I'm shopping around for a 686 and would like thoughts on the 6 shot vs plus 7 shot. Also, what does everyone think of the 4 vs 6 inch barrel? Would the 6 inch have more collectors value later? It would mainly be a range gun and travel gun. Yes, I am aware of the newer smiths have MIM parts and IL's.

There's so many of them it would be a loooong time before they had collector value. Also my opinion is in the future the value will be in shorter barrels. My vote is 7 shot 4"

Thanks for the reply. Local shop has a new one for $608 out the door for a regular 686, and the 7 shot is $635 OTD NEW.

Pretty good price. I paid $739 OTD for my 3" Talo Edition

Love the 3"

If range use might include competition, then the sanctioning body has specifications. Not sure what a "travel gun" means. Might want to consider 5" lengths also, or maybe an 8 shot "N" frame.
Personally, my 4" 686+ seems to make me a better shooter than anything else. Love it at the range.

No competition shooting, just plinking at the range. By travel, I mean something to stick in my car when I travel to other cities in my state.

I'm partial to the 4 inch models. Mainly because my best shooting is with a 4 inch 681 and 686. I also admire the looks of the 4 inch models over the longer barrels. I've never owned a plus model but having an extra round seems like a positive to me.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

In my opinion the 4" 7 shot. Why not have one more shot? As far as the length goes 6" will be great for target and hunting but I think the 4" is perfect for all around use and is more than long enough to reach out there at the range.

For me, the 4" is the just right "utility" size for what you describe.

Hello All! New to Forum.
Those are EXCELLENT Prices! I have a 686 Plus 3".
I would get the 4" Plus , and don`t look back. I personally think the 4" is the best "All Around" Size.
If I were going to use it for hunting w/ heavy loads , I would go with a 6".
The 686 is a great gun!
Regards , Pete

I've always been told that there's nothing you can do with a six inch barrel that you can't also do with a four inch. Is this axiom universally true? No. Is it, however, largely correct? Yes, I think that it is; and a four inch barrel is a little faster out of the holster, too.

My strong personal preference is for Safariland, 'Comp II' speedloaders. Last time I checked they only came in a six shot model.

I have a 6 inch 686 +. It is great, once you get used to the size and feel. A pleasure to shoot as well. It did not take long for me to get used to the extra 2 inches. It just felt right to me. See if you can feel the guns before you buy!

I went through the same thought process, and just got a 4" plus.

See if you can get your hands on both, for me the 4" is balanced and points naturally without me trying. The 6" I had to think about keeping it level. 4" just felt like a natural (yet heavy) extension of my hand.

As far as 7 vs. 6, I saw no reason to give up the extra round. The only arguments I've read for choosing the 6-shot are "it's traditional, it's called a 6-shooter for a reason" or if you're planning to use it in competition for a class that specifies a max of 6 shots. If you're not buying the gun as a traditionalist collector or specifically for competition it just made sense to get the extra round.

You haven't bought it yet??? I have a pair. I bought the 1st 686 plus several years ago and stumbled across an identical one local this year and bought it too.

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Dan
Ps 96 SWCA 2930 SWHF 524

Nice! how do the cylinders compare, is the 686 7 shot cylinder larger and wider than a 6 round cylinder? Or are the charging holes just closer together? No issues with the cylinders failing or cracking?

I agree that the 4" revolver makes for a better all round length. As far as the number of charge holes, I like six and it works for me, the way I shoot and my current set up, speed loaders etc. I've on come across a 5" N-Frame and Taurus 8-shot revolvers here.

Hello, sir. I have two plus models and one 6-round model. The cylinder diameter is the same; the chambers are closer together on the plus model. This doesn't compromise the strength of the plus model. In fact, the plus model may be a tad stronger at the case heads, since the stop notches are between the chambers rather than on top of them.

