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I am looking at buying one of these for home defense. Also a nice gun I can pass down when the time comes. Relatively new to guns so thoughts appreciated.
686 v. 686 plus v. 627 vs. M&P R8
- Thread starter rudy-richard
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bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Howdy from South Carolina, and welcome to the forum.
Many feel that a dedicated home defense firearm should have a rail to mount a tactical light. Some of the ultra bright tac lights with strobe seem to be able to temporarily dis-orient someone in the darkness as well as illuminate them. The R8 is able to mount a light.
Bear in mind that the .357 is a very loud round, and especially so from a short barrel, and some on this forum have mentioned permanent hearing damage from discharging one indoors. While I keep my .357's loaded for defense, my night table handgun is now a full-frame 9mm that I have great confidence in (CZ 75B) and a 12ga shotgun. If you need to have a .357 defensive weapon, and want one that's hearing friendly, my .357 Rossi M92 rifle with a 24" octagon barrel is quieter than my .22LR pistol.
Many feel that a dedicated home defense firearm should have a rail to mount a tactical light. Some of the ultra bright tac lights with strobe seem to be able to temporarily dis-orient someone in the darkness as well as illuminate them. The R8 is able to mount a light.
Bear in mind that the .357 is a very loud round, and especially so from a short barrel, and some on this forum have mentioned permanent hearing damage from discharging one indoors. While I keep my .357's loaded for defense, my night table handgun is now a full-frame 9mm that I have great confidence in (CZ 75B) and a 12ga shotgun. If you need to have a .357 defensive weapon, and want one that's hearing friendly, my .357 Rossi M92 rifle with a 24" octagon barrel is quieter than my .22LR pistol.
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keithherrington
Member
My favorite, go-to self-defense guns...
A seven-shot Model 586 L-Comp
and a seven-shot Model 686 Plus
I have a variety of other revolvers from which to choose as well as autos, but these two revolvers suit all of my needs and in my Milt Sparks PMK holster are very easy to wear concealed.
Keith
A seven-shot Model 586 L-Comp
and a seven-shot Model 686 Plus
I have a variety of other revolvers from which to choose as well as autos, but these two revolvers suit all of my needs and in my Milt Sparks PMK holster are very easy to wear concealed.
Keith
Hard to beat the simplicity of a revolver....lots of great ammo choices for a 357/38 too.
More rounds in the gun are always better. But I certainly don't feel under gunned with my 6 shot revolvers. I'm very pleased with my standard 686.
More rounds in the gun are always better. But I certainly don't feel under gunned with my 6 shot revolvers. I'm very pleased with my standard 686.
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HOUSTON RICK
Member
The practical answer is R8 which is at least one of S&W's most modern handgun with 8 shots and features. The 686+ would be my sentimental favorite.
Hook686
US Veteran
I think we all have our personal favorites, each with our own rationalizations. I went with the 627PC for a while because of the 8 shot moon clip feature and being a 5 inch barreled N Frame. Alarms, lighting and night sights I keep separate from the handgun requirements. I like to keep it simple.
bountyhunter
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My thought is that any gun used for defense should be no more complicated than point and pull. I also think revos are more inherently reliable. My defense gun is a 686 plus filled with 128 grain .38 +p defense loads..
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For home self defense
I have a 686+ Pro, 5"barrel, seven shot and that was it for self defense until I purchased my M&P 9mm Pro with the 5" barrel. The magazine holds 17 rounds plus 1 in the chamber. Hard to beat for self defense with a second 17 round magazine in the waiting if needed. I dropped in the Apex FSS trigger kit and it's one of the smoothest shooting and accurate guns I've ever owned. BTW, I've attached a picture of my 686+ on which I've added Rosewood grips. It is also very accurate and has a nice trigger that is part of the "Pro" package. Regards, Elliot45
I have a 686+ Pro, 5"barrel, seven shot and that was it for self defense until I purchased my M&P 9mm Pro with the 5" barrel. The magazine holds 17 rounds plus 1 in the chamber. Hard to beat for self defense with a second 17 round magazine in the waiting if needed. I dropped in the Apex FSS trigger kit and it's one of the smoothest shooting and accurate guns I've ever owned. BTW, I've attached a picture of my 686+ on which I've added Rosewood grips. It is also very accurate and has a nice trigger that is part of the "Pro" package. Regards, Elliot45
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blues7
Member
I have a 3" 686+ loaded with Hornady 110 grain FTX .38 "Critical Defense".
The reason I purchased the gun was primarily recreational for me and as a "home defense" weapon that my wife could easily employ in an emergency.
(As simple as my Glocks and Remington 870 may be, they're not in her comfort zone as a 'just pick up, point and shoot' firearm since the Glock can be "limped" (and thus jammed) and the shotgun has a more complex manual of arms. The M&P15 doesn't even enter the thought process.)
