The Gun I sold a Python for

jhcii · Dec 23, 2015

(SW 686-6 Performance Center Competitor in .357 Magnum)

A couple more pictures with one including my favorite .44 Magnum (29-10 Machine Engraved 4"):

I had a 76 Python and knew I'd never shoot it again so I wanted an ultimate .357 to end to endless search for one. I like the cartridge in a handgun like a K frame or L frame. The N frame is too big for my taste in .38 Special and .357. The Python does not fit me. In K frame I ran into a 66 but waited much longer until I held this 686.

I took it home yesterday and put on older grips to replace the rubber ones. I like wood on all my gun handles. I took all the weights I could out from under the barrel and they are seen as four collets with an Allen in between them. The LPA sights are the best. They remind me of the sights on the 41 .22 LR match pistol. They are well defined, sharp, strong, and adjustable.

Trigger pull is different for me because this gun has a trigger stop which makes it even better.

All that needs doing now is go to the range. I used time to find out I like the gun without the weights. It is already a heavy L frame, so SW has replacement washers made out of some plastic or nylon that fill in instead.

I am pretty conventional in gun style, and this one looks a century or two ahead of my tastes for blued steel and wood. But when I held it in my hands I knew I had found the perfect .357 Magnum finally.

jhcii · Dec 23, 2015

More Pictures of added embellishments

I replaced factory Hogue Black Rubber grips with 1985 Goncalo Alves from Brazil; the original type of wood and grip for the N frame Smiths.

I replaced the cut off thumb ejector with milled steel 1980 black carbon thumb ejector with carbon screw.

I took out all the weights and screw holding them under the underlug for free ventilation.

I will take .38 Win and S & B 148gr wadcutters with various assortments of regular .38 Special and .357 Magnum ammunition to the range.

I feel the revolver in my hands and it reminds me of a match target pistol like the SW 41 with bull barrel.

I shall report range results as soon as I get out of the house to do them!

I feel this is the best feeling .357 I've ever owned. Grips, sights, action, and balance are phenomenal.

ostlund · Dec 23, 2015

excellent, not for "getting rid of a Python" but for taking advantage of the present day cult status prices and applying to a better gun for your needs.

kennyb · Dec 23, 2015

wow...very nice indeed

jhcii · Dec 24, 2015

Looks like today on the 24th I will take it to an outside daylight range and test for 50 yards. The sights are that good to see well enough out there. No indoor range is worthy of this gun. I say a gun has to be tested outside in daylight to find accuracy capability.

Jhamblen86 · Dec 24, 2015

This thread makes me want to go spend a lot of money. Beautiful gun, congratulations on a good move.

BOFF · Dec 24, 2015

Great looking gun.
Awaiting results of range test!!

God Bless,
David B.

ralph7 · Dec 24, 2015

jhcii said:
Looks like today on the 24th I will take it to an outside daylight range and test for 50 yards. The sights are that good to see well enough out there. No indoor range is worthy of this gun. I say a gun has to be tested outside in daylight to find accuracy capability.

Wish I could still do that.
I'm real lucky to see at 25 yards what with age and glaucoma.

Dan Christopher · Dec 24, 2015

Congratulations!

FWIW, I think you did the right thing. Pythons are pretty to look at, and I can appreciate the craftsmanship that went into building them, but I've just never had the desire to own one for the mere sake of owning one.

I think you'll thoroughly enjoy that new PC Competitor!

SLT223 · Dec 24, 2015

While not a sexier gun than the python, it most certainly is a mechanically superior gun in ever aspect of a revolver.

I took the turn from pretty paper weights to the best shooters the industry has to offer a couple years ago, and love it. Admiring the classics is fun, but shooting & reloading is more fun for me. That being said, if I see a pretty paper weight a good value today I don't think 2x about snapping it up

sellersm · Dec 24, 2015

It has a beauty all its own! I totally agree with the swap in grips, the wood grips you used is what I'd have chosen as well!

