686 5 inch half lug?

[FHBrumb]

This pistol will be my range gun primarily. It will be the underbed bump in the night grab and go, however. It will live in a lock box much of it's life.

My regular carry is a Springfield XD-45 compact, dressed my way. That one never sees the inside of the lock box.

I'm not sure I'll remove the lock.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I bought one of the Stocking Dealer models when they came out.It is a nice revolver.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

The lock is not required by law and thus it is not illegal to remove. It is very easy to do yourself.

 

[FHBrumb]

My pistol made it to my local FFL today. I had a chance to check it out as the nice lady called to see if I was an OK guy or not. In about 48 hours, it comes home with me!

The seller was very accurate with the description. It looks like a brand new pistol that someone fired 7 shots through, and gave up. It needs a good detail cleaning, but it's in fine shape.

I'm new to a "V" notch. I'm not sure how much I like it. It will take some getting used to.

I wanna say the test fire date was 10-04.

 

[Stainz]

I adapted a quick way to use the V-notch on mine when shooting steel Plate Challenge. I bury the orange dot in it's apex below the nearby plate's (7-12 yd) center and put it at the top of the vee for longer distance plates (25+yd). It works well with my lite .38 Special/wimpy .357 Magnum homebrews. You'll love the balance, particularly when you get your Ahrends grips. Be sure to post a picture - and enjoy it!

Stainz

 

[FHBrumb]

I got the pistol out to the range, and I love it!

I sighted in at 25 yards with 38 Specials, and then stepped up to 50 yards. I could not hit at all.

I swapped out to the Hornady LeverEvolution 140 grain magnums, and I put 21 shots onto an 8 inch Shoot-N-See target.

Now I just need to practice, and get that out at 100 yards!!!

 

[gary ray]

This 7 shot 5 incher is a great, great revo; really, i think s&w's best overall 357. Consider its advantages: <UL TYPE=SQUARE> <LI>5 inch tube is the best for 357: much handier than a six for me, and ballistically adds a lot over 4 and shorter; <LI>L frame means durable for 357 and odd number means a strong cylinder; <LI>Although i love N frames, they make for a clumsy 357 bigger than needed; <LI> Stainless is better for me in a working gun. [/list]I love the front sight too . . . but couldn't handle the V; thats okay, for a few dollars i substituted a square notch.

For me, the best s&w 357 ever made.

-- gary ray

 

[FHBrumb]

First time out. 50 Yards.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Here is mine, still NIB. Later John

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by FHBrumb:
I thought this was an interesting pistol, and I'm buying it. Until I saw this, I thought that a 686 was pretty much guaranteed a full underlug. The seller swears it's not just a 5 inch 620, but a half lug 5 inch 686. Can anyone tell me more about the half lug 686?

These were a special run of 686s with 7 shot cylinders made for one of the distributors.

 

[Guest]

Stocking Dealer gun...

Not to be confused with the earlier full lug M686 with 5 inch barrel, also made for the Stocking Dealer program

 

[Crunchy Frog]

I happened to see one of the five inch full lug revolvers at a local gun show yesterday. I'd never even heard of a five inch 686 before. When I did a bit of research I found several references to the half lug version but this is the first info I ran across on the gun I saw.

The gun had round butt Hogue rubber grips; perhaps they had been changed.

 

[JTWNZL]

686-6. Bought used, has 5 inch barrel with standard sights, and houge grip. I believe the serial number is from 2001 that predates the Stocking dealer exclusive.

Barrel is a one piece, it isn't a 620.

 

[Rubone]

Mine is the full lug, pre lock 5" stocking dealer with the sights changed.

 

[BruceM]

I really like that half lug barrel

It's interesting that Smith & Wesson latched on to the term "half lug barrel". Smith originally termed this a "heavy barrel" such as that on the original .44 Magnum and 1955 Target .45. This would be as opposed to the standard tapered barrel on say the .357 Magnum. Then again, their marketing folks came up with "crush fit" barrel fitting which is really just standard fitting less the pin.

Bruce