686 plus performance center 2.5" thoughts?

[Pointshoot]

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.)

My 4" 686+ makes for a nice, fun gun in the field (I wear electronic hearing muffs) and for self defense I use a good 38 Special load that will expand out of the longer 4" barrel. Its not a problem concealing it in the right kind of holster/belt combo.

 

[model 19/39]

686 concealment

I currently wear a Performance Center model 19 with a 3" both OWB in a Bianchi Shadow and a Swaprig hybrid horsehide/Kydex IWB. While a touch smaller than your 686, I find I have no trouble concealing with a oversized (2xl) unbuttoned shirt or an unbuttoned shirt with a dark t-shirt underneath. I normally wear an xl so it doesn't look terribly oversized and scream "I have a gun on". I carry in the seven o'clock position just behind my left hip and haven't encountered any problems as yet. I've worn my model 19 4 inch, model 39 glock 19 and a full sized 1911 in this same position with no problem with proper substantial belt.

 

[wkwhittenberg]

Hi to a fellow newbie. I own a 686 PC (the one that's my avatar) which I bought mainly for home defense. I've always wanted a S&W revolver and I wanted one that had enough weight to handle .357 rounds (which left out J-Frames and especially those ultra-light models) and yet was of a size that I could conceal should the need arise. Also, I liked the fact that it had a capacity of 7 rounds. Even at my vertically challenged height of 5' 3.5", I can easily conceal the 686 PC, but would not do so for long or often due to its weight.

My choices for concealment rigs are my NRA Reactor Concealment Vest which has multiple pockets capable of concealing my 686 PC and hangs long enough to cover it if I'm carrying IWB or OWB, and my Remora OWB 9 holster which can be used either IWB or OWB.

I also have a Ruger LCRx which is only a .38 spcl but is much more easily carried. I'm also considering getting a Ruger SP101 .357 which is all steel and larger than a J-Frame but smaller than my L-Frame. It's light enough for EDC but has enough weight to make firing .357 rounds pleasant. Plus, Ruger has done away with internal locks which is something I wish S&W would do.

Whatever you get, enjoy it and often.

 

[kaaskop49]

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...

My 4" 686+ makes for a nice, fun gun in the field.

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!

 

[pesty3782]

I have been using Aker leather for over 28 years now. I can tell you the belt is the most important item you will buy. The Aker B21 is a reinforced leather belt that I use everyday. When I carry a revolver I use their model 137 or 137a for a semi auto I use the model 168a. Shoot me a PM if you want more info

Tony P

 

[RevolverDen]

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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These are the finest .357 snubby revolvers I have ever had the pleasure of handling. At first I couldn't decide between the 686 or 627 Performance Center went looking at the S&W website and reading and watching reviews of others. It came down to what was actually available in my area. So I selected the first one that was available for sale which I am delighted to have found and purchased: The 686PC which gives you 7-rounds of .38/.357,has the 2.5" barrel and weighs 34.6oz with a 7.5" overall length. I call it my dream L frame snubby.

Then along came a spankin' brand new 627 Performance Center snubby into my dealer. At first I thought it would be much too redundant to even consider the 627PC since I had just purchased the 686PC. Then I held the 627 and that idea of being redundant went away instantly and I had to have it. The difference on paper and in pics are few, but in-hand are measurable giving both their own different advantages and own character. The 627PC's larger N frame gives you 8-rounds of .38/.357, weighs in at 37.6 or 3 ounces more than the 686PC. The barrel is 1/8" longer at 2.625 which gives it an overall length of 7.625". And appropriately I call it my dream N frame snubby.

If you carry a snubby, you are doing so because you want the convenience of better concealability and in my opinion an overall more flexible / multi-purpose use weapon. Don't let anyone tell you these can't be tack drivers if you plan to spend a lot of time at the range. Those people just don't practice enough - be it shooting .38, .38+P or .357. And those who want to cite ballistics, if my life is on the line in the typical confrontation distance of 7 yards or less, I'll take a .357 2.5" over any configuration 9mm any day, albeit both will stop the perpetrator, but I feel more confident in the reliability and power of the .357 revolver seeing to completing the task with absolute certainty.

I don't know how many or how long S&W will manufacture these Performance Center Snubby editions, but I am glad to have grown my 357 collection with the 686PC and 627PC.

If you already bought yours, congrats! If not, you won't regret it if you do!

 

[kaaskop49]

attn RevolverDen

I don't know who RevolverDen is, but I like the way he thinks. Imagine, to buy a 686 snub and then buy a 627 snub. Why the 627? Because it was there! Needless duplication? Nope, gotta have both. Can't let someone else buy it, someone who doesn't understand it.

Logical, rational, sensible reasoning like above has kept me out of LGS's all year. It's been real. Stay safe, partner.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Dump1567]

I like the idea of the gun for a shooter, but due to the weight, I'd prefer my 386 NG for carry.

 

[RevolverDen]

I don't know who RevolverDen is, but I like the way he thinks. Imagine, to buy a 686 snub and then buy a 627 snub. Why the 627? Because it was there! Needless duplication? Nope, gotta have both. Can't let someone else buy it, someone who doesn't understand it.

Logical, rational, sensible reasoning like above has kept me out of LGS's all year. It's been real. Stay safe, partner.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

LOL! I fully appreciate your recognition of someone (me) who simply cannot get enough of a good thing! And as a brother in blue, your keen sense of understanding my impulse to have both of these fine creations is greatly appreciated! ;-)

 

[RevolverDen]

I like the idea of the gun for a shooter, but due to the weight, I'd prefer my 386 NG for carry.

Beautifully stunning, sinister / clandestine looking!

 

[waffles]

They're really neat and pretty fun guns. As for concealing, you like football or hockey? If for some reason you want to carry something larger than an LCP/J frame in the summer months and don't want to be sitting in a pool of sweat, meet your new friend, the jersey!

 

[nawilson]

I will begin this by saying that everyone's experience will be a little different with body size, shape, strength, and flexibility being different. Add in different climates, clothing, and possibly old injuries... Your mileage is very likely to vary.

All that said, I've successfully and comfortably concealed J and K frame snubbies, a 3" L frame 586 Comp L, and 4" N frames. My style of dress for the day usually drives what I carry. Gun weight has never been an issue to me. I do use a quality, heavy leather gun belt and am picky about my holsters. I wouldn't be as concerned about gun weight as some other posters if you're willing to experiment some.

I should probably add that the 686 PC is on my list of guns I want. Buy it. I don't think you'll regret it.

 

[RevolverDen]

Here are some quick camera phone snaps of my 686 Performance Center 2.5" when I first got it home....

What a fine handgun S&W has produced!







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[kaaskop49]

Hey, Den! And it has the front lug/lock too! Some folks say this is not really contribute to lock-up, but I prefer to have it.

In the past, I always had a problem cleaning the residue from shorter .38 Spl rounds from the longer .357 chambers. Always had a ring in, or roughening of, the chamber no matter what I tried. Now I only shoot mag ammo in mag chambers to avoid this. I've recommended many times CCI Blazer .357Mag 158gr JHP for practice, or even for carry while you work up to heavier loads. Forgive me, I'm repeating myself.

Good shooting. Keep me in the loop for range results, please. Stay safe, partner.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[RevolverDen]

Hey, Den! And it has the front lug/lock too! Some folks say this is not really contribute to lock-up, but I prefer to have it.

In the past, I always had a problem cleaning the residue from shorter .38 Spl rounds from the longer .357 chambers. Always had a ring in, or roughening of, the chamber no matter what I tried. Now I only shoot mag ammo in mag chambers to avoid this. I've recommended many times CCI Blazer .357Mag 158gr JHP for practice, or even for carry while you work up to heavier loads. Forgive me, I'm repeating myself.

Good shooting. Keep me in the loop for range results, please. Stay safe, partner.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I just love everything about the 686PC. It seems as it will be the butter-smooth Herculean design that it is that will far outlive me. I have yet to get this to the range, and hence, get it dirty. Though nothing in any of my other guns has ever been a challenge for the Birchwood Casey lead removing cloth. That thing is magical when it comes to cleanup and removing rings on the cylinder.

Yes for savings purposes only, I typically shoot a 70:30 ratio of .38/.38+P to .357 mag at the range. I do, however, pay close attention to the shot placement differences between the two calibers as I typically use .357 as my carry round in my .357's, with the exception that since getting my new model 640 .357, on occasion I'll load it with .38 +P's which I know a isn't getting max defense use out the 640 if needed, but I am confident in the .38 caliber or I wouldn't own any of my .38's for personal defense which I prefer to carry most often in the summer months, though the 640 is getting a lot of pocket and waist carry time since I acquired it.


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[repatriate]

Wish I could be more help. Buy that gun, if only just to own it. Pride of ownership is off the scale. Gotta go to work.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Starting with the grip that loves my hand, and that perfect trigger, the 2.5" 7 round 686 PC 357 mag is truly a work of art. I bought two new Walther nines this month, summer carry and SHTF (PPS M2 and PPQ M2 5"), but seeing this S&W, and the gap closing benefits of such a revolver, out came the wallet a third time. Ouch. No regrets! Winter carry, car or just to marvel. Now I need a holster for it, too. The careful search begins. For this S&W it must be black leather, (the Walthers got brown leather IWB - a needed color contrast to distinguish from anyone's black wallet blob lying around), and I need to contemplate the 686's weight. So maybe OWB. Returning bought items is a pain, so I'll take this slowly. There's a gun show in town this weekend, so maybe a chance to try various things out.

 

[repatriate]

I have the 686+ in 3"...
...Jim Mernickle in N. Nevada (Google him) does an excellent OWB belt scabbard that securely holds a gun close to the body, yet does not obstruct the draw....
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Perhaps you mean either of these? Mernickle Custom Holsters - Performance Series
Mernickle Custom Holsters - Performance Series

Which raises the question of where to put this revolver when I'm still a little unsure where I'll prefer the IWB little Walther PPS M2 on the warmer months. So far testing that, 12:30 o'clock surprises my junk, 1 o'clock means I can't really sit down, 3 o'clock mocks my love handles and 4:00 might work; still sit and drive for example. The matter is kinda testy, I'm finding. As for the 686, being thicker and heavier, and potentially OWB, my guess is 3 o'clock, or it might should land back at 4 for the sake of muscle memory? Any thoughts out there?! If not on or behind my belt, I'd like to park the thing within a holster, making OWB belt threading, on/off/on/off an impractical matter? Maybe I'm missing something about OWB options.

I'm new to this. I returned to the USA after 16 years in Switzerland, and things have changed here. Hence the protection. Meanwhile I've been reading stuff hours every day for a month, freaking learning curve, and have been testing all kinds of things at the range. Preferences, reviews and a thorough mental review of my needs brought everything to my done deals: PPS M2, PPQ M2 5", night sights, and the 686. Only remaining cash in this [cough] blown budget is for the 686 holster and ammo.

 

[repatriate]

A 2.5" (2-5/8") or 3" 686 is easily carried and concealed in a pancake holster, but you need a fairly long cover garment to keep it from peeking below the hem. I have an Alessi CQC for IWB and a Sparks VM2 for my 3". The 7 shot cylinder has the same diameter as the 6.

The VM2 is IWB. Looks great. Sparks OWB option seems to be PMK | Milt Sparks Holsters
Also looks great, and when off the belt, seems not to have two huge floppy ears left and right. Just my layman's view. I don't know what to expect about its low riding cut initiated for his wife's hips and rib cage. Impossible to order custom stuff and find out it isn't right for me. The local gun stores around here are pathetic in the way of holster offerings. But for the two Walther nines, I got perfectly lucky with the simple, yet correctly formed leather Blackhawk IWB labelled for Springfield. The new 686 7PC 2.5" 357 mag deserves a very special holster that makes me want to carry the baby.

 

[repatriate]

my new 686 7PC 2.5" 357 mag deserves a very special holster that makes me want to carry the baby.

The local gun show this weekend was very helpful in having a chance to try out lots of options. I ended up using a local maker, who is forming a custom leather OWB holster. He makes all kinds, but I preferred the one with loops/snaps on left/right "ears" (the width - for support), since I can take it off without unthreading from the belt and the overall fit was closer to the body. Feels great for me 4 to 6 o'clock. 15 degree cant. When it's done and in hand, I'll post a photo and maker's contact info, because he'll have the specs to do others. $125

Other customer elsewhere in the store gave me a tip about avoiding leather which can cause rust. (And I later ordered the leather one anyway.) So just to be sure, I also bought a cheap nylon OWB just for nightstand use, and to give the leather one a breather. I hope this wasn't useless advice.

 

[repatriate]

The local gun show this weekend was very helpful in having a chance to try out lots of options. I ended up using a local maker, who is forming a custom leather OWB holster. He makes all kinds, but I preferred the one with loops/snaps on left/right "ears" (the width - for support), since I can take it off without unthreading from the belt and the overall fit was closer to the body. Feels great for me 4 to 6 o'clock. 15 degree cant. When it's done and in hand, I'll post a photo and maker's contact info, because he'll have the specs to do others. $125

I'm extremely happy with the custom fit OWB holster to my S&W 686 PC 2.5" 7 round revolver. The snaps only click on and off from the underside, which helps prevent anyone from yanking it off. And the snaps are well made and work every time. So I can remove it for sitting in my car (on longer stretches). I wear between 4 and 5:30, so can also leave it on for normal errands. The snap version sits closer to the body than through-the-belt. If anyone has the same gun, the maker now has the specs and has various designs (through-belt, or with the strap-snaps -see pics here-) and leather shades (black, brown, maroon like mine, tan, etc). He's NE of Atlanta in Gwinnett County: Tony 404-997-0009 tacticalgunleather[at]yahoo.com