686 SSR or 686plus?

[gr7070]

I compete using a Kydex holster as they are faster. It scratches any gun but, with a regular finish you can polish it out. With the bead blast finish, not so much.

I prefer the regular finish as well. I also have kydex holsters.

I would guess the finish on the SSR is similar to my 627-PC??? If so, the SSR's cylinder is not bead-blasted. My kydex holsters (Comp-Tac) apply their retention on the cylinder only. Therefore, the bead-blasted surfaces are not affected by the holster.

 

[roundgunner]

My holster (Blade Tech) scratches the first inch or so of barrel too.

I Like my guns very clean so I polished the cylinder on my 627 to make it easier to clean.

 

[snowman]

Go with 6! I see the 7-shot S&W as a no man's land gun. The extra round really doesn't provide much. It doesn't help in hunting - time to quit hunting if it does. It doesn't help at the range - you'll never notice the difference in a session. It effectively voids a gun from competiton - rules may allow them, but are hindered greatly. And if capacity is really that important get a S&W 627 or an auto with true capacity.

Personally, I just don't see why the 7-shot is ever purchased.

Sir,

Your reasoning here is generally sound, but let me tell you about my situation.

My 686+s are my home defense guns. For various reasons often set forth on this forum, I prefer revolvers to semi-autos, but mainly because: a)I have to reload to be able to afford to practice; and b)I'm partly disabled(must use crutches to walk) and therefore can't stoop to gather up the brass at the range after it has been ejected from a semi-auto. The Plus models give me one extra round which could conceivably make the difference between life and death in a home defense incident(though of course I pray that I'll never have to find out). I have just one less round than a 627, which I considered getting but which was far more expensive and harder to find, at least at the time. Since I was advised by police officers to get two guns in the event that an incident occurred and police needed to take one of them for their investigation, two 627s would have been prohibitively expensive.

There are no shooting competitions held anywhere near this area, and my disability would likely prohibit me from participating anyway. Consequently that isn't an issue for me.

There are one or two other minor advantages for me to having the 7-round models, but the above is the main one.

Respectfully,
Andy

 

[gr7070]

Sounds perfectly reasonable! There's exceptions to most things.

One 7-shot (or two) is way better than no-shots, and people here do buy 'em like crazy. Regardless, any 686 is a great gun.

 

[silentflyer]

The carbon comes right off with one of the little green pot scrubber pads sold in grocery stores with a little Hoppes #9 and GENTLE polishing. My buddy uses a fine brass brush on the front of the cylinder on his SS guns, again gently polishing action.

 

[andyo5]

Hate to say it, but with either gun your hand will be sore after extended shooting with full power 357 magnum loads. That's just the dilemma with the 357. A gun light enough to carry is not so good for extended shooting. I found this to be true with my own 4" 686. I have a 6" 686 and also a 6" GP100. Both are much better to shoot because of the added weight (plus added accuracy). If you are going to shoot a 4" 357 alot, be sure to try Hogue rubber grips.
As far as finish goes, I have a fuzz-finish, bead blasted gun like the SSR (mine is the 625) and it is not hard to clean at all. However, the advantage of the brushed finish over bead blast is that minor scratches can be readily polished out. I have done so several times. You can't polish the bead blasted finish.

 

[gr7070]

OP, IDPA limits revolvers to 4" max bbl length, FYI.

 

[Stainz]

My vote - same price as the 686SSR - was the 627 Pro. I don't compete, other than to embarrass myself on the Steel Plate Challenge. Locally, round count doesn't matter - 5, 6, 7, 8 even a 10 shot 617 are fine. Two major classes - revolver or semi-auto - now separated to cf/rf, too. As the quintessential plinker, the 4" 627 Pro was/is ideal. Decent trigger, moonclip-ready, spring-loaded front sight, eased charge holes, etc.

I bought my 627 Pro 5/08 - added the HiViz sight, a .25" Classic/DX style spring held, immediately. My favorite grip was an Ahrends retro target non-fg in cocobolo - until I took a chance and ordered another JM-style, a la my 625JM - great fast grab. I didn't like the gritty sides of the 686SSR - and love the extra two rounds. Of course, I don't compete - so the round count didn't have to stop at 6. YMMV.

Stainz

 

[Rivers2k]

My holster (Blade Tech) scratches the first inch or so of barrel too.

I Like my guns very clean so I polished the cylinder on my 627 to make it easier to clean.

What did you use to polish that cylinder? I am assuming the cylinder was bead blasted at one time?

 

[gr7070]

What did you use to polish that cylinder? I am assuming the cylinder was bead blasted at one time?

Do/did they make bead blasted cylinders? I haven't seen any, but I'm definitely not that familiar with past offerings nor their entire current catalog.

My 627-PC is bead blasted, but the (unfluted) cylinder is not.

 

[roundgunner]

This is what it looked like before.

I used a small buffing wheel with Mothers polish. It is really much better to clean like this if you have to have it clean.

I wish I could buff out the ugly mark above the thumb latch.

 

[Magnum-Krazy]

I have the 686 in SSR 6" and love it !
Very accurate and is a pleasure to shoot with all loads.



Ernie

 

[Rivers2k]

I finally made a decision and put a deposit down today, I will be pick it up in a week or two. Thank you all for your great information it really helped in making my decision.

I went with the 686plus 5" barrel with unfluted cylinder. Its the Talo edition but I don't really care about that since I will be changing the grips anyways. This isn't the best pic but you get the idea.

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg541/Rivers2k/photo1.jpg

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