Regards,
Andy

Rickbaales - the pre-lock ones are the best ones to have. The 686-4 models are the primo 686 made. IF YOU CAN FIND ONE, that is under $1000 bucks. The top of the pile, A#1 is the 686-4 7 shooter Pre-lock. Good luck finding that one, I have tried for several years. I have two 6" a 686-4 7 shooter and a 586 6 shooter both pre-lock 6; a 686-4 2.5 inch 7 shooter pre-lock, a blue 586-7 4 inch 7 shooter with lock removed. And finally a 4 inch 686-7 7 shooter lock removed. Better get one now before they are too expensive or hard to find. I do not like the guns with the barrel shrouds. And Smith & Wesson may start building revolvers with different type of barrels: flat sides or blade type of barrel lugs or some kind of new lock. Not for me. A price will be paid in one way or another that you might not like. I don't like the locks, but bought two with them because I could not find what I wanted... for the price. Remember they will only get more expensive and rarer.

I chose a 6 inch 686 mainly because all my shooting is at the range, I can't count to 7, and I'm compensating for having a tiny Johnson.

Thanks for the information everybody. Yeah I wish SW would have the option of no locks on new revolvers. I have a 686-3 pre lock that is fun to shoot. I notice that they do manufacture some 642 and 442 revolvers with no locks.

I recently purchased a new 686 Plus, 2.5" barrel for $729 plus tax at my LGS. So the price you are being quoted is a good one.

I just went through the 4" vs 6" barrel decision for a new Model 617. The 4" won hands down for the better balance. That 6" barrel will get front heavy during extended range sessions. I know from shooting my 6" GP100.

I prefer longer barrels for 357 so that the round can reach its full velocity. I also believe the longer barrel makes it more accurate. Many would prefer the 4" inch as the most versatile since it is short enough to carry. In either, I would go for the extra round of the 686+, and the longer barrel since it is not a carry gun. Good luck and enjoy whatever YOU choose. Those prices are about $100-$150 better than I would expect. Where is this shop?

I just got a 6" 686 no-dash. Paid about $700 for it in GB. I went for the 6" because that is more of a target length. I already have a 4" Colt Diamondback, so I wanted something bigger (would have gotten a Python if I could, but those are just ridiculous $$$$).

I did some research and the gun I was looking for was -4 model or earlier. After that they aren't made the same and the new ones have the lock, which I didn't want to deal with. I'm curious what the difference would be between -4 and my no-dash model? (If anyone want's to chime in on the differences between the different dash models, I'm all ears).

As for the rounds, I might like to do a little competition shooting one day, and I know they usually are 6-round shooting, so I didn't want the 7-round + model. But if you don't plan on competition shooting, then I don't see any reason not to get 7-rounds.

As for 6" vs. 4". The way a friend put it to me, 4" is the service model, and 6" is competition and target model. It's not that the 6" is more accurate. Any 2" barrel is going to be just as accurate as an 8" barrel, it's only a matter of where the bullet is heading when it leaves the barrel that matters, not the length of the barrel. What the barrel length does is give the shooter a wider radius with which to line up the sights. So the length of the barrel helps you aim better, but doesn't make the gun more accurate per say. So maybe you can say that the longer barrel makes the shooter more accurate, but then again the extra weight may offset the aiming factor and the easier handling of a 4" in a heavy gun like the 686 may be easier and thus more accurate for some shooters. So really it's more about the individual shooter preference probably than the gun.

I have a 686 6" and a 686+ 4". Personally, I give the edge to the 6" in terms of accuracy. And I do not mind the extra weight. So overall, I prefer a 6" revolver to a 4" revolver. The longer sight radius does help with accuracy.

Other opinions may differ. My 4" 686+ is a really fine revolver too. You won't go wrong with either.

Seven shots is better than 6, no doubt of that. I will say that the 686 cylinder walls are thicker. Ain't never going to fail, but then again the 686+ isn't going to fail either.

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Army veteran, NRA Life Member

Thanks everyone, I chose the 686+, 4".now I have to find a holster.

If it was going to be my one and only I would choose the 4 inch. The 4 inch is the sweet spot for versatility and accuracy and possibility of carry. If there are other revolvers in the safe and I was choosing one to take to the range and have fun, I would likely choose the 6 inch because I practice enough that I can see a difference between 4 inch and 6 inch shooting accuracy.
Might as well get the 7 shot. Who knows if you might need it. The 7 and 6 shot cylinders are the same size and the 7 shot is actually supposed to be stronger.

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Accuracy supercedes Speed