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07-08-2017, 09:06 AM
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M686 The Epitome
Yup, if you don't have this one, you don't really have a 686. Made circa 1993. . .the M686-4. Case hardened smaller hammer and smooth trigger. Drilled and tapped. Like you don't really need that, but it's there. Square butt. . .the last one. Combats added by me, although I prefer magna grips. The cylinder latch mechanism actually opens the cylinder smoothly and flawlessly (more like a Colt). I never see that in a Smith. Double action trigger pull beats any Smith I own, and I have over 100. Single action trigger pull is as good as my M52 and beats my Colt Target/Match revolvers. This one is at the top of the food chain. Everything good came to fruition and everything bad arrived a few years later. Forget the PC guns. When you see this one out for sale, grab it. I had to pay $460 for it last year. Hesitated, but glad I got it. This is the gun that Rick on Walking Dead should be carrying. . .lol. As accurate as a Python? I doubt it, but don't know for sure. I can only shoot 1 inch groups at 30 feet offhand, so my skill level is not up finding out how accurate any gun really is.
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07-08-2017, 09:57 AM
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The 6" .357 is the most versatile handgun out there. A good 686 IS at the top of the food chain. (I have 9 of them).
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07-08-2017, 10:13 AM
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The first Smith I ever owned was a 4" 686 with combats, which bought NIB. I carried it for the first 7 years of my career. It's also one of the many guns I regret selling.
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07-08-2017, 10:16 AM
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Have not owned a 686, been looking at a 586, can we class them together? You got me thinking about it,over the 28 I've wanted for some time!
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07-08-2017, 10:30 AM
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If I could have only one....... more likely than not it would be a 4" 686.
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07-08-2017, 10:47 AM
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I like them all! Especially these three!
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07-08-2017, 11:18 AM
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I own a Sig Legion, Colt 1911, Glock, Shield, Jframe, but my 686's are my favorite by far. They are all good.I like all Barrel lengths.
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07-08-2017, 01:11 PM
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Yeah, the M586 will do too. Just a lot harder to find due to the shorter production period and dominance of the M686 when they were available. I agree about the 6 inch barrel. It does create a better and more powerful gun if you can handle the extra length on your belt.
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07-08-2017, 01:26 PM
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The epitome? Well I don't know about all that. But that sure is some fine steel, no doubt. And wood too. Thanks for sharing.
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07-08-2017, 03:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadmike
The epitome? Well I don't know about all that. But that sure is some fine steel, no doubt. And wood too. Thanks for sharing.
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Colt Python is nice to look at IMO...... don't like the double action as much as a L frame Smith...... LOL if it wasn't for "The Walking Dead" they'd be a lot cheaper........
To DocB's point ........ I scored a couple of +95% 4 and 6 inch 586 sock drawer guns over the years..... including a 4" round but 586-6 which now wears a set of Spegel Extended Boot Grips in Birdseye maple........pretty as any Python IMHO!!!!!!!
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07-08-2017, 04:28 PM
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My -3 is at the gunsmith now, waiting to be round-butted for a set of Spegel grips.
Beadblasted, Bowen rear sight, speedloader angle on the thumbpiece, triggerguard halved in front of the trigger on the right side, action job had already been done.
Probably my last custom piece.
May even possibly replace my Rugers as a wilderness carry gun in my declining years.
Good material to work with, and the -3 & -4 are the best eras of the 686, in my opinion.
Denis
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07-08-2017, 10:05 PM
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Good luck with your 686. I will make do With mine.
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07-08-2017, 10:12 PM
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make mine the NO dash 686...four....trusted with my life since 1980
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07-08-2017, 10:19 PM
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I agree - my 686-4 is one of my favorites. It's my house gun as I trust it implicitly to put rounds on target. If forced to reduce all but one of my wheelguns, I'd probably keep the 686.
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07-08-2017, 10:27 PM
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Well, my gun isn't as good as yours......
....but I have a no dash that I wouldn't sell for love or money.
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07-08-2017, 10:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwsmith
....but I have a no dash that I wouldn't sell for love or money.
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A luscious lady devoted to your every whim and $100 million change your mind?
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07-09-2017, 12:25 AM
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My grail 686 would be the dash 5, from 1997. I much prefer having the pinned on front sight, and don't have any problems with the MIM bits, and frame mounted firing pin. A good trade off, and still pre lock!
