The 3-inch 686 I've Always Wanted

357-RevolverGuy

357-RevolverGuy

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This is the revolver S&W should've made. Anyone remember Hickok45's 686 video from back in 2011? I blame that video for me making an impulse buy a few days after it first came out. It started out as a TALO 686+ Deluxe Edition with the rosewood combat grips (sku#150713). What a sweet 3" revolver it was–but I never really loved that gun. The grips did not do it for me, neither did the sights. After six years I never could convince myself to sell or trade it, so I decided to make it the revolver I really wanted in the first place. It now sports a gold bead front sight, u notched fixed rear sight (just like the Night Guard series), old style thumb/cylinder release, walnut magna grips, tyler-t grip, plug for the lock key hole, and lightly polished with Flitz.

I really love it. I don't think it's ever going to be a show piece but it's got soul. Will continue to serve as my home defense. It's not perfect though, does shoot an inch low but I don't care. It's mine and I'm happy.









Life is good ya'll.

 
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It's certainly your choice to make the revolver what you want it to be and that's what any buyer can do. I always get upset when people tell people on the forum that they can't or shouldn't modify one of their guns. Unless it's extremely rare I say do what you want to them.
 
Great carry Magnum the 686+ is. Mine is stock,but I will change the grips. Darn thing shoots great! Best carry Magnum I have used in forty years of SW magnums. No problems other than keeping it feed with good Magnum loads.She shoots 38 special good to.
 
Ever since I watched that same Hickok45 video I had to have a 3" 686. And finally picked mine up yesterday, it's not the Talo but it is the 686+ 3". I haven't even had the chance to shoot it yet and I love it already. I'm experimenting with some different grip options as well and will prob end up with a wood set and a rubber set. If it shoots anything like my 4" 586 no dash then I'll be a happy camper and I'm sure it will!
 
4D5 said:
Nice setup. I've not seen that rear sight before. Looks like it would provide quick sight acquisition.
And nice job on the pictures.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It sure does. I always liked the Night Guard fixed sights but the prices have gone way up on the 386. Fixed sight on a 3" barrel just makes sense to me. Cylinder & Slide makes them in square and u notch.
 
Looks great! A few simple mods was all it took to make you happy with something you already had. Did you use the real gold bead or the brass "aka" gold bead? If the rear sight is not adjustable, scout around for something to use as a shim that will lift it just enough to compensate your aim one inch.
 
My EDC SW protection. New model 1 year old 686+ 3" and older 640. Galco 2-1\2" Colt Python pancake holster uncle Mike pocket for 640. The 686+ is a super smooth accurate shooter stock. Action getting better with use and smoother than my old 640. Super deal on great holster,close out! Galco Combat Master Belt Holster CM222, CM222B, CM102, CM126B, CM250B, CM226B, CM159, CM212B, CM103, CM292B, CM244, CM158, CM476, CM293, CM134, CM112, CM112B, CM202, CM286, CM251, CM228, CM118, CM424B, CM286B, CM104, CM472B, CM126, CM212, CM223, CM26
 

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Really nice gun. In my world, guns are for shooting and yours looks like it will fill that bill nicely. Love the sights, especially the rear fixed.
 
Congrats, it looks great and now it's even better as it has become the gun you'd always hoped it would be.

I'm pretty happy with my stock 3" 686+ but all these threads get one to thinking...which can be dangerous. :p
 
SeamasterSig said:
Did you use the real gold bead or the brass "aka" gold bead? If the rear sight is not adjustable, scout around for something to use as a shim that will lift it just enough to compensate your aim one inch.
Click to expand...

Great idea on the shim, thanks. That'll be my next weekend project. As for the gold bead, I'm not sure. I purchased it from a member here on the forum a few months ago. It's made by SDM and looks pretty solid to me.

 
357-RevolverGuy said:
Great idea on the shim, thanks. That'll be my next weekend project. As for the gold bead, I'm not sure. I purchased it from a member here on the forum a few months ago. It's made by SDM and looks pretty solid to me.
Click to expand...

I think SDM only makes genuine gold beads. I had my hands on the S&W brass bead/partridge sight and it was plenty bright as long as there was some light shining on it. The bead looked flat at first glance, but was actually slightly convex. It's hard to tell from the pictures: Is yours flat or possibly slightly convex/concave?
 
That looks just about like the perfect self defence/carry revolver... I also use Magna's and Tyler T's on my 66 and 19 snubs for carry. I have a box full of grips I will be selling soon.
 
Awesome!

That is the natural progression from the old standard M66 2.5" RB from decades ago! Truly a nice piece!
 
Congrats, and I really like what you have done with it! My only problem now is that you have probably cost me money, now that I've seen your set-up! But, of course, that's a good problem!
 
SeamasterSig said:
Looks great! A few simple mods was all it took to make you happy with something you already had. Did you use the real gold bead or the brass "aka" gold bead? If the rear sight is not adjustable, scout around for something to use as a shim that will lift it just enough to compensate your aim one inch.
Click to expand...

OP - Beautiful revolver and I really like what you've done with it. I was going to suggest exactly what Seamaster already has...... shim that back sight. If it ends up too high leaving a gap between sight base and frame, you should have enough material on that front sight to shave it down and re-drill the pin hole.

Between the two, or one or the other, you should have your POA/POI dialed.

The 3" Talo with un-fluted cylinder was on my short list a couple weeks ago. Very nice!
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I ended up using a set of washers to raise the rear sight. 2 washers on each screw did the job. It does leave a gap between frame and sight but honestly it doesn't bother me a bit. I sort of like how different it looks. And the most important thing is that it's now shooting dead on target. After a few range sessions over the past few weeks I was aiming at targets out to 20 and 30 yards and having such a fun time getting all the shots in the zone.

 
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