686 vs 625 for home defense??

[bsms]

The 686 is an L-frame with K-frame grips. The 625 is an N frame. I like big bullets for home defense, and I use a Ruger Alaskan with the compact GP100 grip and 44 specials in it for that role, but my hands just don't quite handle the N frame very well. An L frame with sanded down grips is about as large as I can instinctively shoot - so if the Alaskan isn't available, then the 686 with 7 shots & a 3" barrel gets the nod.

Truth is, I don't think there is a measurable difference in the self defense value of ammo once you hit the 38+P range. Below that, I don't think you get adequate penetration and reliable enough expansion for good self defense use (although I once pulled a .22). From the .38+P up, I think most any round with modern bullets will do a decent job, so any one a person likes to practice with and carry suits me.

Still, the Alaskan with small grips ain't to be sneezed at...

 

[stantheman86]

686+ 4", with the IL removed I don't know your state laws, get the 4" so your son can Conceal Carry it as well as use it for HD. 4" is a much more versatile length than 6" and you're not giving up enough velocity to even worry about.

.357 revolvers are the King for versatility.......you can plink away with cheap,light Wadcutter reloads, or bulk ammo like American Eagle .38 LRN. You have +P as an intermediate load for most "serious social" use where .357 may be overkill, milder .357's like MagTech for a little more punch without too much blast, or full snort stuff like CorBon or Buffalo Bore .357's which probably have enough power to take out a T-Rex.......

IMO .45 ACP has limited versatility, although there are some +P loads, and like was said, the revolver isn't ammo sensitive to HP's or SP's like some autoloaders. .45 ACP has been used to good effect in revolvers for going on 95 years now, so you really can't lose on that one either.

Down the road send the cylinder assembly to Pinnacle Customs for a moonclip conversion, 7 rounds of moonclipped 158 gr. .38 +P HP is potent enough for home defense. $150 or so, is a good investment for HD or CC. Or spend $250 for the "multi caliber" conversion so you can shoot 9mm, .38 Super or .380, as well as .38 and .357(although the .357 cases may stick and will not be reloadable)

 

[Wayne M]

If you like to load guns and unload guns the 625 is for you. To shoot it a lot you want moon clips, a tool to load them quickly and another to unload or demoon them quickly. Great revolver and fun to shoot but a pain in the neck with ammo. You could use 45AR and get some speed loaders but the brass, when you can find it is EXPENSIVE. I used to clip up ammo all winter so I could shoot all summer without the hassle of demooning and clipping up fresh loads until bad weather set in again. Still a pain I decided to spend the rest of my time on earth avoiding. When I say shoot a lot I mean heading to the range with 500 rounds clipped up and shooting until fatigue set in. If you are going to buy a couple boxes of ammo, sight her in and keep the rest ready to go for the house, it'll do just as well as any and better than most. If you are going to shoot a lot, get a 686, some speed loaders and stock up on reloading supplies.

 

[bountyhunter]

I have never fired a 45acp wheelgun such as the 625, but I note that there are a lot of forum members that speak very highly of them. Being that I need to help my son choose a home defense gun, I thought I would consider both a 686 (.357) and a 625 (45acp). I am very familiar with the 686 and plan to rent a 625 to shoot this weekend as a comparison.

My son has been shooting for only a few years - he is 24. He tends to prefer revolvers. Which would you prefer a 686 or a 625 - and why?

Thanks.

I currently use a 686 7-shot for home defense with 128 grain .38 +p defense rounds. A .45 is OK, but I like the 686 because you get the option of using sledge hammer magnums or +p rounds.

 

[scooter123]

At this point I don't even own a 625. That will come after I located my current "grail", a 4 inch 610. However, I do have a 6 1/2 inch 610 and I think the moon clips provide a very distinct advantage. If your facing 3 or 4 Home Invaders, having a 2 second reload available may mean the difference in who wins the battle. In addition the 45ACP is a rather low noise round when compared to the 357 Magnum, so my nod goes to the 625.