Best,
Rick
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07-09-2017, 01:40 AM
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Naaaaaaah....
Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleEd
A luscious lady devoted to your every whim and $100 million change your mind?
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Maybe at one time, but things change and that doesn't interest me one bit. The luscious lady would have probably have influenced me a great deal.
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07-09-2017, 01:50 AM
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Found my grail 686 - a no dash 2.5" LH.
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07-09-2017, 04:30 AM
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I have been fortunate to be the caretaker of some fine shoot'n irons. Including several 686's and 586's. Ain't they great!
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07-09-2017, 12:45 PM
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Tongue In Cheek . . . But . . .
Quote:
Originally Posted by DocB
Yup, if you don't have this one, you don't really have a 686. Made circa 1993. . .the M686-4. Case hardened smaller hammer and smooth trigger. Drilled and tapped. Like you don't really need that, but it's there. Square butt. . .the last one. Combats added by me, although I prefer magna grips. The cylinder latch mechanism actually opens the cylinder smoothly and flawlessly (more like a Colt). I never see that in a Smith. Double action trigger pull beats any Smith I own, and I have over 100. Single action trigger pull is as good as my M52 and beats my Colt Target/Match revolvers. This one is at the top of the food chain. Everything good came to fruition and everything bad arrived a few years later. Forget the PC guns. When you see this one out for sale, grab it. I had to pay $460 for it last year. Hesitated, but glad I got it. This is the gun that Rick on Walking Dead should be carrying. . .lol. As accurate as a Python? I doubt it, but don't know for sure. I can only shoot 1 inch groups at 30 feet offhand, so my skill level is not up finding out how accurate any gun really is.
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Yup, if you don't have this one, you don't really have a .357 Magnum. Made circa 2016 . . .the Performance Center TRR8. Case hardened hammer and smooth trigger. Drilled and tapped. Like you don't really need that, but it's there. Round butt. . . One of many. Combats added by S&W, although I prefer wooden grips. The cylinder latch mechanism actually opens the cylinder smoothly and flawlessly (Just like the M&P R8). I never see that in an older Smith. Double action trigger pull beats any Smith I own, and I have over eight. Single action trigger pull is as good as my Stealth Hunter. This one is at the top of the food chain. Everything good came to fruition and everything bad arrived a few years earlier. Forget the dated .357's, this is the .357 for the 21st century. Capacity, balance, accuracy, action, weight. When you see this one out for sale, grab it. I had to pay $1,130 for it last year. Hesitated, but glad I got it. This is the gun that Maggie on Walking Dead actually carries. As accurate as a Python? More so with the shrouded barrel design, see the 75 meter group below from a tree stand from a rest with optic. So free yourself from that inexplicable attachment to the past, "The Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P 327 TRR8 (Tactical Rail Revolver 8) is capable doing most anything a semiauto can do and some things it can’t do." Handgun Magazine. "A revolver for the 21st Century." Police Magazine.
Glad you like your ca. 1993 686. I do too.
Last edited by dwever; 07-09-2017 at 01:10 PM.
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07-09-2017, 03:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dwever
Yup, if you don't have this one, you don't really have a .357 Magnum. Made circa 2016 . . .the Performance Center TRR8. Case hardened hammer and smooth trigger. Drilled and tapped. Like you don't really need that, but it's there. Round butt. . . One of many. Combats added by S&W, although I prefer wooden grips. The cylinder latch mechanism actually opens the cylinder smoothly and flawlessly (Just like the M&P R8). I never see that in an older Smith. Double action trigger pull beats any Smith I own, and I have over eight. Single action trigger pull is as good as my Stealth Hunter. This one is at the top of the food chain. Everything good came to fruition and everything bad arrived a few years earlier. Forget the dated .357's, this is the .357 for the 21st century. Capacity, balance, accuracy, action, weight. When you see this one out for sale, grab it. I had to pay $1,130 for it last year. Hesitated, but glad I got it. This is the gun that Maggie on Walking Dead actually carries. As accurate as a Python? More so with the shrouded barrel design, see the 75 meter group below from a tree stand from a rest with optic. So free yourself from that inexplicable attachment to the past, "The Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P 327 TRR8 (Tactical Rail Revolver 8) is capable doing most anything a semiauto can do and some things it can’t do." Handgun Magazine. "A revolver for the 21st Century." Police Magazine.
