I've never fired a Colt, but then again, I've never met a 357 I didn't like.
I do have and love my 686+ 3 inch barrel. Great trigger right from the factory, at 21 feet I can put 7 shots in a 1 inch group shooting it DA. Sure she's heavy, but she is my favorite carry gun.
For a casual shooter, you can't go wrong with a 686( or a 27 or a 65 or anything else that bears the S&W logo).

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