Over the past two years I have acquired 13 S&W revolvers. I am pretty content with my collection at the moment, but will no doubt add more revolvers in the future.

With the exception of some of my J Frames, all of my guns get shot regularly and often. I usually shoot at least once a week, and always bring two or three handguns with me. I usually put 100 rounds through each gun. J Frames usually only see 50 rounds in a session.

Here is how my collection breaks out.

J FRAMES:
317, M&P 340, 442, 638, 342PD, 337PD, 432PD

K FRAMES:
65 LADY SMITH

L FRAMES:
386PD, 386NG, 686PC 2.5”, 586 L COMP 3”

N FRAMES:
627 PC 2.6”

Thirteen sounds like a lot, but when I break it out in the list above it seems rather paltry to me, and looks like I have a lot of work to do.

It also seems clear that I like revolvers with short barrels. Not a single gun with a barrel over 3”. There is a reason for that. I carry all of the handguns I own. If I can't carry it concealed, most likely IWB, I am probably not going to buy it. I find it difficult and uncomfortable to carrying a revolver with a 4” barrel or longer.

(I do own a 4” Chiappa Rhino in 357, but I can carry it. The design of the Rhino is different from a traditional revolver and the action sits further back, so the 4” Rhino is the same length as my 3” S&Ws. This gun is so easy to shoot well, I cannot believe the groups I can produce with this gun. Literally consistent one-hole groups fired double action from 25 feet. If not one-hole groups, then definitely cloverleaf. It is actually an amazing gun and I recommend everyone here tries one at some point. You will be surprised and impressed.)

Back to the topic at hand. I actually have two favorite S&W revolvers: An overall favorite, and a carry favorite. My overall favorite is without question my 586 L Comp that has had the action done by the now retired Mike Carmoney. Even the most seasoned revolver shooters can’t help but smile when the pull the trigger on my L Comp. Everyone always says the same thing, “I have never felt anything like that”.



Imagine a double action trigger on a S&W revolver that breaks at 5 lbs. Hard to imagine right? Well this one does. It is really mind-blowing. I wish each and everyone of you could pull the trigger on this gun. It really is that amazing. The trigger is so light and so smooth, it is really like stroking your finger through butter. It is so easy to shoot this gun well. It is not uncommon to put two or three bullets in a row in the same hole on the target.



I have set it up with my favorite sights (fiber optic front, black rear blade) and the perfect set of Ahrends grips. This gun carries very nicely IWB as well. But it is not my first choice for carry.



For some reason, I absolutely love to carry my 686 PC 2.5”. This gun is the workhorse of my stable. I shoot it the most and carry it the most. I know the Performance Center has been turning out some turds lately. Canted barrels, poor timing, missing ball and detents, and so on. But this one was done perfectly. The trigger is fantastic for a factory trigger. It stages and releases perfectly. Not at all heavy, but not that light either. Just about perfect for a carry gun.



The timing is absolutely perfect on this gun. It is the best timed gun I own. It is on the heavy side at 38ozs loaded, but it feels just right. It balances perfectly in my hand, and is heavy enough to come back on target quickly after each shot. The recoil, with 357s, is totally manageable because of the weight.

With a good holster and carry belt, I don’t even realize I am carrying it all day. And I live in South Florida and wear shorts and a t shirt every single day of the year. IWB in the 4 o’clock position it hugs perfectly to the curves of my hip and lower back and disappears on my body. I have as many semi-autos as I have revolvers and this is hands-down the most comfortable decent sized gun for me to carry.



I have a 386NG and a 386PD which are exactly the same dimensions as my 686PC, except they are much lighter. The 386PD is half the weight of the 686PC! It would make sense to carry one of those over the 686 right? Not for me. With a proper holster and belt, the extra weight makes no difference at all. I can't tell the difference between the three guns once they are in the holster on my hip.

Further, I simply shoot the 686PC better. The extra weight means less recoil and I get back on target much faster. Which is exactly what I want in a defensive gun.

I can also shoot the lights out with this gun. I can consistently produce tiny group after tiny group. It is a fantastic shooter. It has incredible inherent accuracy. Don’t let the short barrels fool you on these snub 357s, they shoot as well as the 4” guns in terms of accuracy.

The weight, the balance, and the timing of the 686PC all come together in perfect harmony. If I could only have one, this would be it.

Alright Harris you had to get me going, I have to say the revolvers I carry in their own little rotation are the k frames here they are, These are my favorites and the 38 special is my favorite round. The 15's and the 12's aremy favorites.
Enjoy Pete

Very nice L frames!

It is amazing how a good belt and holster help with carrying heavier guns. The "shootability" of the heavier guns is one reason I tend to carry my 4516 over the aluminum version and why I haven't sprung for a model 12 to use in place of my 64 snub...yet.