Glad you like your ca. 1993 686. I do too.
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The 686 is every bit as accurate as a Python and I've owned both. I prefer the Smiths.
And while I don't own a TRR8 I really do own .357's.
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07-09-2017, 04:26 PM
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Prefer the -3's myself but I own -3 and -4 and -5 versions of the 686.
The -3 has the advantage of flash chrome hammers and triggers. Just makes more sense on a SS revolver.
There were some early -4 models with flash chrome, would love to find one of those.
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07-09-2017, 04:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toolguy
The 4" .357 is the most versatile handgun out there. A good 686 IS at the top of the food chain. (I have 9 of them).
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Let me help you out and fix this for you.........
There you go, now it is correct!
IF I was ever forced to have only 1 revolver, it would be a 4", without a doubt the most versatile barrel length for a revolver.
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07-09-2017, 04:43 PM
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The 686 is the first gun issued to me when I started in law enforcement in 1986, and it is also the reason for my addiction to S&W revolvers. I have only two now, both 686-4+ models. I really like the 586's for the same reasons, but the stainless is easier to care for.
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07-09-2017, 10:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grip frame
The -3 has the advantage of flash chrome hammers and triggers. Just makes more sense on a SS revolver.
There were some early -4 models with flash chrome, would love to find one of those.
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I lucked into my 686-4 with flash-chromed hammer and trigger a few years back. Previous owner was selling to finance a semiautomatic. $500 bought the gun, a Bianchi holster, 2 HKS speedloaders and an Galco pouch. Probably the best money I've ever spent.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
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07-09-2017, 10:51 PM
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While I prefer a SB frame over a RB on 4"guns and have seen quite a few 6 shot 688-4's for sale have yet to find a 4' Square Butt 686-4+ with the seven shot cylinder.
In the mean time have a RB 686-4+ that along with the 686-5+ Mountain Gun with Herrets conversion stocks are my two favorites.
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07-09-2017, 11:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine49guy
While I prefer a SB frame over a RB on 4"guns and have seen quite a few 6 shot 688-4's for sale have yet to find a 4' Square Butt 686-4+ with the seven shot cylinder.
In the mean time have a RB 686-4+ that along with the 686-5+ Mountain Gun with Herrets conversion stocks are my two favorites.
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Does such an animal exist? A factory 686-4+ with a SB? Haven't seen or heard of one yet.
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07-10-2017, 12:02 AM
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My 4" 686-4 has a round butt. Came with S&W logo'd rubber finger groove Hogues which I replaced with Ahrends Cocobolo Retro Targets RB to SB.
Serial number BUF38XX don't know what year that would be.
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07-10-2017, 10:51 PM
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IIRC the dash 4 revision came in 1993, The 7 shot version was introduced in 1995 on the RB frame and in 1996 the SB frame was deleted.
While I have yet to see one my guess is there could be a few out there since Rule No#1 with S&W is there are no rules with S&W,
Perhaps if a reasonably priced six shot 686-4 SB pops up it might end up getting a cylinder swap
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07-10-2017, 11:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine49guy
IIRC the dash 4 revision came in 1993, The 7 shot version was introduced in 1995 on the RB frame and in 1996 the SB frame was deleted.
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SCSW-4 states the 686-4+ came out in 1996 and the -5+ came out in 1997. If this is correct, the possible overlap with the SB could be very short. A factory lettered -4+ with a SB would likely be a rare bird indeed. One to watch for! Add another to my list........
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07-10-2017, 11:25 PM
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4 or 6 inch? Flash chrome or case hardened? SB or RB? Dash number? Any way you slice it the 586/686 set up is a tough one to beat. The four I have I enjoy greatly and would not want to have to pick just one. Great thread.
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07-10-2017, 11:35 PM
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I prefer my 586 no dash, the bluing is gorgeous and the accuracy is amazing. I agree with those here, it is my safe queen.
Last edited by Toblerra; 07-10-2017 at 11:37 PM.
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07-11-2017, 09:05 PM
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Interesting thread, lots of good info, here's my only two!
The 4" is a -0, with M, the 2.5" is a -4.
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