both the 686 and the 686 ssr is there one that you prefer to shoot for a regular range day.

The finish to me seems to show scratches a bit more but, the carbon seems to wipe off just as easy as it does the regular finish. Though I've been leaving my SSR "dirty" because for some reason a dirty revolver just looks "good".

The 686 plus will be my next purchase. My LGS said they could get it for $695 + tax. I think that is a fair price no?? After that I think I'm good on guns for a while.

With any desire to play games I wouldn't consider the 7-shot.

Check this out for IDPA clubs near you.
International Defensive Pistol Association - Affiliated Club Contact Information

Dannemora is Upstate I believe. Is Sarasota? Star Lake sounds like Upstate ;-).

Contact NY's area coordinator:
International Defensive Pistol Association - Area Coordinator Contact Information

Go with 6! I see the 7-shot S&W as a no man's land gun. The extra round really doesn't provide much. It doesn't help in hunting - time to quit hunting if it does. It doesn't help at the range - you'll never notice the difference in a session. It effectively voids a gun from competiton - rules may allow them, but are hindered greatly. And if capacity is really that important get a S&W 627 or an auto with true capacity.

Personally, I just don't see why the 7-shot is ever purchased.

I'd get the one you like best. I doubt cleaning one is a big enough issue to override your preference.

Personally I like the 6-shot base model 686. I'm not a huge fan of the sloped bbl profile. Go with the one you like.

Thanks I got a few chuckles out of that. If ever need more than 6 to hit a target its time to put down the gun or move closer. Definitively hope I never need more than 6 hunting because that means I am in trouble.

I was looking at the 7 just for the mere fact its just a little different but now knowing it would keep me from playing with others than that little difference isn't worth it.

LOL I understand the way you think but I had drill instructors that beat that idea out of me. Now I keep everything as clean as possible.

Thanks for the links, There is one near me I am going to look into there IDPA class.

Another link for you.

Episode 20 – Shooting your first IDPA match « PowerFactor Show

i had a SSR, but sold it to get a 686+ 2.5".

I got over the SSR look and really wanted a more traditional looking pistol. The trigger on my 686+ is actually better than the ssr was. I prefer the standard brushed steel finish over the SSR finish.

686+ Pros: I LOVE the 2.5" barrel, not worrying about scratching it, the 7-shot cylinder, and the trigger

Cons: none for me

No contest

I compete using a Kydex holster as they are faster. It scratches any gun but, with a regular finish you can polish it out. With the bead blast finish, not so much.

I take any carbon off all my stainless guns with a light rub of a polish rag.

To me the feel while trying to shoot fast is the same, while doing a more easy pace the SSR has a bit better trigger. However, I have redone both triggers and springs so you can't really use anything as a base line to judge.

Sorry I can't be more help but as many have said, the biggest thing is looks.

Good luck.

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Warren

I prefer the regular finish as well. I also have kydex holsters.

I would guess the finish on the SSR is similar to my 627-PC??? If so, the SSR's cylinder is not bead-blasted. My kydex holsters (Comp-Tac) apply their retention on the cylinder only. Therefore, the bead-blasted surfaces are not affected by the holster.

My holster (Blade Tech) scratches the first inch or so of barrel too.

I Like my guns very clean so I polished the cylinder on my 627 to make it easier to clean.

__________________
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Warren

Sir,

Your reasoning here is generally sound, but let me tell you about my situation.

My 686+s are my home defense guns. For various reasons often set forth on this forum, I prefer revolvers to semi-autos, but mainly because: a)I have to reload to be able to afford to practice; and b)I'm partly disabled(must use crutches to walk) and therefore can't stoop to gather up the brass at the range after it has been ejected from a semi-auto. The Plus models give me one extra round which could conceivably make the difference between life and death in a home defense incident(though of course I pray that I'll never have to find out). I have just one less round than a 627, which I considered getting but which was far more expensive and harder to find, at least at the time. Since I was advised by police officers to get two guns in the event that an incident occurred and police needed to take one of them for their investigation, two 627s would have been prohibitively expensive.

There are no shooting competitions held anywhere near this area, and my disability would likely prohibit me from participating anyway. Consequently that isn't an issue for me.

There are one or two other minor advantages for me to having the 7-round models, but the above is the main one.

Respectfully,
Andy

Sounds perfectly reasonable! There's exceptions to most things.

One 7-shot (or two) is way better than no-shots, and people here do buy 'em like crazy. Regardless, any 686 is a great gun.

The carbon comes right off with one of the little green pot scrubber pads sold in grocery stores with a little Hoppes #9 and GENTLE polishing. My buddy uses a fine brass brush on the front of the cylinder on his SS guns, again gently polishing action.

Hate to say it, but with either gun your hand will be sore after extended shooting with full power 357 magnum loads. That's just the dilemma with the 357. A gun light enough to carry is not so good for extended shooting. I found this to be true with my own 4" 686. I have a 6" 686 and also a 6" GP100. Both are much better to shoot because of the added weight (plus added accuracy). If you are going to shoot a 4" 357 alot, be sure to try Hogue rubber grips.
As far as finish goes, I have a fuzz-finish, bead blasted gun like the SSR (mine is the 625) and it is not hard to clean at all. However, the advantage of the brushed finish over bead blast is that minor scratches can be readily polished out. I have done so several times. You can't polish the bead blasted finish.

OP, IDPA limits revolvers to 4" max bbl length, FYI.

My vote - same price as the 686SSR - was the 627 Pro. I don't compete, other than to embarrass myself on the Steel Plate Challenge. Locally, round count doesn't matter - 5, 6, 7, 8 even a 10 shot 617 are fine. Two major classes - revolver or semi-auto - now separated to cf/rf, too. As the quintessential plinker, the 4" 627 Pro was/is ideal. Decent trigger, moonclip-ready, spring-loaded front sight, eased charge holes, etc.



I bought my 627 Pro 5/08 - added the HiViz sight, a .25" Classic/DX style spring held, immediately. My favorite grip was an Ahrends retro target non-fg in cocobolo - until I took a chance and ordered another JM-style, a la my 625JM - great fast grab. I didn't like the gritty sides of the 686SSR - and love the extra two rounds. Of course, I don't compete - so the round count didn't have to stop at 6. YMMV.

Stainz

What did you use to polish that cylinder? I am assuming the cylinder was bead blasted at one time?

Do/did they make bead blasted cylinders? I haven't seen any, but I'm definitely not that familiar with past offerings nor their entire current catalog.

My 627-PC is bead blasted, but the (unfluted) cylinder is not.

This is what it looked like before.



I used a small buffing wheel with Mothers polish. It is really much better to clean like this if you have to have it clean.



I wish I could buff out the ugly mark above the thumb latch.

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

I have the 686 in SSR 6" and love it !
Very accurate and is a pleasure to shoot with all loads.



Ernie

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S&W .500 Magnums RULE !

I finally made a decision and put a deposit down today, I will be pick it up in a week or two. Thank you all for your great information it really helped in making my decision.

I went with the 686plus 5" barrel with unfluted cylinder. Its the Talo edition but I don't really care about that since I will be changing the grips anyways. This isn't the best pic but you get the idea.

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/...s2k/photo1.jpg



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