That being said I do understand why some people opt for the lighter guns for carry, like my Dad who has a bad back and needs the same great holster and the lighter guns to be able to carry.

HarrishMasher= New School

howiema= Old School

I love both styles!

Me too for sure!

Well my favorites are a couple I don't have & maybe never will.
They are the .48-44 Heavy Duty 4 or 5" bbl & the old S&W Tripple Lock 4" .44 Special. These guns just drip quality & would require a pretty healthy pocketbook to aquire.

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US RIDE FOR THE BRAND OR LEAVE

Very nice HarrishMasher. And nice pics too!

Here's my favorite. Posted here before, but what the heck.
Md. 681.

For me it`s a 4" 686.
Jim

Without question, this 625-2

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"Shall not be infringed"

I'm an old-timer, blued gun kind of a guy. I think you should pursue your short barrel quest for 36, 37,40,42,38,10,12,15,13, 19, and a big old honkin' 3.5" 27.

One N-frame in your collection?!? Just one?!? For shame... For shame...

I like your list, but you left out the Md. 49. Maybe just an oversight, huh?

My cc most days is the S&W Model 66 or my Model 19. Both are 4" barrels and shoot VERY accurately !!! Don't get mad guys but I switch out now & then with a couple of old Colt Mark III Troopers I own that also shoot like you woulnd't believe........guess I just the love the old 357's....always have & always will

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Need more k frames.
Much like more cowbell you can never have enough k frames.

I choose my Model 15-3


But a close second 625-8

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Life is good!

Time to get a big bore, and no better place to start than a 3" 629.

I can't pick a "favorite." Its impossible!

My fav S&W is the one I happen to have in hand at the time... LOL. and that ain't a joke

Favorite: A 2" SB 10-5 that my grandfather left for me. Shipped in 1964. It's condition is 99.something %. It spent it's life under his mattress. My first Smith revolver, and a nice way to start an addiction.

Most useful: My 60-15 .357.

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Because of the metric system?

I'm confused...you want me to pick JUST ONE?!

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-T

I only have a few revolvers, and I can't pick a favorite. If someone put a <cough> gun <cough> to my head and demanded an answer, I'd probably say it's my 686+ 2.5". (latest revision, I don't recall the dash number) A 686 was my on wish list for a long time.

One thing is for certain, excluding how my 638 kicks like a mule, I now love all of my revolvers more than my semi-autos. And I think I enjoy them in DA a lot more than SA.

My favorite S&W revolver model is the 681. I have a "no dash" and a "-3" in my safe. It's a "no drama" gun. You can shoot all of the magnums you want through it, and it's highly corrosion resistant. Runner-up is my 16-3 that was made for a LE contract as a .38 Special "Combat Masterpiece. It has a factory trigger stop, and it's previous owner "shot it smooth" for me. It's easy to shoot tight groups with this gun.

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10,13,15,64,66,351,640,681

That would be the 686. I don't try to use it for carry, but it works darn well for everything else.

PS: Speaking of triggers, mine is so nice I don't want an action job because it might mess it up. Seriously.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

My favorite is a 610 no dash 5 inch 10mm with VZ grips

66-2 4 inch barrel;just fun to shoot
686 3 inch barrel; what's not to like.
Seriously looking at a 640 pro to replace my current EDC

No photos on this computer yet but my favorite Smith is a 66-2 2.5" with Ahrends grips & carried in a R. Grizzle, Georgia Snap II Holster with Cor Bon's 125grain mid range loading of the 357 at 1225fps. Win. win. win situation, for me, anyway!

Favorite ? Very simple. 3" heavy barrel Model 10-8 and/or Model 64-3. I just got a 64-3 and I am beginning to favor the easy care of the stainless. But, either will do (and now I have both !.....happy happy, joy joy).

Loeman, oops on the Model 49. It definitely should have been included on my list of classic S&W snubbies.

My favorite is my first revolver that I bought for myself when I graduated from college. A mint condition 586-3 4" and ironically enough I paid $586 for it after shipping and transfer fee. It came with ugly plastic grips so I bought a really nice pair of targets for it. Couldn't be more happy with it. The only down side is that it came with a collectors bug. I keep buying smith revolvers haha!

Favorite s&w revolver? Can you handle the truth?
Ok any s&w "N" frame, any caliber, with a 4", 5", 6", 6 1/2" & 8 3/8" barrel. Nickel is my first choice, blue is my second choice. Stainless is ok but not desired. Someday stainless will be the only finish that's offered.
Nickel finish guns are manufactured in less numbers they will be more rare.

The s&w N Frame is a BFR for sure. BIG FREAKING REVOLVER.