Congrats!

actionpistol · Dec 26, 2015

+1 Waiting for range results .

M3Stuart · Dec 26, 2015

+1 on the whole thing.

I'm a huge fan of 'selling high' - like you did with that Python.

Most importantly; a key, perhaps 'THE' key, is knowing what you like.

jtcarm · Dec 26, 2015

Nice[emoji6]

Colt to S&W is always a good move, IMO.

jhcii · Dec 26, 2015

Range Results

I want to present the first to last shot with the Competitor in one.

I shoot .357 Remington 125 grain semi jacketed hollow points. In my Reno Police Department time these were issued from the 70's into the 80's. They are violent destructive loads in the .357. There are books about this particular issued load for .357 and Massad Ayoob called it in The Gravest Extreme.

The 1911 is 90% one shot main shot to torso and the 125gr Remington Semi Jacketed Hollow Point is to DATE the most violent .357 Magnum load on deer or human terrorists.

I will stick with the 125 grain Rem Semi Jacketed for a full report and include UMC 125 JSPs with Rem and Win and Sellier and Bellot 148 gr Wadcutters with an assortment of on hand .38 Special.

I want to give the whole deal after all the experimentation. I am super surprised with what this gun is doing.

I love it. It is easily the best .357 Magnum I've owned alongside the SW 19 which we used in the Reno Police Department from the 70s to the 80s.

The autos took over in LE today.

I like autos too but the revolver is always my favorite handgun.

When I found this SA Blackhawk in .41 with original box and sleeve shipped and paperwork I jumped it. It's a 1979 unfired until I fired it.

So I have a red and white box Blackhawk in .41 Magnum and a final .357 Magnum with a slew of 29s. I had a 57 SW 6" and it was actually too tame compared to the .44 Magnum in the same size. In the Blackhawk it flips with Colt SA style but it is a Magnum above .357!

I am enjoying a thorough experience to post here with the 686-6 PC Competitor.

Sincerely,
J

KS Shooter · Dec 26, 2015

Nice .357 revolver. I had this model on my "Wish List" at Buds for nearly a year then I got an email right before Thanksgiving saying it was now in stock. After about a day of trying to decide if I should spend $1075 on a new gun so soon before Christmas, I decided to pull the trigger go for it.

I ordered the Red Dot Scope attached to it but later mounted this on my S&W .22 and I picked up a Tasco 42mm Red Dot ProPoint for the .357.

I plan to use this for NRA Action Pistol Competition this year.

Groo01 · Dec 28, 2015

Groo here
Special gun , hope it fits you well,
I would sa "Cool" if it was a 41 mag [I want that one!!]
But after shooting my Python --- "FOUL" LOL
Good find...

jhcii · Dec 28, 2015

Every Good Man Needs a .357 Magnum

I've always felt the SW 19 K frame was perfect for balance for precise SA shooting with wadcutters and in DA using .357 125 grain around 1450 fps muzzle.

The Python is too heavy and the underlugged L frames are also as heavy and so I drift away from muzzle weight to see how steady the revolver actually is to group. The other gun I showed called the SW 41 being the same accuracy with Carbon Steel sights hitting the target accurately. In daylight these target sights are perfect for precision.

With the SW Red Ramp Front White Outline Rear set of sights I see better where the handgun is trying to make the most of one shot.

Today there is Hi Vis or laser or something else with optics. To me the most reliable handgun is the simple handgun itself without modernizing or modifying it.

This Competitor reminds me of Ray Bradbury and The Martian Chronicles. Ahead of classical times being better than ever presented to shoot.

I say give the .357 back to the year it was invented with this pistol called Competitor and perhaps no one would ever go to .44 or .41 Magnum.

HEADKNOCKER · Dec 28, 2015

That PC686-6 looks awesome!!

HOUSTON RICK · Dec 28, 2015

Lots of nice pictures. Thank ya'll for posting.

The Gun I sold a Python for

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