Howdy,

I'm interested in some opinions on my..... indecision.

One has to stay and one has to go simple as that.

681 VS 686
Both are no dash no(M)

The 686(good shooters grade) shoots true has some rounds threw her(has push off )

The 681 factory fired only, but has a buttery smooth trigger uncomparable to the 686 (weird).

Which would you keep and why?

I'm leaning towards keeping the 681 over the 686, just saying.

Thanks
Erik

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This is the way....

I say get rid of the 681, what do you want for it?

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-Matt

I would keep the 686 for sure. Adjustable sights and target stocks, easy decision for me.

Keep the 681 much harder to find than a 686.

The 686 has push off issues, so it needs work, while it sounds like the 681 is in excellent condition, and it's less common.

I'd keep the 681. You can get another 686 pretty much anywhere, but you'll regret selling a nice 681 as it will be much harder to replace.

"has push off" makes it easy for me. I'd keep the one that ain't broke. Besides, 681's are just cool.

Dan

I’d keep the 681, 686s are easy to replace.

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213th FBINA

I have 2 681s plan on selling one along with a 3 in 65 this weekend at local gun show the 681s i’ve owned all shoot great keep the 681

Sell 681
Send 686 back to factory for the free M mod and SW will likely tune it up at the same time.

Well if it wasn’t broken I would say the 686 is the better gun, more common or not.

But a broken 686 vs a fully functional 681? Rhetorical question, right?

Dont think I'll be selling her... send me an offer I cant refuse via PM.

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This is the way....

I like the 686 a lot, the 681 in that condition are hard to come by for sure, but she would get some serious work hrs in.... maybe I'll fix the 686 and run with her put the 681 back up!?!?

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This is the way....

Hey, what happened to "one has to go?"

Great plan on fixing the 686.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

What purpose will the one you keep serve??????

Target/range shooting = 686
Woods carry= 686
Home Defense= 681
Concealed Carry= 681

Murphdog, haha I'm easily swayed when it comes to firearms... it's my kryptonite...

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This is the way....

BAM-BAM, it will be used for over all everything, mostly have a home defense calling and range use, use around the properity here....

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This is the way....

Well guess your decision to keep both was a good one!

Definitely keep the 686.

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John

Aside from targets, which can be added to the 681, adjustable sights, which I feel wouldn't matter if you find a cartrage that hits POI to your liking ? They are exactly the same no ?

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This is the way....

Yep........................now start the search for a blue steel..... 586 and 581

Keep the 681, it’s just cool to look at if nothing else, clean lines.

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Sure you did

I much prefer the adjustable sights on the 686, but unless I was willing to have the push off issue repaired, I'd have to keep the 681.

I Have a beautiful 581 pictured below, and just sold off my 586, I just cant do blued guns short of looking at them..

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This is the way....

I think it may come to that, on top of having the push off fixed I'm thinking about having the front sight milled, rear sight changed and a RB conversion....

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This is the way....

How ugly that one has to leave, the members of the forum are going to gather signatures to change your mind, come on, friend, stay with both of us.

Push off is not a kaboom, the fix is not that hard.

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Sure you did

Between the two, I’d keep the 681.

Do not fret as Bam-Bam has talked me out of it...

Edit: I've talked my self out of it lol

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This is the way....

If you keep both of you, I take my good action for the day to be fulfilled.

On the M586 / M581 or M686 / M681 conflict, I only made ONE mistake. I sold my M581 because my neighbor wanted for considerably more money than I had invested. Dumb move ! ! ! ! My M681 will not be sold by me, it will be in the estate sale.

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S&WHF 366

That is the quest for me....I have a 586 inn4 inch and have found a 581....but the seller wants 1500 dollars for it. Too much money for that gun, at least to me it is.

I've accumulated a 6" 586 and two 4" guns one a -5 factory round butt....too nice to shoot ...... so Safe queens all. Back in the late 90s early 00s....... these guns were going for prices too cheap to leave them behind. Probably have less than $1200 in all three.


Thank goodness for my stainless 681 and a 1980s 686 that I round butted.

The 581s are too hard to come by and I regret sending this one off for a refinish...

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This is the way....

I'd swap the stocks and keep the 681.

I like a fixed sight revolver.

Took my old 10-8 and 686-1 to the range a while back. For some crazy reason I shot the 10 way better than the 686. Both had factory target stocks too.

If I was a shooter I'd keep the 686, but get it fixed with the money from the sale pf the 681. If I was a collector I'd keep the 681.

The 681 is cool and all but shooting stainless guns with fixed sights sucks.

Make my day.....keep the 681.

You should consider sending the 686 back to S&W for the recall, they’ll pay the shipping. Mention to them about the push off, that being a safety issue they’ll likely fix that for free.

Glad you changed your mind!

That is a fine idea... and maybe get a fee fix...

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This is the way....

Keep the 681! I let someone talk me out of mine in 1989 for 4 times what I paid for it .
I still kick myself for doing it.☹

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Joshua 1:9
82nd Airborne

You allude to putting the 681 through some (possibly hard) use. You also said that neither has had the M-package recall done. IIRC, the M-mods were to prevent the possibility of a lock-up under usage with .357 (but it's been a LONG time). So.....I'd get both to S&W first, before doing anything else. Heck, perhaps they can save some money by having you ship BOTH in one box, but that's not the point. You want either gun to work, reliably. If you sell either, you want a clean conscience for the buyer.

Now then, I see you were a bit rash in asking which one to off. However, should you decide to sell one, both points have been well-addressed here. You don't SEE the fixed sight gun that often. However, it's just fine for CCW or home-defense. If you plan on hunting, or load-development....those adjustables may be worthwhile to hold on to.


Hmmm, that 'R' word at the end can bring on some chills, LOL.
Pray tell, WHY did it need refinished? Was it a recovery outta the Everglades, corroded all to HECK? Accidentally stained by a chemical spill on your work-bench? Kept in a glove-box of a fishing boat for years?

NORMAL blueing wear at the leading edges of the muzzle, the cylinder, trigger-guard, crane etc. is honest wear. Did you have a basket-case of some kind?

I get the feeling that the OP wants to be talked into keeping both of them.

It looks like he's going in that direction, to be sure. Good move.

I had a 686 once. Excellent gun and I regret selling it. I shot it very well and it was beautiful.

But I lucked into a 681 about 18 months ago. And I shoot that gun better than any gun I ever owned. head shots are a joke at 15 yards from a draw. Shotgun hulls on the dirt mound at 10 yards didn't stand a chance. It has Pachmayr Gripper grips on it and those always worked best for me.

I wouldn't trade my 681 for a 686 even trade. On this gun, adjustable sights are not needed at all. I don't view the 681 as a step down to the 686.

When decisions are this close I always advise selling the one that’s more easily replaced. (In case your regret selling it.) Personally I’ve always preferred the fixed site K- and L-frame revolvers to the adjustables. I’m on the fence now about selling my 681 vs putting some money into customizing it.

Love this ^^^^ x100.
Rarely hear this nowadays. Many just trade or sell a gun they can’t get to work properly, sometimes having real issues.
Something I would never do without divulging the problem.

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Sure you did

Keep the 681! They are awesome!

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SWCA 3563
10mm aficionado

The 686 has more stopping power.

The added weight of the adjustable sights helps counteract the barrel flip under recoil. This “forces” the barrel down a bit more which in turn redirects the pressure forward, causing higher bullet velocities and more knock down on the target.

I’d keep the 686 and if the 681 is for sale, let me know.

Where did you get those stocks?? Who made them? What wood? You've got me panting, brother. They are beautiful