I'm in the market to buy a revolver for concealed carry while hiking. I live in Colorado so I want to carry a revolver that can shoot .357 but I need to consider weight. I've done a lot of research and have come down to a couple possibilities, though I'm open to suggestions.
First of all: Welcome to the forum! Whatever your question, you've come to the right place.
Second, a 686 isn't really all that heavy, especially not if you carry it in a proper leather holster and wear a good gun belt. You need a handgun foremost for protection even in worst-case scenarios in the backwoods and it should also be concealed as a personal preference. I understand this line of reasoning completely, as I considered the same question a couple years ago except for hiking in Florida, where open carry is legal only for hunting and fishing (but I doubt many people – especially people who don't carry – know you can open carry while fishing).
I, too, settled on 357 magnum, because I realized that none of the common semi-auto calibers would suffice in the most likely scenario of an ornery feral pig or even the less likely scenario of black bear or panther. Plus, shot shells work better in revolvers and there are plenty of venomous snakes in the flatwoods and swamps near where I live. I have meanwhile had to draw my revolver and discovered just how fast a 4" barrel can clear leather in the process, but fortunately did not have to pull the trigger. Trust me: When the time comes, you don't want to wish you had brought a little more gun for the sake of a few ounces.
I settled on a 4" model 66-2 for field duty, but I would have been just as happy with a 686, even with a 3" barrel. But no snubs for me – at least not for the backwoods. Snubs, J-frames, and semi-autos are well-suited for urban concealed carry, but no so much off pavement IMO. My m66 weighs 2 lbs 6.1 oz with four hot 180gr hardcast flatpoint bullets and two shotshells... and I barely notice the weight carried in a stiff leather holster and belt (both by R. Grizzle). I decided on a 4" K-frame because I consider it to be the best compromise between weight and barrel length, the former to reduce recoil and get back on target quicker and the latter to support higher velocity and improve accuracy when I have to aim in a hurry.
If I lived in Colorado, I'd consider that an absolute minimum carry option, though I'd more likely carry a 44 magnum, even if I opted to load it with 44 specials some of the time. Personally, I like my 5" model 629-3, but lots of people here on the forum are very enthusiastic about their L-frame model 69s. If it were me trying to shave weight but still carry a "big stick", that would be very near the top of my list... right behind an older mountain gun in either 44 mag or 45 colt.
357 mag/38 spl will suffice against small to medium sized animals and in particular against humans, but it is not an ideal caliber for brown bear or angry elk/moose. However, if you practice enough to be very confident with it and carry 180 or 200 grain hardcast bullets, it will probably suffice even against grizzlies. Load up for your worst-case scenario. If you encounter an ornery cougar, you won't have time to reload and the "overkill" is acceptable. If you load your revolver for cougar and encounter an angry bear, you will regret it possibly for the rest of your short life. At any rate, I would prefer to carry very hot 158 grain hardcast at a minimum out West and would advise against J-frames in that scenario except maybe as a backup gun.
You want a light gun to load up with powerful ammo for hiking, but I would rethink my priorities if I were you. A little more gun will go a long way to ensuring your security and peace of mind, especially the longer the trail gets and the further it leads you from city streets.
