...looking to get this 686-2 on Thrusday and it is noted as being a Silhouette model. Only thing different than most .357's I've seen, it has a "wheel" for windage on the front sight.
Anyone want to educate me on this? Thanks, Tim.

...looking to get this 686-2 on Thrusday and it is noted as being a Silhouette model. Only thing different than most .357's I've seen, it has a "wheel" for windage on the front sight.
Anyone want to educate me on this? Thanks, Tim.

I have never owned an S&W Silhouette revolver (I shot TC's) but I have seen them. The front sight adjustment is not for windage but for elevation. Long range pistol silhouette is shot at 50, 100, 150, & 200 yards. Normal sights just do not have the range of adjustment to do that. The silhouette sights worked well as far as I know (at least that's what the owners stated).

Dale53

I picked one up a couple of years ago.
Like Dale53 stated - the front sight is for elevation for long range shooting.
They serve the purpose well.

This is the "first" silhouette model S&W made, a 10 5/8" 29-3 !

And another model they made, an 8 3/8" 586!

These sights worked very well for long distance shooting. The wheel is set on positions 1-4 and a set screw on top made find adjustments to zero in at different yardages.
jcelect

I don't doubt you at all! The gun shop is touting the particular model as a Silhouette though. It is for sure a 686-2 4". I went to pick it up yesterday and after looking it over again real closely, I decided to pass on it. It wasn't because it is or isn't a Silhouette, but more on the mileage that it has. I wanted it to shoot (lots of shooting), not to look at it. The cylinder has way too much play side to side while closed. I would suspect that it would spit lead.
Thanks for the info people!
Have to go out soon and look for the 3rd edition of S&W as it's been suggested.

I did not know that S&W produced a Silhouette model with a 4" barrel model. That short barrel would be a serious disadvantage in competition!

Sorry for the misinformation there. Woke up and started typing before the brain kicked in.
It was a 686-2 6" barrel. Oops.

-it depends on the specific gun, if a revolver spits lead with loose lockup. The Smith design has (some) inherent looseness after lockup. That looseness allows the bullet to align with the forcing cone on the way out of the cylinder. Actually shooting is the only way I know of to determine if a gun spits or not (maybe a range rod would give an indication of problems). BUT I've already sent away for MIM cylinder stops from Brownells and dropped them into a 28-2 and a 67 with success in that they were just as accurate and the "looseness" was minimal.

Well, in the month of December of past, there was a 10% off sale. Gun was $650.00 minus the 10%. This used 686-2 6" was a very clean gun. Since yesterday, I went to "Bud's" site and found a new 686 SS 6" for under $600.00. Would have to pay for shipment and FFL fee.
Now, I'm thinking that the website is the better deal of the two. Value of the 686-2 is questionable to me as it is not "as new".
Any views or comments are welcomed.
Thanks,Tim.