686-6 limited edition Golden Grizzly

[BabaBlueJay]

Just landed my personal grail gun in my birth year 686-3 snub and of course now I had to find another pursuit as a 686 enthusiast. Never been a collector, but the 686 might have started something for me. While I regret selling my first one, a 4" 686-1 now that I got the grail I'm thinking a limited edition one like this might be cool as a hunting handgun.

While I hate the lock, I think this cool limited edition 686 may be an exception. If anyone owns one, let me know what you think of it.

 

[Yendor357]

For $50, you could buy one of those plugs, and make the hole go away. I haven't done it to my 617; it's on the "to do" list.

Starting in 1986, in Indiana, you could legally shoot deer during firearm season. A six inch 686 was all I had in the way of deer guns back then, so it got pressed into service. And served me well. I shot a bunch of deer with that six incher. I shot a few groundhogs with it as well. Somewhere down the line I bought a four in her as well. I dare say that I can shoot a 4 almost as good as a six.

I don't have a 3 inch 686. But I do have a new model Python with a 3 inch barrel. I can't shoot the 3 as well as I can the 4. With the three, there's just no room for error whatsoever. On a good day, I have shot 2 1/2 inch 5 shot groups, 25 yards, from braced, sitting. That might get the job done from a tree stand. But nowadays, I can take a rifle and longer shots.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

For $50, you could buy one of those plugs, and make the hole go away. I haven't done it to my 617; it's on the "to do" list.

Starting in 1986, in Indiana, you could legally shoot deer during firearm season. A six inch 686 was all I had in the way of deer guns back then, so it got pressed into service. And served me well. I shot a bunch of deer with that six incher. I shot a few groundhogs with it as well. Somewhere down the line I bought a four in her as well. I dare say that I can shoot a 4 almost as good as a six.

I don't have a 3 inch 686. But I do have a new model Python with a 3 inch barrel. I can't shoot the 3 as well as I can the 4. With the three, there's just no room for error whatsoever. On a good day, I have shot 2 1/2 inch 5 shot groups, 25 yards, from braced, sitting. That might get the job done from a tree stand. But nowadays, I can take a rifle and longer shots.

About how close do you need to be for a clean shot?

 

[Bald1]

I've killed deer at 50 yds with a 686 no dash 6". Keep your shots at bow ranges, and angles and you'll be fine. 158gr of your choice is all that's necessary.

 

[Pizza Bob]

While certainly not suitable for hunting (at least any four-legged game) here is a very unusual 686-6. It is a 6-shot, 3" barrel chambered in .38 Spl. Here's what Roy had to say about it:

Bob, product code 164388 is a Model 686 3 inch barrel, caliber .38 S&W Special and was shipped in April 2010. It was a special but I do not have much information on it. I found just two units in this serial range and they went to different distributors which lead me to believe the were made early as a special order and these over runs from that order and S&W was cleaning out their inventory. That is the best I can do. Roy

Stocks by our own Ken Driskill.

Another unusual 686 that you should aspire to is one chambered in .38 Super. IIRC These were done for Bangers - a S&W distributor.

Just my $.02

Adios,

Pizza Bob