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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 02-27-2019, 07:49 AM
deerjw deerjw is offline
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I picked up a great looking 686 SSR at a local pawn shop for $600 OTD. On the fired bullet pack it shows a date of 2011 and the serial number is CSD5174. I’ve searched the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson 4th edition and I can’t find anything about the SSR. If I’m just missing it could someone provide a page number or some history of this 686 model?
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Old 02-27-2019, 11:16 AM
gnystrom gnystrom is offline
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It is a great gun that had special attention at the factory. Great looks, smooth trigger, protected crown on the muzzle, and a trigger stop. I owned one for years and only sold it because I am thinning out my gun collection and one of my customers really wanted to buy it from me. I think the $600 is what I sold mine for and both of us were happy.
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Old 02-27-2019, 12:27 PM
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This iteration is a Pro Series L-frame built around the specs for the IDPA Revolver Division / SSR Sub-division (hence its name).

It has the forward tapering ejector rod housing which lightens the muzzle end and makes transition between targets faster. The charge holes are chamfered and the custom Altamont grip forces a high hold.

Great gun fro general use or take it and use it as intended - at an IDPA match. SSR Sub-division must load using speed loaders, strips or singly. Power Factor is a mouse fart 105. Have fun.

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Old 02-27-2019, 01:28 PM
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This info taken from the 2014 product catalog.
4" L-frame is a great gun IMO. Great platform. Many uses. Built as a pro series.

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Old 02-27-2019, 08:45 PM
deerjw deerjw is offline
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Thanks for the information guys. I just wonder why it isn’t mentioned in the Smith and Wesson Standaed catalog?
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Old 03-25-2020, 12:30 AM
JIMLOU JIMLOU is offline
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I happened to have written the article the IDPA Tactical Journal chose to run with its announcement in 2005 of a division between SSR revolvers and Enhanced Service Revolvers (ESR), ie., moonclip guns. There's a world of difference between moonclip and non-moonclip revolvers.
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Old 03-25-2020, 10:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JIMLOU View Post
.... There's a world of difference between moonclip and non-moonclip revolvers.
Elaboration on this would be great!
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Old 03-25-2020, 10:48 AM
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Look at this

686 SSR and the Standard Catalog
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Old 03-25-2020, 12:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JIMLOU View Post
There's a world of difference between moonclip and non-moonclip revolvers.
Jim:

I think that's a pretty broad statement and only somewhat accurate when comparing guns within the rules of IDPA. Within those rules the ESR gun most often used is the 625. The SSR usually a K or L frame six-shot .38 or .357 - given that, the speed of loading the 625, via moon clips, is offset by the recoil generated with the 155 PF ammo required. The SSR guns, loaded via speed loaders, only have a PF of 105 so recoil is negligible and spits are faster.

People that buy the eight-shot revolvers and intend to use moon clips, based on experience gained with six-shot .45 ACP, are in for a rude awakening. Wit the .45 a slight wiggle in the clip actually facilitates quick loading - short, nose-heavy, round-nose cartridges practically load them selves. .38 Spl or .357 Mag are long cartridges (comparatively speaking) and trying to hit eight, closely spaced holes with wiggling cartridges is no easy task - especially when you are on the clock. Even a six-shot .38/.357 loaded with moon clips is far from easy without the proper clip/brass combo. Competitors that are using 8-shot 627's usually use .38 Long or Short Colt brass. The short 9 mm cartridge of the 929 is why it has become so popular.

Speed loaders used in competition for the six-shot .38/,357's usually hold the cartridges rigidly (no wiggle) and cover quite a bit of the body of the cartridge. Now you have a shorter protuberance, with no wiggle, with which to hit the six holes in the cylinder.

I have shot (and still do) both ESR and SSR subdivisions in IDPA, and shooting at my level (poor) I can shoot almost as fast in SSR as I can in ESR. The small time savings garnered by using one device over the other may be meaningful to an Expert or Master shooter, but below that, there are many other things that you can concentrate on to improve your scores (times).

Adios,

Pizza Bob
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