My first brand-new Smith.

[CCantu357]

Dr. 586 or: How I Learned to Stop Worriying and Love the Gun.

While I grew up shooting old Smiths and a Model 19 no dash has been my main gun for over a decade, I finally have pruchased my first brand-new S&W - a Model 586 4" barrel. After a few years of being under the auto spell, I recently decided to seriously get back into revolvers. After looking at Model 60s, 686s, the new 66, as well as Rugers, I fell in love with the 586 within seconds of handling her. I always considered myself a bit of a purist; the old P&R revolvers sans lock had to better than the new ones. However, this new 586 has completely changed my mind. The fit and finish is impeccable, and the trigger is so good that it is impossible describe with words.

While I know the 586 and the 686 are pretty much the same gun, I handled many new 686s yesterday and none of them grabbed my attenton as much as the 586 did. Perhaps it is simply a blue steel placebo effect, but the 586 seems smoother compared to the 686. The grips may have also played a role. The 586 has nice target stocks, it seems S&W has dropped the Hogue grips on the 686 for some sort of rubber grip that just does not feel right to me.

Speaking of grips, it surpised me that new 586 uses a square butt. I thought that S&W went completly round butt back in the 1990s. Needless to say I am in love, and want to start saving up for a 568 L-Comp already!

 

[OLDSTER]

Nice purchase. Ya can't go wrong with either the 586 or 686

 

[shocker]

Thanks for the excuse to show my new 66-8. OK, it took a 2 week vacation back to Springfield to fix an issue with the trigger pull on one charge hole.
Smith says they set their SA trigger pulls around 4.5 lbs. That's a little heavier than I would prefer but the break is clean so I'll leave it as is.
It's become SOP to post cylinder gaps - 0.008" feeler gauge is a no-go on this one.

Someday I will learn why this webserver inverts photos.

 

[ABPOS]

I'm assuming those stocks are just made to be like a square butt. But they are over the round butt. I bet you don't see the metal go all the way down the back of the stocks, correct? Meaning it kind of plunges into the stock at some point? Like this? This is a round butt. A square butt, you would see the metal follow the countour of the stocks and only stop a little bit from the bottom. If you take the stocks off, you can probably see how it's rounded. Unless they started introducing square butts. But I highly doubt that.

 

[zogger]

Nice gun!

My new Model 27 Classic is a square butt, which is what you would expect it to be.

 

[Peak53]

Random thoughts. Congrats on the 586. Beautiful. Seems like the SS guns have overtaken this market. Don't know why, for gxd's sake. I haven't seen a speck of rust, ever, that didn't come with. And 4.5 lbs single action is stiff? Really? Need to exercise that finger a bit. Those new "diamond" stocks are dreadful. I had some, briefly. The RB to SB thing ain't so bad, given the right stocks. Rant over. Signing off.

 

[CCantu357]

I'm assuming those stocks are just made to be like a square butt. But they are over the round butt. I bet you don't see the metal go all the way down the back of the stocks, correct? Meaning it kind of plunges into the stock at some point? Like this? This is a round butt. A square butt, you would see the metal follow the countour of the stocks and only stop a little bit from the bottom. If you take the stocks off, you can probably see how it's rounded. Unless they started introducing square butts. But I highly doubt that.

My new 586 has a traditional square butt. I suppose S&W is making some square butt revolvers again. The wood stocks are very nice and have a thinner profile closer to the old style target stocks of the 1950s and 1960s, rather than the large target stocks S&W used in later generations.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Yes, the "classic series" revolvers (27, 586, 17, etc) go after the old school look.and features. Part of that is the use square butt frames .
I have a 4" 586 Classic myself. They are nicely done. Enjoy yours!

 

[CajunBass]

I'll echo everything you said about your 586, in regards to my new Model 19-9 "Classic." I really like the finish, the action is as smooth as can be. It shoots just fine.





It's a round butt, with round to square grips. The grips have a thinner profile than the Smith & Wesson target grips of the 70's or so that I remember.