BTW, I've noticed that barrel length has a distinct effect on noise level. I shoot a lot of 40 caliber in barrels ranging from 3.6 inches up to 6 1/2 inch and my 6 1/2 inch 610 produces a report that is nearly equal to a 38 spl. from my 4 inch 620. It will be distinctly muzzle heavy but if carry doesn't factor in this choice, a 6 inch 625 would be a nearly ideal choice for Home Defense. Unfortunately this hasn't been made yet with an unported barrel in 45ACP. Bit of a shame that, the longer barrel would also assist in getting the 45ACP up to speed.

PS; if you can find one, a 6 1/2 inch 610 is another great option with one distinct advantage, that being you can choose either the 40S&W or the 10mm for Magnum velocities. For cheap practice in a Major caliber, it's hard to beat the 40 S&W and I happen to think it's a superb compromize between velocity, penetration, and power. As for the 10mm, it's a great Hunting caliber but not needed for HD duty and there is a huge array of excellent SD loads available in the 40 S&W.

 

[BoDog]

I have fired both in the dark in a fun house, flash is not much of a problem with either. The 357 goes through drywall like it wasn't there so if you get one 38+p is all I would use in the average house. The 45 doesn't need to expand and doesn't penetrate as well. Some one hit with either one should cease any form of anti-social action.

Any home defence gun should be practiced with until it is like part of you, just an extention of your hand. Learn to practice in the dark with a push button flash light with a few trys the sights will be lighed up where your hand is pointing.

My vote has to go to the 645, I don't have big hands but love N frames. Your son should learn to reload to keep the practice ammo costs down,besides it is great theropy when the Mrs. is cranky.

 

[stevieboy]

I have several .357s and a 625JM. The 625 is more comfortable to shoot, without question, if we're comparing .45 ACP to .357 Magnum. It's also relatively quieter and, based on what others say, obviously doesn't have the overpenetration problem of .357s. Do not be deterred by the issue of loading and unloading moonclips. RIMZ clips are polycarbonate clips, they are an absolute cinch to load and unload by hand, without the use of any tools, and they perform just as well in the gun as do the traditional steel moonclips. I have both steel and RIMZ clips for my 625 but, 90% of the time or more, I use the RIMZ. If you google them, you'll find their website.

 

[Hotlead]

A 625-8 JM sits on Mrs. Hotleads nightstand at night, I got it a few months ago, and it's much more comfortable for her to shoot than her Dads .357s she grew up shooting.

I have to say it's a lot of fun for me to shoot also, a 1911 was the first handgun I ever shot, the first one I bought, we have mostly 1911s in our house today, and when we were looking at revolvers, a JM just seemed to make sense.

The fact that all our other handguns were in .45 acp was a big plus, as we have thousands of hardball and a little stack of HD rounds. Our new "ammunition accountability Law" will restrict availability and license those who want to buy handgun ammo in Ca., and by sticking with .45, we wouldn't have to manage another caliber.

Don't be scared of the steel moon clips either, I got 100 of them from the Sportsmans Guide (they work just fine, sometimes you luck out with SG, sometimes not ), you can load them real easy with a pair of needle nose pliers with tape around the jaws. I made a couple de-mooning tools from 1/2" EMT, it's easy to do and much cheaper than ordering one.

I've spent lots of evening TV time practicing loading with moon clips full of HP dummies, about 1 1/2 hours a week. I'm much faster now, and actually fumble and load slower if I look at it than if I keep my eyes away, looking at the target or what not to wear.

 

[Practical]

Either will do.

I think the 357 magnum is about the best overall straight walled cartridge invented so far. However, I really wouldn't advise full power 357's indoors in a handgun just because of the noise. It is true that auditory exclusion will cause your brain to filter the sound but the hearing damage will still be there. One advantage to the 357 is you can use 38 spl +P without worrying about the gun.

If cost is a factor then the 357 will be the most expensive, the 38 spl the least and 45 ACP falling somewhere between the two.

IMO, the choice between the two should be heavily weighted by which gun he prefers to shoot. Liking the gun does not guarantee he will practice more but if he doesn't like he will certainly practice less. I can shoot my 686P better than the 625 and I like the handling better. Therefore the 686 is my HD/SD gun. If the situation were reversed then I'd be using the 625 in that role.

