686 plus performance center 2.5" thoughts?

[BillyMagg]

Dr. Roberts '& others in this field" can say what they want, but they're not carrying guns into dark alleys or subway cars at 2AM. I believe it was Jim Cirillo, the NYPD gunfighter who opined that whatever you brought to a shooting was never big or powerful enough. Before his untimely death, he wrote that a .41 Mag full charge wadcutter load would be most effective. A carry weapon is not a 'nice, fun gun'; it is designed for ugly serious business up close.

Perhaps it would be of value to read the thoughts of veteran LEOs on this Forum with decades of experience as to what they used and what they felt would be effective.

686+ with 2.5" bbl? The heaviest .357 load you can handle in double-tap fire. If you can't, then practice it. Oh, and I'm more concerned about the BG than my hearing.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
____________________


Best $1.80 I ever spent!

Yep, and you will likely set him on Fire as a bonus!

 

[John Rus]

From a post I just wrote on the current "357 vs 38 Special" thread - This is quoting terminal ballistics expert Dr. Gary Roberts:

""Doctor Roberts: "With few exceptions, such as the Speer 135 gr +P JHP and Barnes XPB, the vast majority of .38 Sp JHP's fail to expand when fired from 2" barrels in the 4 layer denim test. [...] There is no reason to go with .357 mag in a J-frame, as the significantly larger muzzle blast and flash, and harsher recoil of the .357 Magnum does not result in substantially improved terminal performance compared to the more controllable .38 Special bullets when fired from 2” barrels." <END OF QUOTE>

I own a 686+ with 4" barrel and its a great gun. IMO (taken from research by Dr. Roberts & others in this field) a 357 with a 2" barrel is a very bad idea. In addition to it not being more effective compared to a snubbie 38 Special, it will Definitely blast your eardrums if you ever need to shoot it in a self defense situation. Being deaf puts you at a disadvantage in any future possible self defense situations. (Yeah, you won't notice it during a life&death encounter - but your hearing is still being damaged and such damage accumulates over time.

This is simply not true. A .357 is a lot more powerful than a .38 even from a 2" barrel. [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27wDLjY5JSs[/ame]

Except halfway for the .357 being loud as hell, it won't make you deaf but you might wish to be.

 

[CQB60]

I used a Garrett Industries Silent thunder to carry AIWB, a 686 2.5". Admittedly, I only used it when I exiting my vehicle on short road trips where it rides between the seats of my car while in transit over the road.

 

[Arik]

This is simply not true. A .357 is a lot more powerful than a .38 even from a 2" barrel. .38 vs. .357 MAGNUM IN SNUB NOSE REVOLVERS. - YouTube

Except halfway for the .357 being loud as hell, it won't make you deaf but you might wish to be.

Except it's coming from a guy who's been doing ballistics studies for something like 20 years. 1989 while on active military duty, he studied at the Army Wound Ballistic Research Laboratory and became one of the first members of the International Wound Ballistic Association. Since then, he has been tasked with performing military, law enforcement, and privately funded independent wound ballistic testing and analysis. As a U.S. Navy Reserve officer from 1986 to 2008, he served on the Joint Service Wound Ballistic IPT, as well as being a consultant to the Joint FBI-USMC munitions testing program and the TSWG MURG program. He is frequently asked to provide wound ballistic technical assistance to numerous U.S. and allied SOF units and organizations. In addition, he has been a technical advisor to the Association of Firearms and Toolmark Examiners, as well as to a variety of Federal, State, and municipal law enforcement agencies. He has been a sworn Reserve Police Officer in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he now he serves in an LE training role.

But yea.....your avg 357 round out of a snub nose simply have more flash and noise. The powder burns outside of the barrel. This is why they're are specialty made ammo for snub nose revolves

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[Arik]

Dr. Roberts '& others in this field" can say what they want, but they're not carrying guns into dark alleys or subway cars at 2AM!

SFPD, SWAT, former Naval officer/surgeon

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[Pef]

Thinking about getting the 686+ PC 2.5" for concealing. Want to pick brains about the gun. This will be my first Smith and I want to know if it's worth the 1K it'll cost me. Also for those who carry this or similar any holster/ belt recommendations and also how you carry(IWB, OWB and where on waist). I've held the gun so I know about the weight. I didn't check for barrel can't but I will before I commit. Any thoughts are extremely appreciated.


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I have 686's in 2.5, 3 and 4 inch barrels. They are great guns, and the 4" is my nightstand gun. But for the weight, size and capacity, I don't prefer any of them for carry.

Holding the gun is one thing, but placing it on your hip for 12 to 14 hours is another thing. Minor pressure points can accumulate over the course of a day, especially if you do not have a solid holster and belt.

If you are dead set on carrying it, then I recommend either a pancake OWB or a neoprene backed IWB holster, such as one made by Nelson Holsters.

Good luck.