It was also my first new Smith & Wesson revolver in forty years or so.

 

[M29since14]

You guys are making me want to try a new S&W. I need a new one like I need... (insert you favorite quip here).

As much as I like the 586 in general, I'm tempted just a bit more by the new Model 19. I need to go to a shop where I can see and handle both. I wonder if either or both of these models have traditional or the newer style sleeved barrels? Are either available in nickel?

Good looking 586! Congratulations on your new .357!

 

[CajunBass]

The 19-9 has a 4.2 inch (Canada friendly) sleeved barrel.

AFAIK it is not available in nickel.

 

[Rod727]

I just picked up a 686-1 and agree with you that the 586 is a classic. The rubber hogue grip when compared to the wood makes the gun look completely different. If faced with choosing between the two I would go with wood every time simply for the classic appeal

 

[smoke33]

I just picked up a 686-1 and agree with you that the 586 is a classic. The rubber hogue grip when compared to the wood makes the gun look completely different. If faced with choosing between the two I would go with wood every time simply for the classic appeal

I have a 686 with the power port and Hogue grips. I agree, the wood grips are beautiful and are classic but the Hogue grips just feel and hold better in the hand for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Struckat]

Congrats on the new 586!

Like Shocker, I will use this opportunity to show my 66-8.
I have about 500 rounds through it so far. It likes to shoot high, so I had this FO that I put on the other day. We'll see if it does the trick. This is my sixth "New Smith" in the last four years and I have no issues.

I put a set of those Altamont grips on my pre 28....dreadful is an understatement. I have yet to see a set of their grips that fit well.

The Alts on this 66 need fitting at the top of the back strap.

This 66-8 had a really crunchy trigger out of the box. I popped the side cover to find it dry. Dry as dry can be. Maybe the socialists outlawed lube of any kind?

I oiled it up and wow! This thing is as smooth as my 1954 M&P! Well almost.

 

[Dan Christopher]

You guys are making me want to try a new S&W. I need a new one like I need... (insert you favorite quip here).

As much as I like the 586 in general, I'm tempted just a bit more by the new Model 19. I need to go to a shop where I can see and handle both. I wonder if either or both of these models have traditional or the newer style sleeved barrels? Are either available in nickel?

Good looking 586! Congratulations on your new .357!

IMO, the new generation of S&W revolvers is actually quite good. Admittedly, I am not wild about the lock but I just ignore it anymore. Last year I got a 6-1/2" 29-10 and I have been quite pleased with it. A 4" 29-10 will soon be keeping it company in my safe!

You can't go wrong with either a 19 or 586.

 

[notsofast]

I only have a few more "must haves" even though my collection is small and a 4" 586 is on that list

 

[shocker]

Congrats on the new 586!

Like Shocker, I will use this opportunity to show my 66-8.
I have about 500 rounds through it so far. It likes to shoot high, so I had this FO that I put on the other day

Nice picture omitted for brevity
Mine shoots high too with 357 158 gr factory ammo (6" at 25 yds). No doubt that is partly due to how I grip the gun. After I work through my box of American Eagle I intend to shoot mostly 125 gr handloads and that should bring the POI down.

 

[DonD]

Very happy the OP likes his new revolver and I think his experience is by no means unique.

I have zero issue with those who like older model S&Ws, I can appreciate that but they are making fine stuff now. Buy what you want/like but stop dumping on the new stuff, that dismissal of the new is w/o foundation. Don

 

[DonD]

This is my sixth "New Smith" in the last four years and I have no issues.

I put a set of those Altamont grips on my pre 28....dreadful is an understatement. I have yet to see a set of their grips that fit well.

The Alts on this 66 need fitting at the top of the back strap.

This 66-8 had a really crunchy trigger out of the box. I popped the side cover to find it dry. Dry as dry can be. Maybe the socialists outlawed lube of any kind?

I oiled it up and wow! This thing is as smooth as my 1954 M&P! Well almost.

Nice looking grips on that one! Don

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Who am I to argue? Enjoy!