586 or 686?

[Roamingdoc]

Some beautiful wheel guns here. I bought, in '66, an orig K-22 Masterpiece... store owner talked then 16yr old kid out of a M29, said I should learn on something smaller first. Wise fellow. Went from there to a M19 and then (!) over a few years a few Model 29s (Blue and I'm not sure but prob all it came in back then), 4" and 6" (yeah, the .44 did come in 4" but maybe I'm recalling wrong). I didn't go the pistol route until I touched a Browning HI-Power in 69-70, once touched I had to have it... and I owned some (gasp) nice smaller Colts (Detective Special was sweet). Lost all but the 19 in a divorce...sigh.
I like the new S&Ws but wonder if there is "any" (?) truth to the rumors of poor quality control since the '60's and '70s'?? All be safe.

 

[all357mag]

Go with the 586.

 

[Research Nerd]

I vote 686

I looked at both before I bought my 686. The stainless steel is just so eye catching. When you shine her up its a sight to see. My wife has a blued 38 special, but I just like the stainless better.

Added bonus is its a shooter. I'm not a great shot by any means and I was making golf ball sized patterns at 15 yards my first trip to the range. Smith and Wesson is making some great revolvers, you can't go wrong with either one.

Enjoy your new revolver and welcome to the forum, the guys on here are as good as they get.

Ryan Z.
Spring, Tx

 

[Wild Bill n Moyock]

Good call....great choice..686 distinguished combat magnum.
For tha non-believers, mine is 6 inches of pure fury, mag-na-ported with Hogue grips.....at 100 yrds from a millit rest, three rounds of win silver-tips, a two inch vertical line in a five gal bucket of sand, my buddy couldn't hit tha bucket.
My new one is a seven shot 686.
Keep in mind, wheel guns have been around longer, and will remain.
Like tha ol guys said above, your gun can "out shoot you", you must take tha time and learn how to shoot "Her", She is a fine weapon and deserves to be treated as such.
And if you make a ragged hole at 25 yrds with a 1911, you can hit a 5 gal bucket at a 100....I also shoot mod 29's, we have hit bowling pins at 200 yrds, off hand, 3 out of 6 rounds, ya just haff to practice.....safe shooting and ya'll have a happy New Year

Wild Bill,nc

 

[Jessie James 58]

Go with the 686, you will never regret it. I purchased mine when they first came out (4 in), I still have it and it still shoots better than I do.

 

[Smith_68]

In 1982 I presented my wife with a NIB 686 as a duty weapon for her.It served her well and she was proud to carry it and the only thing she changed was the stock grips.Hogue grips still make it stand out as a shooter.She came up to me 3 or 4 years ago and said,I want you to have this as I won't shoot it again.She knows where it is just in case but her choice now is a j frame.

 

[alcanhg]

I had to back out from the 686-1 that I found a couple of days ago because of the ported barrel. I am still in the hunt for a 586 nickel or a 686 with a 4 inch barrel.

 

[mauiblue]

I had to back out from the 686-1 that I found a couple of days ago because of the ported barrel. I am still in the hunt for a 586 nickel or a 686 with a 4 inch barrel.

I would think a ported barrel would be a desirable feature if this would be a range gun as you mentioned on your original post. But if you are looking for a non ported 686 they're out there.

I bought a 686 Plus 4" five years ago and it is my favorite gun to shoot. A few months ago I got a Model 638. Revolvers are the way to rock

Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX using Tapatalk 2

 

[williamlayton]

I have all kinds of dog in this hunt---you do it your way.
First I love blued over Chrome or stainless.
Second choice is Hard Chromed---talk about a knock about finish and prettier than stainless, to me.
Blued are good wearers and not har to keep---leather will take its toll a lot quicker than shooting and cleaning.
Pistols--even a Colt off the shelf--will shoot 3 inches at 25 yards when you get used to it----IF you can.
I can't anymore---but there was a day---measured in years gone by--before I knew better and learned techniques and all about gunsmiths---that I could do it off hand. Now you can doubt this all you want--all I can tell you is what I know.
Blessings

 

[arjay]

Nothing prettier than blued steel and walnut,but my guns that see lots of holster time are either stainless or painted.The blued guns out number them 5 to 1.

586-1

 

[rwsmith]

Blue or SS??

I do prefer the blued appearance, but wanted a range gun and the 686 just made more sense.