My First S&W, 686 - 4 and now my SECOND!!

SR Burton · Jul 8, 2009

Here is my first S&W, a 686 with a 4" barrel. I shot one this week for the first time at the range. As accurate as any pistol I own. Liked it so much, I bought one today. They had several new and one used one. I liked the character of the older one, and here it is. Will head off to the range in a couple days with my new favorite.

The serial number is BRC 49XX. If anyone has an idea of the date, I'd be grateful.

Thanks for a great revolver site!

Revolver King · Jul 8, 2009

I think the 686-4 is the best of the 686s, yours was made in summer of 1994.

SR Burton · Jul 8, 2009

Thanks for the update, that was fast. I'm sure I'll learn a lot by reading posts here. I have a feeling this site is going to cost me a lot of money...

panamajack310 · Jul 8, 2009

Hi, welcome to the forum. I hope we can feed to your new found revolver addiction.
+1 on the 686-4 being one of the best produced 686's I have had several 686's over the years. I currently have a 2.5" 7 shot 686-4 that I love to shoot. It is way more accurate than I could ever be....You will love it.

j38 · Jul 8, 2009

Welcome to the Forum! That's a really nice example of a 686. I think the stocks on yours are especially good looking. If you find your interest in S&Ws growing, you will want to put the "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd Ed." by Supica and Nahas on your reading list. This is the best S&W text going and will give you detailed rundowns of each model - year of mfg., variations , etc.

Enjoy that gun,

Jerry

Wayne M · Jul 9, 2009

Can't argue with anyone's choice when it's a 686! Great revolver.

girvin02 · Jul 9, 2009

Yours must have been manufactured right before they made the switch from wood to (Hogue) rubber stocks. I bought my 686-4 (BSD38XX), new, in 1995 - it came with goodyears. I much prefer the look of wood. Nice gun - congratulations!

69HEMI-R/T · Jul 9, 2009

That is a beautiful Model 686! The 4" model is my favorite and I have a 2 1/2", 4", and 6" model. Actually, I love all of them but the 4" model gets shot the most!

Congrats on a beauty!

HEMI

18DAI · Jul 9, 2009

Congrats! The 686-4 version was as good as it got with the model 686. Enjoy yours! Regards 18DAI.

mdwiese · Jul 9, 2009

Congrats on a great looking revolver! I just picked up a 686-3 4 inch myself!

vytoland · Jul 9, 2009

SR...........welcome to the world of S&W. you have one fine revolver. my first handgun was also a 686...............S&W 686-4pp

bigun · Jul 10, 2009

SR Burton said:
Here is my first S&W, a 686 with a 4" barrel. I shot one this week for the first time at the range. As accurate as any pistol I own. Liked it so much, I bought one today. They had several new and one used one. I liked the character of the older one, and here it is. Will head off to the range in a couple days with my new favorite.

The serial number is BRC 49XX. If anyone has an idea of the date, I'd be grateful.

Thanks for a great revolver site!

1)You have a great looking 686-4 there! And those stocks are nice enough to die for! Congrats!

2)I acquired this 4" 686-3 NIB three years ago and it's still unshot:

SR Burton · Jul 10, 2009

Bigun,
That's a beauty! Looks a lot like mine. In real nice shape with nice stocks also. Any plans to shoot it in the near future?

duckloads · Jul 10, 2009

Your first S&W is a 686-4? Good for you. I've handled a few, but I'm waiting for one with an 8 3/8 barrel.

bigun · Jul 10, 2009

SR Burton said:
Bigun,
That's a beauty! Looks a lot like mine. In real nice shape with nice stocks also. Any plans to shoot it in the near future?

Well, I've been considering to possibly shoot my 686? I also have a 4-inch Ruger GP100 that I might want to take to the range along with my 686 to compare their shooting performance. Just a thought at this time. How about you, are you planning to shoot your 686?

SR Burton · Jul 10, 2009

bigun said:
Well, I've been considering to possibly shoot my 686? I also have a 4-inch Ruger GP100 that I might want to take to the range along with my 686 to compare their shooting performance. Just a thought at this time. How about you, are you planning to shoot your 686?

Yes. It will get shot a lot. Both the indoor and outdoor ranges. She'll be out of the safe every week or so.

357_mag_mama · Jul 10, 2009

A big welcome from Indiana! Love your 686, I bought my first revolver the day after the elections last November, also a 4" 686, but from 1983. Great gun! My fav of all my guns.

bassoneer · Jul 11, 2009

Great gun

I bought that exact model back in the early ninties and loved it. It was probably my favorite gun of all time, but when we had small kids in the house we temporarily sold the gun (for the following 15 years). If I had it to do over again, I would have simply bought a safe like I have now. I have purchased several new guns over the last year, including a new 686P, 4" model with the internal lock...it is the most accurate gun that I have and it is the most fun gun to shoot, but I still like the -4 model from the early ninties better. You have, in my opinion, one of the greatest firearms ever manufactured and your great grandkids will be shooting it a hundred years from now when you and I are long gone. You did good. B

SR Burton · Jul 12, 2009

Just wanted to say thank you for all the nice comments I've read about my first S&W purchase. I don't know much about them, but I saw this used one and told the guy I'd take it after about 10 seconds of holding it.

After reading everyone's comments, I feel better about my impulse buy. They are functioning works of art. Thanks again everyone.

BarkSlayer · Jul 12, 2009

Excellent choice! I bought my new 686 4" the day after Thanksgiving last year and it's my favorite of five revolvers (four Smiths and a Colt).

Welcome to the board.

My First S&W, 686 - 4 and now my SECOND!!

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