I recently sold my S&W R8 and I'm looking to get something a little smaller to help develop my revolver shooting skills. I'm thinking on getting a S&W 686 Performance Center with a 4" barrel. Though the R8 shot great, I didn't like how large it was (for what I wanted to use it for), the 5" barrel made finding a holster a pain, and the 8 shot capacity made speed loaders cost twice as much or more than 6 or 7 round ones.

Those of you that have or had a 686 PC revolver, do you like it? Would you buy it again? What didn't you like about it or wished you would have got?

I know I don't like the orange plastic front sight from the models that I've held, I would probably be replacing it right away.

In S&W's, I currently own a 642, 329PD, 317 and a 1917.

Thanks for any advice and input.

Well, if the 686 PC is as good as any normal M686 I can recommend it highly!!!! I think this is one of my all time favorite handguns:

__________________
Come and take it!!

You are comparing a Scandium N-frame to a stainless steel L-frame. Was that your intention?

The 4" 686 L-frame will probably be 6-9 ounces heavier than a 5" Model 327 M&P R8

You said the Model 327 M&P R8 was too large for what you wanted to use it. Can you let us know what that use is? Perhaps we have handled something other than a 4" 686 that would fill your needs

I am not a big L-frame fan, so I am not up on all of the various Performance Center offerings that have been around through the years

The one L-frame that I am fond of is my 7 shot 586 L-comp. However it is a 3" and it is blue, not stainless

Most of the L-Frame performance Center offerings that I can think of were personal defensive sidearms with the excaption of the 7" 386 XL Hunter

__________________
"Acta non verba"

My Standard 4" 686+ is a joy to shoot at the range.
My Performance Center 2 1/2" 686+ has a better and smoother action, with different barrel, trigger, hammer, and non-fluted cylinder.
Because it's my preferred barrel length, the Standard 3" 686+ is the one I carry, but wish it had the same factory treatment as the PC version.
Based on my very favorable impression of my current production PC 686+ and the OEM features in it's design, I may get the new 5" PC 686+ model.
I tried your R8 and liked it, but the N frame was too large for my hand.

Comparison of 3" Standard an 2.5" PC 686+ (wood grips OEM).

It is not my intention to compare the Scandium frame to a stainless steel one. Basically, I'm a pretty decent shot with a pistol. I want to increase my skill level with a revolver, even though I have a few, I don't shoot them that often and want to get better (accuracy is fine, developing muscle memory for reloads and speed). I have a membership at Front Sight and plan on using a revolver the next time I attended one of their handgun courses (to develop skills and muscle memory with the revolver).

The R8 fit my hand fine, it just felt a little too big for the type of skills that Front Sight courses have you do (drawing from concealment and shooting/reloading for time and accuracy). I wasn't aware of how much more accessories for the R8 are (generally); 8 round speedloaders are twice as much, if not more, then 6 or 7 round ones, it was a pain to find a holster for a 5" N frame (I ended up having a kydex one made).

Hopefully the above clarifies your questions. I like the look of the 686 PC, the one's I've held felt good in my hand, and the 4" barrel seems to be a good size for what I'm looking to do.

I HAD the 4" 686 PC. It was , ok. I preferred shooting and kept the 5" 686+PC. That is a great gun!
I wont speak of the shots I've taken with mine, but I will speak of my wife.
She can shoot about 2" groups all day long with 125gr magnums @ 16 yards. And she doesn't really like shooting all that much. But the one she does shoot is that one.



My 4" regular lug 686. In a SB. I would prefer shooting that, over the 686 PC 4" any day. For me on a 4" the full lug balance is much better. That's just me.

If you were set on a 4", I would take a full lug 4" 686. And if you want the warranty, the 686-6 is what you need.

I have the 686 Pro Series, 4" barrel, which I think is pretty similar (slightly downscale from) to the 686 PC. I absolutely love it. It is light and handy, and the trigger is very sweet. Hope this helps in your decision. I replaced the red ramp sight with a Dawson Precision FO sight. Easy to do as it is a spring loaded DX mount sight.

__________________
Army veteran, NRA Life Member

My 686-6, has a 5" barrel. It too is a Pro Series. I like everything about it.
There is just something about the lines of it also. Bob

Attached Images

	686-6 002.jpg (62.4 KB, 37 views)
	686-6 001.jpg (62.3 KB, 32 views)
	686-6 ps 003.jpg (80.7 KB, 26 views)
	686-6 ps 005.jpg (93.6 KB, 32 views)

Thank you all for your responses, pics and opinions.

Lou the Welder: what kind of mount is that for your red dot on the 686 PC 5"?

That's a Raptor mount. Raptor engineering.