686-Plus Talo, 3"

[Bob1943]

An LGS, about 20 minutes away, has a new 686 Plus, Talo, 3" unfluted cylinder for $799.

Anyone have one of these that they could comment on before I put my credit card on the counter? Probably go look at it in the morning.

 

[zipty6]

I have one. It is the revolver that I have had the longest. I really like the 3" barrel. The trigger is very nice - especially in single action. The grips are pretty, but I don't like the feel of them. I put a pair of rubber Hogue bantams on it since taking pictures They feel a lot better, in my opinion.

This is the only Smith & Wesson that I own with the lock. I generally try to avoid them, but on this particular gun I'll let it slide.

 

[bigfreakinrevolver]

Like zipty said don't like the grips but love the revolver. Price is higher then what I paid for mine but only by 50 bucks. Love it other then the grips

 

[zipty6]

Mine was $679 in December of 2012. With today's prices I'd buy at $750 without hesitation, so $799 isn't to much of a stretch.

 

[Cullen]

Do yourself a favor and buy it! I got my 686 Talo 3" as a Christmas present to myself, paid exactly $799. Fit and finish is fantastic, shoots well and accurately even at distance with the 3".
I like the grips, but apparently I'm in the minority here (admittedly this is my first revolver and I don't have much experience with any others)- what is it about the grips that the rest of you don't like?

 

[629shooter]

I'd buy it, if you want it.

That configuration is getting harder to find.

 

[shawn mccarver]

An LGS, about 20 minutes away, has a new 686 Plus, Talo, 3" unfluted barrel for $799.

Anyone have one of these that they could comment on before I put my credit card on the counter? Probably go look at it in the morning.

Unfluted barrel? I assume you mean cylinder.

I would not buy it, as the flutes are necessary on a defense revolver for in-the-dark reloading, as they allow you to know, by feel, the location of the charge holes.

Plus, I simply do not favor the unfinished look of an unfluted cylinder, it makes the revolver heavier, but the cylinder is no stronger, as the extra steel is in a non-critical location. That said, the 7-shot cylinder with flutes is stronger than the 6-shot due to the location of the stop notches.

 

[Poke]

He is probably looking at a Talo 3-5-7 3" gun. There are 3 guns in the set a 3", 5" and 7". Nice guns for the money if you buy them right.

 

[AR_Black]

Bob - those are awesome pistols with the unfluted chamber. Be sure to check the barrel for alignment to the frame. I have sold many of the new S&W revolvers....and a few of them have to be sent back to the factory for the barrel alignment issue. Turn around time is about 4 weeks and there is no cost. The dealer & the customer are the last stop for quality control.

Their price is right on the money.
And that gun is hard to get. I have it on continual backorder, and usually get one every 3-4 months.

The grips are very nice and feel good too !

 

[Pef]

I have one with the unfluted cylinder. I did change out the black ".357" grips as they tended to "rotate" in my hand. The gun now wears a pair of Ahrends.

Some people do not like the unfluted cylinder, but I think it has a unique look. I paid 600 for mine - it was slightly used. That was a very good buy. If I really wanted one, I would pay the price of the one you are considering.

 

[moralem]

You can at least make an offer on it. I know folks don't sometimes like to haggle but if you never did you will always come home with the story of the one that got away. Can't hurt to throw a number at them.......

 

[45Wheelgun]

Very nice gun. Please share pictures if you buy it.

 

[kaaskop49]

I have one with the fluted cylinder. Don't really know why I bought it, neither fish nor fowl. It's OK. It's very OK, but I don't love it, probably because I bought the 686 SSR first. That one I love.

Good to know it's so desirable, for when I sell it.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Bob1943]

Unflited barrel? I assume you mean cylinder.

Geez, can't believe I wrote that and did not catch it. Yes, it is the unfluted cylinder version. I kind of like the unique look of that cylinder design, provides a nice contrast to all my other revolvers that have fluted cylinders. This gun would only be a range toy and not used for SD.

Posted by Poke:

He is probably looking at a Talo 3-5-7 3" gun. There are 3 guns in the set a 3", 5" and 7". Nice guns for the money if you buy them right.

Yes, the "3-5-7 Talo" is exactly the model they have in-stock. The grips are silver/black and are a slightly different shape than the walnut grips shown on some of the other posted pics.

Just checked their online inventory and it is still listed as available. Guess it is time to head that direction, store opened 20 minutes ago. I'll see if they will take $750 for it.

Regarding canted barrels - yes, I am very tuned in to that issue. That is the first thing I look for. Unfortunately, 5 out of the last 7 S&W revolvers I have looked at did have canted barrels. The 2 that had straight barrels also had scratched finishes. Keeping my fingers crossed that this one will not have any issues.

 

[Bob1943]

Too late. It was still listed as available when I left my house. Got to the LGS and did not see it in the case. Asked the salesman where it was and he said he sold it 30 minutes after the store opened this morning.

These 686 sub nose revolvers are really hard to find in the Phoenix metro area, and, when they do pop up you have to be waiting outside the store for the doors to open. You would think that S&W would make more of these since they seem to sell so quickly.

 

[629shooter]

Too late. It was still listed as available when I left my house. Got to the LGS and did not see it in the case. Asked the salesman where it was and he said he sold it 30 minutes after the store opened this morning.

These 686 sub nose revolvers are really hard to find in the Phoenix metro area, and, when they do pop up you have to be waiting outside the store for the doors to open. You would think that S&W would make more of these since they seem to sell so quickly.

I've missed a few by a few minutes too. But, there are a few of them out there. Just keep your eyes open.

 

[SquarePizza]

I have one of the 3" Talo 3-5-7 models. Like the others said, the black grips were nice and thin but the finger groves are a touch wide and may rotate in your hand. I switched out for ahrends, but they are very smooth and twist a little too.

Either way, the 686 is a heavy girl but she is my edc and I love the gun very much.

 

[M3Stuart]

I strongly recommend the 3" 686 in any variant. I don't own one but have shot them and really liked them. The 3" inch shoots every bit as good as the 4" out to 'my' distances.

Honestly, if I'd gotten the 3" 686 first, then I might have passed on the 6", 4" and a couple others...

 

[Blueduck]

A bit late, and not good pic, but my regular 3" 686+ is the last revolver I would part with. Bought it used, and it had some finish wear, so I went ahead and polished it up, added a gold bead front sight (ended up needing a higher rear as well, but that was fine as it gave better sight picture).

As it was quickly becoming "mine" I went ahead and added VZ Grips with a rasp like texture I love, and in "Hyena Brown" which I could not decide if I loved or hated, till I finally figured out it was the single best grip color in human history (for me) and that none of my revolvers was complete until it had a set.

 

[Bob1943]

Thanks for the comments & great pictures, guys. I definitely want to get a snub nose 686, either 2.5" or 3". It's just being able to find one locally, before someone else grabs it. As soon as one pops up with a straight barrel & no scratches, I'll buy it.