I have been looking at 686 Snubs for quite a while.
I see lots of 2.5" Barrel 6 Shooters.
I also see some 2.5" Barrel 7 Shooters.

I do not seem to ever see any 3" barrel 6 Shooters however.

I have so far seen 2 of the 6 Shot 3" guns and they were both LE Distributor Models in 38 Special Only. From the prices they must be a collectors piece in new condition.

My question is, Are there any 3" Barrel 686's out their in 38/357? What Dash Number, How Rare, etc.

Bob

__________________
ICORE MO2908

Yes they are out there, CS-1's and 686-4's but you don't see many for sale. Not that many were made and those lucky few who have them seem to what to hold on to them.

I've got a 686 plus 2 1/2 inch on layaway right now. I thought about getting the 3", but 2 1/2 inch is just about perfect for me, as I also carry a model 66 in 2 1/2 inch appendix carry and it fits perfectly. I'm not sure if the extra 1/2 inch would make a difference or not, but why fool with perfection?

I have a new 686+ 3".

That extra half inch of barrel gives you a full size ejector rod.

The 2 1/2" barrel has a shorter one.

All 686's are chambered for 357 Magnums/38 Special.

The 3" 686 is an excellent gun.

-5's also were made in 3 inch.

__________________
Sure you did

Here's mine. Unfortunately, I have no production stats for you, but they don't turn up often around these parts. The seven shooters seem more common. But until Safariland makes speedloaders for 686+, I'll let them pass with barrels 4" or less.

JAYMOORE
You hit the Nail Square on the Head.
The 3" Model 686 is more desirable due to a Full Length Ejector Rod. And it is on the maximum end for concealed carry in a Lobo Enhanced Pancake holster.

The 6 Shot version is more desirable to some of us due to Safariland Comp II and Comp III Speedloaders.
Safariland does not make a 7 shot speedloader. HKS does make a 7 shot for the 686 Plus, however after carrying and using Safariland, you will not be real happy being stuck with HKS Speedloaders. Then we have the CD-2 Speedloader Carrier. They are made to carry Safariland Speedloaders.

I have 4 of the CD-2 Carriers on my dresser. Two have K Frame Comp II Speedloaders in them, and the other two have L Frame Comp II Speedloaders in them. I have a Brite Green Dot of Fingernail polish on the top of the L frame Comp II's so as not to mix them up.
I also have two of the California Competition Works J Frame Moon Clip Carriers with TK Moon Clips for my 442 Pro Moon Clip 38 Special in them.

Next thing is I shoot my carry revolvers in our Club Defensive Pistol, and Steel Matches every month. I have 10 Each Comp III Speedloaders for the K and L Frame. For competition revolver shooting, they are the Cats Meow.

I have a 686-1 and a 686-4, both in 4". The 3" version of the 686 is probably the next revolver on my list, if I run across one right.

Invictus357
I have seen 2 each 3", 6 Shot, 686's in 38 Special +P ONLY. The Product Code Search said they were Smith & Wesson Law Enforcement Distributor Models. My understanding is some cities have Regulations that say Security Guards can only carry 38 Special revolvers.

You will find a Ruger GP100 in 38 Special ONLY now and again.
I was bidding on one of the 686 38 Specials a few months ago. I quit at around $705 on it. The other one started a way more than I was going to pay for it. All I can figure is they must be collectors.

I will keep on looking. A 686-4 would be my first choice if they came in a 3" 6-Shooter version.

Bob

__________________
ICORE MO2908

My dealer has a new 686+ with a 3" barrel with an asking price of $660, if it was an older prelock example it would be mine already. The CS1 versions are the nicest IMO. There seems to be a lot of the new ones out there now and it's a very practical barrel length.

Here's my 686+ Talo, 3" along side my 649. Picked it (686) up back in February 2012 and love it. I recently bought and received a Milt Sparks PMK Holster for the 686.

Attached Images

649 & 686 TALO.JPG (110.1 KB, 112 views)

Here's a 686-4 that I picked up in 2008, along with the 3"
686 CS1. You rarely see the 686-4 up for sale. If I remember correctly there were 2500 made.

I did most of my IDPA and "tactical match" (at Ft. Benning that's what they called it!) revolver shooting with a 4" RB 686 CS-1 six shot and Safariland loaders- both Comp IIs and IIIs depending on the venue. Super combination. Good enough to win a few matches.

I have found my fancy 3" rather harder to shoot fast AND well. I think it's a balance thing rather than sight radius. But it's a good BBQ gun.

Oddly, although I did not "like" it as much (according to my match results), my defensive 4" revolver is a stainless Python. 90% of the reason is that it's got night sights. My 3" carry gun is a 66, also with night sights. All have their own collection of the appropriate Safariland speedloaders.

It's all a matter of what works for you. But finding out can take lots of time and cubic money! More now, what with the ammo price madness.

Bud's has a few choices in stock.

S&W 686 .357 Mag 3" Stainless, Laminate grips $715.00 SHIPS FREE

S&W M686+ 357 3" 7RD Stainless $691.00 SHIPS FREE

For carry, I prefer this:

S&W M386 NTGRD 357 2.5 Black $761.00 SHIPS FREE

__________________
Watch & Pray

Dump1567
That top one is a 686 Plus also.
It has a non fluted Cylinder and is a TALO 357 Model.

Notredame
Atleast now I know they did make a 686-4 in a 3" 6-Shooter. I will keep my ear to the ground.

Bob

__________________
ICORE MO2908

My solution to the 686+ Safariland speedloader question was Hearthco moonclips.

I love 686's and have had several. I currently don't have any 3" Smith's and I don't have any with the lock...however, that 686 in 3" with those particular grips is probably the nicest looking gun I have ever seen and it is on my wish list. I have a 3" Ruger GP100 that I like a lot and I figure some day I'll pick up one like yours. Best wishes, B

Found this one in a LGS a while back. Rescued it from among a clutter of -6s and later ones.
Not sure for whom it was made as the product ID number from the box isn't in SCSW:

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I had no idea. Thanks for letting me know that.

I use Safariland and flat hate HKS. There is a speedloader called the SL Variant (Safariland Variant) which works almost exactly like Safariland in that you push into the cylinder and the rounds release. NO twist required. They make everything from 5 shot to 7 and were working on an 8. If you have a 7 shot revolver these are much faster than Hks. Do an internet search and you should find them. They are as secure in holding the rounds as Safariland.

CS-1s are out there, I picked this one up at a gun show a couple of years ago:

It was in a batch of police trade-ins and was the only 3" gun in the lot.

__________________
My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs