Well, I was at the LGS today and they had a 686 6" six-shooter on consignment today. Late model, lock and all that. I checked it out very carefully and the barrel seemed to be on straight, the trigger and action felt good, and the barrel was pristine. So I put my dough down. I know that a lot of the fellows like the 686+ 7 shooters, but this one looked awfully good and it was a LOT cheaper.

Anyway, comments on the 686 six-shooter are welcome. Can't pick it up until early July (Commiefornia) but please sound off.

__________________
Army veteran, NRA Life Member

Count me among the 6 shooter crowd for my range revolvers. What 'dash' number are we talking about here? Mine's a 6", too. Sounds darn good. If it's in the shape you describe, I'd buy it, too.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I have a 686 six shot and it is a keeper. Six shots bothers me not at all. Truth is I am OK with 5.

Congratulations on the 686, you'll enjoy it.

My 686 6" is my all time favorite handgun
IMO you will never be sorry you picked that up
It's very easy and rewarding to shoot
One of S&W's finest creations

I prefer the six shot models as well. Bought one just like it a few years back and found it very accurate indeed. Used as a competition IHMSA Field Pistol revolver for about a year and shot better scores than anything used previously. (Retired it when I found a 625 .45 Colt that shot even better with less recoil.)

The 686 is just one of those basic guns that you can't go wrong owning. All 7 shots does is leave you with an odd number of rounds left over out of a box of 50. It's not like you're going to need that 7th shot to take down a stubborn whitetail (and if you do, we need to have a different conversation).

Congratulations on a nice acquisition.

Congrats. I don't own one myself but I have never heard anyone say they regret buying a 686 whether it is 6 or 7 shot.

I am always fascinated when folks from the more restrictive States mention the conditions under which they have to live for gun purchases. I know it is off topic but I never realized that so many States have such restrictive laws. We used to have to wait 2 days for a "cooling off" period but even that went away this year here in WI. Waiting until July for a May purchase seems inconceivable to me.

Nothing wrong with a 6 shooter. If you can't hit it with 6 rounds a seventh isn't gonna help you none.

Yes, I am sure that I will enjoy the 6" 686. It'll be fun to take it and my 4" to the range and see which one I shoot better. I am a sucker for 6" revolvers, hence my love for my 617 6"

This one has the lock, so I think it is the newest version. All the "dash" designations are completely baffling to me.

Here in Democrat-occupied California a consignment gun cannot be sold for 30 days so that the Government can verify that it is not stolen. (Never mind the law's presumption, under the Evidence Code, that the possessor of personal property is the owner.) Then, after that, there is a ten day waiting period. The California Government simply hates gun owners and guns and wants to make it as much of a hassle as possible to buy and own guns.

Anyway, I agree that a 686 is never a bad purchase and here the price was right and the gun looked good. Range Report when I finally get it to the range.

__________________
Army veteran, NRA Life Member

The "hot" set up for the most popular revolver friendly matches here is a 6 shot 6" FL 686 with an action job and machined for full moon clips. To keep the matches revolver friendly the rule is never more than 6 can be loaded in any gun. A 7th chamber has to be aligned behind the barrel slowing reloads. .45s are a hair faster to reload because their moon clips can be tossed in but their longer trigger reach reduces leverage on the DA trigger and .38 spit wad loads recoil less. Cases shorter than .38 special are favored for faster reloads.

As previously alluded to a deer is going to bound off a long way before you get off a third accurately aimed shot.

In Washington pawn shops have to hold items for 30 days before they can sell them but gun shops that do not have a pawn license can resell guns the same day they take them in. The 30 days is not a cooling off period. It is intended to help fight theft. If we have a concealed pistol license and are not delayed by the FBI's back ground check we can take a pistol home the same day.

I look forward to the right time to sneak a 686 past the Gestapo.

God made the earth in SIX days and rested.

Sam Colt made the SIX shooter and rested.

ANY more than SIX is unrest

OK, we need a 686 picture here! So here is my 686-3. They shoot quite well! Bob

Attached Images

	six inch 005.jpg (152.8 KB, 42 views)
	six inch 009.jpg (161.2 KB, 50 views)

I just picked up a new S&W 686 7-shot in Stainless w/ 4" barrel for $755 off of Gunbroker (which is a lot cheaper than what my two Pythons cost me). Also cheaper than the 686's I've seen locally around here in gun shops.

I've heard tell that the 686's actions are as smooth if not better than the Pythons'. We'll see, it should be here in a couple more days.

I hope you set her down on those rocks very gently bananaman. That's a very nice looking 686.

OP, you will find the 686 is a good choice in revolvers. You will have to post a picture when you pick it up!

Nice 686 there Bob... I will add to the 686 pics --- Below is my 6" 686-3...

I bought this one new in 1989 while I was attending USAF UPT at Williams AFB, Arizona. It is still in the inventory.

Edmo

__________________
TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

Bought my 6" about 20 years ago. My gun club has a max. 5 rounds loaded rule, so my 6 is fine. I only shoot .38 specials in it (20 rounds most days). Also shoot .22s in my model 617 and model 41.

I did! All of my 6" guns had their pictures taken there. It was a 1 time thing. It made me more nervous on the blue guns! Bob

I'm on the verge of picking up a 686 as well so that my 617 has a big brother. Thinking about the 7 shot Plus and thought if I shoot 7x7 for 49 rounds out of each box with 1 round left over...after 50 boxes it would be like getting one box free.