Are there any noticeable differences between a -2 and a -3 in a 4" 686? Features? Value?

Thanks

As p/ SCSW...
-1: Radius stud package; floating hand (1986)
-2: Change hammer nose & bushing (1987)
-3: New yoke retention system (1988)
-4: Change rear sight leaf, drill & tap frame, change extractor (1993) et al.
ETA:
I'm not an expert but personally I prefer and value the -4 over others with all things being equal.
There were other changes later regarding the -4. ie; 7-shot cylinders, etc. The -5 began the use of MIM hammer/trigger..

The -2 was a -1 with the "M" modification built in. I consider the new yoke retention system an improvement, but it's hard to get to too excited about it. I'd go with the -3 if everything was equal. But I wouldn't discount a -2, or pass on one if it had certain features I prefer (like a Patridge sight, original grips, shorter barrel, box), or was in better general condition.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Didn't the -3 go to the round butt?

Regarding 4-inch and longer, the all round butt transition began in 1996. The -3 was introduced in 1988, the -4 in 1993, and the -5 in 1997.

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~

What does is a floating hand? Im sure its talking about the cylinder hand but, floating?

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Two McFlys, with the same gun

It was a hand designed to have limited play, which in theory reduced wear and eliminated a condition known as "sing", in which carry up can be affected by the angle of pressure from the trigger finger of, say, a right-hander versus a left-hander.

Whether it was an improvement or caused more problems than it solved is debated here from time to time; S&W eliminated it after only a couple years.