Redlegvzv
Member
I agree with Blues and Bounty and others in this forum. A 686+ (7-shooter) is a great choice. I like .38 special as a home defense round.
The 627PC (8 shooter) is also a great choice. More dough, but like the 686+ it is an heirloom quality gun that you can pass down for generations.
Both guns are also lots of fun to shoot at the range and if you are going to own a gun you should go to the range regularly to keep your skills up and more importantly, to have fun!
The 627PC (8 shooter) is also a great choice. More dough, but like the 686+ it is an heirloom quality gun that you can pass down for generations.
Both guns are also lots of fun to shoot at the range and if you are going to own a gun you should go to the range regularly to keep your skills up and more importantly, to have fun!
Jingles
Member
When I got my R8 it was really more of a novelty to me, but after several range sessions I have moved it up to the top of the ladder as a home defense weapon. The tac light is incredibly bright - enough so the red dot shows up even at night. The eight rounds could come in pretty handy too.
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blues7
Member
I've got that Streamlight on my M&P15 TS. It's a great light and good enough to see the sights with at night.
If yours is the latest version, like mine, it's now 800 lumens.
(The packaging still had the old 600 lumen rating but you can tell by the serial number when they updated according to something I had read online and confirmed from Streamlight a few months back.)
1911Teacher
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I have a 686+ that I shoot for fun. There are many other guns that I would choose over it for defense. Short shotguns are my first line of home defense. Then a high capacity Glock 34, or xd9 tactical, or a CZ 85 Combat etc. Double actions are slower and 7 shots is a handicap vs other choices. Just my 2 cents.
Redlegvzv
Member
I don't know about this. I've never had to fire a shot in anger, but I find it hard to imagine that anyone would need more than seven shots in a home defense situation.
HoleCarder
Member
OP- I was deciding between a 686+ and M&P R8.
I opted for the R8. Got it this week.
I opted for the R8. Got it this week.
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A 686, 627 or R8 - any one would work for home defense since concealability is not an issue, and possibly not weight either.
Seven rounds is a distinct advantage over six, so the 686+ is the only one of that model to consider, with a 4" barrel for balance and handling (v 6").
The 627 PC is a finely tuned weapon for either SA or DA operation. For home defense, DA is the only practical option in a crisis, and should be mastered completely. My preference would be a 5" barrel rather than 4", for balance and the ease of changing the front sight - ramp for carry, FO or tritium for HD, and Patridge for target.
The 627 weighs about 42 oz, which soaks up recoil nicely. The R8, or my preference, the TRR8 has an aluminum frame, and weighs 25 oz with a 5'" barrel. Light for quick handling, yet heavy enough to handle recoil. You have the option of rail-mounted peripherals like lights and red-dot sights. I put a set of Crimson Trace grips on mine rather than bulky accessories, and replaced the Patridge sight for a fiber optic, for better use for carry in the wild.
The R8 has a built-in rail, whereas it is an attachment for the TRR8. I have heard the tuning is better on the 627, but my TRR8 has a very smooth DA, which breaks at 10.5 oz (yes, I checked the tension screw). I couldn't be happier.
Moon clips aren't easy to use with some ammunition. SWC bullets hang up on the lip of the cylinder, as do cases which are crimped by compression rather than rolled. Self-defense rounds load more smoothly if you run them through the crimping station on a loading press.
Seven rounds is a distinct advantage over six, so the 686+ is the only one of that model to consider, with a 4" barrel for balance and handling (v 6").
The 627 PC is a finely tuned weapon for either SA or DA operation. For home defense, DA is the only practical option in a crisis, and should be mastered completely. My preference would be a 5" barrel rather than 4", for balance and the ease of changing the front sight - ramp for carry, FO or tritium for HD, and Patridge for target.
The 627 weighs about 42 oz, which soaks up recoil nicely. The R8, or my preference, the TRR8 has an aluminum frame, and weighs 25 oz with a 5'" barrel. Light for quick handling, yet heavy enough to handle recoil. You have the option of rail-mounted peripherals like lights and red-dot sights. I put a set of Crimson Trace grips on mine rather than bulky accessories, and replaced the Patridge sight for a fiber optic, for better use for carry in the wild.
The R8 has a built-in rail, whereas it is an attachment for the TRR8. I have heard the tuning is better on the 627, but my TRR8 has a very smooth DA, which breaks at 10.5 oz (yes, I checked the tension screw). I couldn't be happier.
Moon clips aren't easy to use with some ammunition. SWC bullets hang up on the lip of the cylinder, as do cases which are crimped by compression rather than rolled. Self-defense rounds load more smoothly if you run them through the crimping station on a loading press.
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