Auditory exclusion really means your nervous system is so shocked that it ignores all simuli. Persons don't always focus on the threat, after an assault on their senses like bright light and explosive sound, they shut down.

They do NOT see the threat they do not hear or see much.

This is why police use stun grenades in overcoming a barricaded subject.

Very, very few people can overcome the shock and disorientation introduced by a stun grenade. The idea that using a firearm by less trained individuals will result in auditory exclusion which allows them to prevail in a gun fight flies in the face of practical evidence to the contrary.

I have hunted for years, and not used hearing protection all the time, but when I have used hearing protection, my follow up shots are better if they are used. Using a firearm with great flash and high decibel report seems like a good way to lower your effectiveness.

 

[da gimp]

alot of the .38spec Plus P loads are on a par with .357 mag loads......... That being said, there are .38 loads with frangible bullets (like Glazer Safty Slugs) that might limit over penetration.

I keep 6 rds of .38 spec 148 gr LWC's in old Colt agent (secondary housegun, 20 ga Ithaca mod 37 pump with low brass 7 1/2 shot as primary) & for general street carry anymore, I use an old S&W Chief's loaded with Win. Plus P .38 spec Silvertips....

If serious outdoor social work is possible, I go up to using a S&W mod 29 , 4", laded with 240 gr Keith style LSWC's at about 950fps, or an old Colt 1911A1 in .45ACP.........

 

[Badkarma 1]

686! Most have already talked about its versatility, and it's ability to handle the spectrum of .38-.357s. But what I want to point out is, it is actually SMALLER than the 625! While it doesn't matter on a HD piece, it might if your son decides he wants to carry it later on.
As for the 625, it's a great revolver that shoots better than most rifles! But I can't abide moonclips. They're a pain to load and unload, if they get bent your out of the fight, and even though you can load individual rounds in the cylinder, they're a pain to get out. Auto Rim ammunition is available which does mitigate the situation though.
So for me it's the .357. Dale

 

[rw357]

You can get a wider range of loads in a .357/38...you can get light loads 357 loads with more energy than a .45. Not saying that means much. You don't have to be dropping 700+ energy .357 rounds.

On penetration, I used to live in a house that had a pretty thick door frame. If a home invader was shooting around that I dont think .45 hollow points would have made it through it. My .357 would. So sometimes penetration is good.

Btw, why not apples to apples? 627 to 625? 2 extra rounds might not be needed, but it is an advantage.

If it is because he shoots an l frame better, the games is over. What you shoot best is best.

 

[TAROMAN]

This should deal nicely with anything that goes bump in the night...

...for the great reasons already stated!

 

[carbofan21]

I don't know if price is a factor in your decision, but have you considered a pair of .38 specials? Right now you can get a 4" HB model 64 for the low $200's, and a new no-lock 442/642 at sportsmans outdoor superstore for the mid $300's. That's close to what you will pay for 686, and less than what you will pay for a 625. Two guns are better than one. The right .38 +p load is plenty for home defense, and he could ccw the 642. Just a thought.

Nevermind, I just noticed this topic is over 2 years old lol..

 

[ballistic]

I love to shoot 357 mags and the ones I have shoot very well. My model 27 may be the most accurate handgun I own. The 625 JM I have shoots well but, does not have the pinpoint accuracy of the 27. That said, I can still shoot a baseball size group with it at any distance I would find in my home. That said, considering the lower blast/flash of the 45acp cartridge, I would have to give the nod to the 625 for indoor personal defense work.

 

[bsms]

Which one fits your hand better?

A 686+ fits my hand better, and with a 3" barrel is OK for CCW. Don't have a 625, but my 29 w/ 4" barrel sure feels more awkward for carry.

I don't think there is a noticeable difference between a 45 & 357 for defense.

 

[baccusboy]

The more I look at the current crop of TNOutdoors9's .357 magnum gel tests, the less impressed I am with the .357 magnum compared to some other calibers. I wouldn't want it indoors either, but the .357 Sig seems to do as well or better in that media, anyway.

I do think that there is a psychological sound/noise effect that causes incapacitation or shock in many individuals, and I feel that has played a part in the .357's great stats for stops.