Either regular or Plus?
Seems like it would be the perfect carry size and weight to accurately shoot a .357 Magnum?

For another 1.5 inches I changed my 2.5 686 to a 4 inch mountain gun barrel. I've lost faith in short barreled revolvers because of lost velocity and accuracy.

i have been carrying a 2 1/2 686 with stag grips and a tyler t-grip. It works well in a owb holster under a untucked shirt.

Doc

My daughter has the 686+ with 2 1/2-inch barrel and, if she ever tires of it I'll have it. It's one of the nicest revolvers I know of. Not holding my breath though, she loves it too.

i carry a 3" 686 with hogues in Don Hume owb belt slider, love this gun. after yrs of semi autos and some nice 1911's carried, i just feel more reliability from my 686-3. ammo of choice is .38+p+

The 3 inch barrel is definitely the way to go for a carry gun, in my opinion. For only 1/2 inch extra barrel, you get the full length ejector rod, which is a huge help for faster and easier reloading. Also, if you look at a ballistics table of .357mag as a function of barrel length, you'll see that the longer barrels do much better (4 inch or longer barrel for 125gr loads; 3 inch or longer barrel for 158gr loads).

Shooting .357mag from a short barrel just makes a big fireball, because a large portion of the propelant has not yet burned until the bullet has already exited the barrel. You may as well stick with .38+p, or use a downloaded (medium power) .357mag load like the 125gr Golden Sabre, or the 135gr Speer Gold Dot. These are both about half way between .38+p and full power magnum loads.

I sometimes carry my 686+ with the 4" barrel. When wearing a coat it's easy to conceal. With a button down shirt or the right T-Shirt, I can carry it in the warm weather. When out in the woods hiking with my dogs I open carry her.

I was going to ask the same question!

I used to carry a model 66 snub, but my dad currently has it....

I currently carry a Ruger SP101, but am looking into carrying a 686+, but am wondering just how easily the grip conceals?

I am not worried about weight, because I have a Beltman Belt, and would get a good IWB holster... but am more concerned with the grip printing...

Can anyone post pics of a K frame next to an L frame?

I use one of two sets of Ahrends grips on a 2 1/2 inch 686. Smooth round combats or a little longer retro banana grip. Both are rounded and with a holster that holds the revolver close to the body it does not print under a reasonable loose t-shirt or other untucked button-front shirt.

Westczek

I've been considering carrying my 3 inch 686+, but I haven't found the right holster yet. Anyone here carry in a kydex holster? I'm looking for something like the Raven holster, but I don't want to buy something without some feedback.

I carry either a 2 1/2" or 3" 66 most of the time. I have a 2 1/2" 686-1 on the way to answer some of those same questions. I assume the 686 will carry about the same in a snubbie...little more cylinder and that's about it. The full underlug would start to matter at 3" but not until 4" would it really count IMHO.

Mine are all 6 shot...did they make the 7 shot before the hole?

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Bought the Plus 2 1/2 for my wife, girl friend at the time when she was living in an apartment. She thought it was to heavy to carry. I bought her the KAHR CW9 in a GALCO purse, Surefire E2E and a extra mag with Hornady crit. def. ammo She loves it!!!
A plus her boss/owner of the company is pro gun/pro carry in the work place it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside

I have a 2 1/2 inch 686, a 3 inch CS-1 and a 696.
I have no problem carrying them in the fall or winter when I can wear a jacket or vest. Great guns and a pleasure to carry with a good belt and a good holster.

Rule 303

I have carried both a 2.5" 686 & 3" 686+, at different times, but switched over to the 2.5" Model 66-2 after I came across one of those. The size & weight between the 686 & 66 really wasn't that big of an issue with me, it's just that, for some reason, I took a liking to the 66 and decided to carry it......

i have a 3 in model 65 ladysmith and carry it on sometimes. carry 38 +p in it. I also have a 686 7 shot that I carry mostly when out in the woods in an owb. when in town i use an iwb. mostly carry them because of their shootability is better than my 642.

Found an old Lou Alessi (Brand new) for my 2 1/2" 686 7 shot....8" plates at 25 yds is pretty accurate, I think....
http://shop.alessigunholsters.com/st...=1&catid=23898
That's the style but not made for 686 anymore...shame,really comfortable...

61-Who makes that holster? Just "got" a 2 1/2 off of gunbroker, so actively shopping OWB rigs.

I carry the 686+ 2 1/2" with CT laser grips in a Galco Combat Master holster. I love it. I'm not overly concerned about loss of velocity or accuracy from the short barrel. I believe that from the distance where this gun would be employed, it would be insignificant. Standard load for me is 7 rounds of Hornady 125 gr Critical Defense .357 Magnums.

3" L-Comp 586. Essentially the same thing. In a Don Hume belt slide.

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I hope I copied that right

You guys are all carrying OWB, right? Seems a little "too big around" to squeeze in between waist and pants, regardless of our individual "girths"? Do have the good belt!

I do carry OWB in the Cross-Draw position. My primary belt was made by Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged but any good, fairly stiff, leather belt will do, although I recommend one that's single ply i.e. not two plies stitched together. It's been my experience that the stitching will eventually work loose in the holster area......

Another major factor is to get a belt that fits the holster slots (width-wise) with 1.5" being the most common size. Having the belt fill up the holster slots as much as possible reduces, or eliminates, any slop / play and helps keep your rig in a positive position.

sometimes carry my 21/2 686 no dash, shoots better than alot of 4 inch guns i have owned

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WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

Not always. Depending on the situation, I may use the Smart Carry deep concealment holster. It takes a little adjusting, and getting used to, but it works.

CigarGuy:

3" 686+ here in a Tucker 'Texas Heritage' tuckable IWB with a Beltman belt. Do I know it is there? Yes, but it is still quite comfy to carry. In summer, I 'blouse out' my shirt. In winter, I don't tuck (light sweater over the shirt).

Lobo Gunleather has an enhanced pancake OWB holster that I'm going to get soon for cold weather carry. Variety is the spice.

HTH,

Chris

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/at least she finds me handy.

I pack a CS-1 and absolutley love it. 3" Barrel and Full length ejector rod.

It looks something like this...


Photo courtesy of S&W Forum.


WC

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.357 Magnum - 8 Times