What to look for when buying 686.

Bugkiller99

Bugkiller99

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I find myself in the somewhat unusual situation in that my wife is encouraging me to buy a gun. She chastised me less than a week ago "Your not buying any more guns!, yet today she tells me a friend of hers is selling a .357 model 686-2 4" barrel, and wants to know if I'm interested.

I'm new to guns. Have a few pistols, no revolvers. This one has seldom been fired, asking $600. Tell me about the 686. What is the -2 designation? Is this a decent price? I wasn't looking to buy a revolver right now, but if this is a decent gun and price I hate to disappoint my wife, as she is encouraging me to buy:) Maybe a good time to get a wheel gun

I would use this as a range gun, shooting .38 sp. and a for HD.
 
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I wouldn't pass it up as 686s are great wheel guns. They balance very well and you can shoot light 38s all day long and barely have any recoil since they are a steel frame. They are right in the middle as far as frame size so when you get bitten by the wheel gun bug, and trust me you will, you will be ready for a larger frame with more boom or a lighter carry revolver. I think the $600 would be fair, assuming very good condition. If it has some nicks or scratches I would try for around $500. The -2 designation denotes the 2nd model change from around 1987. Listen to your wife and buy it. You won't regret it.
 
I probably would not complain if my wife indicated that I needed to buy a 686-2 4" from her friend. I would recommend that she buy it for me, now if it was a 3' or 2.5" I would pay $600 for it myself:D.

-2 change hammer nose bushing and associated parts.
 
Bugkiller99 said:
She chastised me less than a week ago "Your not buying any more guns!, yet today she tells me a friend of hers is selling a .357 model 686-2 4" barrel, and wants to know if I'm interested.
I wasn't looking to buy a revolver right now, but if this is a decent gun and price I hate to disappoint my wife, as she is encouraging me to buy:)
Click to expand...

Are you sure this is not a trick question?:D
 
sophie said:
Are you sure this is not a trick question?:D
Click to expand...

I don't even think I will see the day that my wife will speak those words to me! I think that $600 is a pretty good price, although you may try to push it down a bit. I say a 6" barreled 686 (not sure of the dash marking) in a LGS yesterday priced at $675.
 
I just traded for a 6" Model 686 no dash. It was a "friends and family" deal and I valued the 686 at $650. Of course, the -2 and the 4" barrel change the value somewhat, but $600 doesn't sound too bad.

Froggie
 
That price is fair; neither great nor terrible - assuming very good condition. The 'dash 2' variant is considered by many, including me, to be superior to the new guns costing over $750. If I didn't already have a 686-4 4", and I wanted one, I would buy it for that price and be quite happy about it.
 
With the 686 being Stainless Steel I would be laying down the money and grabbing the gun. I have several wheelguns now but had nine at the start of the year. If you enjoy shooting at all you will love the wheelguns, although not as common perhaps as the autos they have a presence that is unique.
The 686 is a fine gun and that has been brought out in many of the replies. Just think in 50 years or so you can hand it down or sell it for what you paid for it. Not a bad investment.
Good Luck!
 
You WANT that 686

Great gun,, sweet shooter. 4" is a very popular configuration. The -2 is the number of the engineering change. There was no dash (like mine) 686-1 then 686-2. They are up to 686-6 and 686-7 now. These reflect minor design changes. If you ask me the older guns are the better guns. There was a recall on these involving the firing pin bushing where SOME guns locked up with heavy loads due to primer extrusion. It was probably the fault of the primers more than the gun. If this change was made there will be and 'M' stamped where the model number is located on the crane hinge. (swing out the cylinder, it's there). I have a gun that has not been upgraded and I haven't had any trouble at all. If you do happen to have a problem, S&W will fix it. Right now the $600 isn't a bad price if it's in the kind of shape you say it's in.

PS: My wife feels the same way except that we have not very much money. She feels that it's going to hit the fan and she wants to be prepared. I feel the same way, but I take buying guns with more glee than she does.
 
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General consensus is it is a ok deal. As I have yet too see it any thing in particular to look for? I've noted to look for the M. Anything else? Remember I'm lacking in knowledge ESP when it comes to wheel guns.
 
Bugkiller99 said:
General consensus is it is a ok deal. As I have yet too see it any thing in particular to look for? I've noted to look for the M. Anything else? Remember I'm lacking in knowledge ESP when it comes to wheel guns.
Click to expand...

Don't bother looking for the "M" on that -2. The modification was incorporated into the factory procedures by then, IIRC, as part of that variant. Only no dash or -1 (early ones) will "need" the mod. Look at that 686 like you would any used revolver, first checking overall condition, tightness where it should be tight and smoothness where it should move smoothly. You should get good carry up as it is cycled double or single action and lock tightly as the hammer falls. A range rod will confirm barrel to chamber alignment. Of course you should also check for the dread canted barrel, but hopefully that won't be a problem with a -2.

Froggie
 
Why are you still sitting there..... Go buy the gun!! The 686 is a classic S&W model, very versatile, handles like a dream, and I've never seen one that didn't shoot great. You will enjoy it, just get ready for several siblings.
Dave
 
Just last week I listed a 6" no-dash (M) 686 on this very site for $700 plus shipping and it sold in 16 minutes! What's that tell you about the price of the gun you're thinking about?

Ed
 
Great revolver for a fair price. Go buy it...or tell me where they are! :D
 
Green Frog said:
Don't bother looking for the "M" on that -2. The modification was incorporated into the factory procedures by then, IIRC, as part of that variant. Only no dash or -1 (early ones) will "need" the mod.

Froggie
Click to expand...

Sorry, I thought the -3 were the first ones clear of the bushing prob. Thanks for the correction. Well, this just makes it easier to decide to buy it!
 
I have quite a few guns and my 686 is probably my favorite. If not overall, at least at the range. I can shoot 38 Specials all day long and never feel it.
 
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