Marshal Tom
Member
I have a 7 shot .357 Mtn Gun without the lock and love it. It has the tapered barrel and is an L frame so it will take the punishment of steady .357 ammo etc.
Tom
Tom
7 Shot Revolvers
- Thread starter dwpmusic
- Start date
Darkenfast
Member
I used to have an old L-frame 586 six-incher. While it was great to shoot, I thought it was a bit too heavy. I only have a Browning Hi-Power, right now, but if I ever get back to Smiths, I can't help thinking that a four-inch 686Plus might be the best deal going in terms of an "all round" companion handgun. The seven-chambered cylinder is very size-efficient (IF that's important to you, a Highway Patrolman fan might feel differently!), and the four-inch barrel got to be the most popular length for a reason. S&W nailed it when they brought out the L-frame, and I believe it was only the change to autos for law enforcement that kept it from being a much better seller. I wonder (and perhaps some of our police members from the 90's can comment), if the seven-shot version had been introduced from the beginning, would it have made any difference in the rate of agencies ditching the revolver for autos?
gr7070
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I don't like the seven-shot revolvers. I think they fall into a suboptimal no-man's land.
Seven isn't appreciably bigger than six, and if round count is really an issue there is the 8-shot M627, and of course if round count is truly important there's umpteen-rounders galore in auto. So seven just doesn't seem to make any sense when looking to add capacity.
In addition, all the games played the seven doesn't have a home. Six is practically required for IDPA and USPSA and again seven is less than eight for ICORE or Steel Challenge, etc. So seven makes no sense.
For carry I wouldn't bother with an L-frame when the K exists. And why bother with the K when the J frame is a great option to conceal.
Seven- shot revolver is just too big or too small for whatever the job is; it's stuck in no-man's land.
Lastly, while I own 6, 8, and 10-shot revolvers and am about to add a 5-shot there just seems to be something wrong about a 7-shot; typical sized revolvers are supposed 6 shooters.
I know lots of folks feel differently and really like the 7-rounders, but I don't get it.
Seven isn't appreciably bigger than six, and if round count is really an issue there is the 8-shot M627, and of course if round count is truly important there's umpteen-rounders galore in auto. So seven just doesn't seem to make any sense when looking to add capacity.
In addition, all the games played the seven doesn't have a home. Six is practically required for IDPA and USPSA and again seven is less than eight for ICORE or Steel Challenge, etc. So seven makes no sense.
For carry I wouldn't bother with an L-frame when the K exists. And why bother with the K when the J frame is a great option to conceal.
Seven- shot revolver is just too big or too small for whatever the job is; it's stuck in no-man's land.
Lastly, while I own 6, 8, and 10-shot revolvers and am about to add a 5-shot there just seems to be something wrong about a 7-shot; typical sized revolvers are supposed 6 shooters.
I know lots of folks feel differently and really like the 7-rounders, but I don't get it.
one eye joe
US Veteran
Gotta agree with scooter (gettin' to be a habit), a glance at the catalog tells the story. I have a 686+ Mountain Gun that I love. When I picked up a 2 1/2'' no dash, I sent it in to S&W for the firing pin bushing mod. While it was there, I had a 7 shot cylinder installed. It's a great carry weapon. The cylinder notches on a 6 shot are over the chambers. The notches on a 7 shooter are between the chambers. That may matter to reloaders who like to make flamethrowers outta their revolvers. I would never own a 6 shot 686, as I don't compete in a discipline that outlaws a 7 shooter. The 7 shooters are just too sweet.......
Maximumbob54
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I love the stop notch cuts being between the cylinders. It's the newer barrel threading that keeps me from owning one. I would still like to find a 620 some day though even if it has the roundy round threading.
FloridaFlier
Member
I believe the advantage of the 7-shooter is that the cylinder is the same size. Metallurgy improvements over the years have allowed more options, so why not take advantage of it? If they could have made 7 round cylinders back in the old days, without making them bigger, they probably would have.
I'm not saying the 6-shooters are obsolete, and I love my 5-shot J-frames. Just another option. Less traditional, more useful (unless you shoot 6-shot competition). There are great speed loaders made for the 7-round 686.
Just my $.02 worth.
I'm not saying the 6-shooters are obsolete, and I love my 5-shot J-frames. Just another option. Less traditional, more useful (unless you shoot 6-shot competition). There are great speed loaders made for the 7-round 686.
Just my $.02 worth.
I have a 3 inch 686+ 7 shooter. I think it's fun. Having the extra shot? No big deal - but it is cool. I buy a box of 50 rounds, shoot one warmup shot, then have 49 left so I reload 7 times 
No I didn't get a 7-shooter because I'm waiting for that gunfight in the alley and that extra round will save the day. I also have a couple of HKS speedloaders for it so that's not an issue. I haven't seen 7-packs of Snap Caps so I'll have to splurge on a single cap if I buy those. They're called revolvers not 6-shooters. I had a 9-shot .22 revolver and a 5-shot .38 special.
No I didn't get a 7-shooter because I'm waiting for that gunfight in the alley and that extra round will save the day. I also have a couple of HKS speedloaders for it so that's not an issue. I haven't seen 7-packs of Snap Caps so I'll have to splurge on a single cap if I buy those. They're called revolvers not 6-shooters. I had a 9-shot .22 revolver and a 5-shot .38 special.
686+
I have had my 686+ 4" for 10 years, and absolutely love it. The 7 shot cylinder was just an interesting plus. It's a great and solid gun. I bought it to replace my Model 19 4", that was stolen in a house burglary. Also a wonderful gun that I miss dearly.
I have had my 686+ 4" for 10 years, and absolutely love it. The 7 shot cylinder was just an interesting plus. It's a great and solid gun. I bought it to replace my Model 19 4", that was stolen in a house burglary. Also a wonderful gun that I miss dearly.
Magnumdood
Member
Question: What does MiM mean?
I keep seeing MiM, or MIM, or one of the combinations of the letters M, I & M. It's easily discernable that it's not a preferred function/piece of one's revolver. Could I trouble someone to tell me what it means?
Thank you.
I keep seeing MiM, or MIM, or one of the combinations of the letters M, I & M. It's easily discernable that it's not a preferred function/piece of one's revolver. Could I trouble someone to tell me what it means?
Thank you.
MIM means 'metal injection molded' This includes parts like the trigger, hammer and other internal parts. Basically molded instead of forged. MIM is very strong and will last but is not as strong as forged. MIM is cheaper to produce but not cheap. The perception of MIM is frowned upon by some. I'm going to venture and say MIM parts are very reliable - I would bet everything I own that the MIM parts in my guns will never fail. I'm sure there's a more technical explanation but that's what I know.
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M2MikeGolf
US Veteran
Finally, someone hit the nail on the head. Revolvers were only referred to as "six-shooters" (in the SA days) because that's what they were once commonly limited to. That's a pretty out-dated way of thinking. I'm pretty sure S&W never offered a "Model 6 Shooter". If you want an older design six round revolver, you can get them, and plenty of them. I can't believe anyone would protest against an extra round of ammunition; you certainly don't hear that kind of complaint in the auto lovin' crowd. Since they kept the cylinder the same size, I don't see the disadvantage, only the advantage. I just wish S&W had kept the 619/620 series; they were a perfect L frame version of the 65/66 K framers (which I'm pretty fond of too!). I've got a 619 and glad I got it when I did, I got it cheap, and brand new. I hope to get a 620 one of these days; I just never liked the balance of the full lug 686s, although I think they are great L Frames, even though they hold an "excessive" seven rounds!!!
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Once the fiance and me tie the knot I think I'm going to pick up a 3" 686+ as a house gun for her. She's quite recoil shy, but she very much enjoys my dad's 4" 686 and handles it very well.
Ok, ok, sure it can be "her gun", but depending on policy of my next department it may just become and off duty gun. Even in today's world, IMO a 7 shot .357 is as viable of defensive tool as a Glock 36 or sub-compact 1911.
Ok, ok, sure it can be "her gun", but depending on policy of my next department it may just become and off duty gun. Even in today's world, IMO a 7 shot .357 is as viable of defensive tool as a Glock 36 or sub-compact 1911.
If she fires .38s out of it, the recoil be will like shooting a .22
If she fires .38s out of it, the recoil be will like shooting a .22
Exactly, that's why she likes it!
She's shot my Glock 19 and 1911s but doesn't like the recoil.
Thanks, dwpmusic, I am very proud of her. I love the way it shoots. The recoil is very manageble and the Hogue grips really cushion well, also extremely accurate. The 4" barrel is perfect for me as I carried a 4" in the old days in the Air Force. I also had a Model 19 with a 4", prior to the 686, but it was stolen in a house burglarly, years ago.
TSQUARED
Member
Stainz,
I also purchased one of those 7 shot 5 inch 686's without the barrel lug and with HiViz front and V-notch rear sights. I only shot it twice before switching over to the 8 shot 627 for both ICORE and stell challenge shoots. A friend shoots the 7-shot 686 and prefers the trigger to that in his 8-shot 627.
Tony
I also purchased one of those 7 shot 5 inch 686's without the barrel lug and with HiViz front and V-notch rear sights. I only shot it twice before switching over to the 8 shot 627 for both ICORE and stell challenge shoots. A friend shoots the 7-shot 686 and prefers the trigger to that in his 8-shot 627.
Tony
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