I'm looking to get a Model 686 Plus at some point in the next 6 months or so but I'm have a hard time choosing between a 4in and 6in barrel. It will be my first modern revolver with my previous experience (revolver wise) being with cap and ball. I'm wanting a general purpose weapon, something I can really on in the deep woods and carry during the colder months.

Basically what I'm getting at is does the 4in barrel really suffer enough of a decrease in accuracy/velocity to make the 6in worth the extra heft/length?

Also how do the modern weapons compare to cap and ball accuracy wise? On an good day I can get 3 inch groups constantly at 25 feet with my 1858 Remington.

Thanks

Jake

A 4 inch gun is easier to wield and far better for SD. As far as the woods goes, there's nothing a .357 will drop with a 6" barrel that a 4" barrel won't. As for accuracy, it will shoot as well as you can.

I don't know about accuracy but I bet it won't take you long to figger out that a new fangled cartridge gun is faster to reload than a cap and ball and smokeless powder is not as messy as black. Larry

Welcome to the Forum. Concur with the 4" choice, reasonably easy to carry/conceal with the proper holster.

If you are referring to 3" six-shot groups with your Remington at 25 feet, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how a 686 shoots. If you are used to recoil I would guess 1-2" groups would be the norm at 8 yards, even with full-power loads.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Great stuff guys, that's what I was wanting to hear. Knew I came here for a reason! I normally carry a CZ-82 for CCW but I'm to sure about the 9x18mm for making though winter clothes in the colder months and I know it's won't do much good in the back country. Been wanting a .357 for awhile anyway and I reckon you can't do much better then a Smith.

I suggest the 4 inch barrel it is short enough to carry comfortably but it can still get the job done if you have to use the revolver for self defense.

The 4", 6-shot, 686 is THE all-purpose revolver.

A 6" isn't allowed in some games.

As said above, a 6" isn't that much different energy-wise to make a large practical difference - a caliber difference is required for that.

Better balance. Better wielding. More conceilable. Less weight.

The 7-shot version is in no-man's land. If capacity is a concern get an 8-shot, and if it's a real concern get an auto. It's useless in the most popular games. It won't make a perceivable difference at the range. If you need the extra shot for hunting you shouldn't be hunting. ;-) Speedloaders and moonclips are readily available should you wish.

The 6-shot makes a much better all-purpose gun.

6-shot, 4" bbl S&W 686 is the all-purpose revolver!

I agree with gr7070 concrning the 7 shooter. However, because that single extra round is quite popular you'll find it very difficult to find a new 6 shot 686 unless it's the 686 SSR. In your place I would be looking for a used 6 shooter in good condition, you'll not only save about 100 dollars you'll also find them much easier to find on the used market.

I'll also agree with the recomendation for a 4 inch barrel. Something that is rarely mentioned is that handguns with longer barrel require a higher degree of recoil management skills than handguns with shorter barrels. I have one long barreled revolver, a 6 1/2 inch 610 and it took me a full 2 years of steady practice to gain the skill to shoot it as accurately as my 4 inch revolvers. That extra 2 inches of barrel not only increases the sight radius but also increases the demand for more consistent recoil management to keep from "throwing" shots. Finally, longer barrels will deflect more when a bullet transits them, it's a consequence of the additional length. That makes longer barrels more sensitive to ammunition variables and the "wrong" load can shoot pretty darned poorly.

So, what's all this mean. In means that the sole REAL advantage to a longer barrel is the increase in sight radius, additional mass, and slight increase in velocity. IMO that increase in accuracy is actually a myth. I also believe that if you have an "average" shooter try both a 4 and 6 inch barrel in a parallel test you'll find that they'll generally shoot the shorter barrel just a bit more accurately in slow fire and a lot more accurately in rapid fire.