686 vs 686+...about to buy

[Talking Monkey]

I also have one of each (but don't tell my wife - she thinks they're hers). The "+" model is a -4, the 6-Shot is a -5. If I could only have one, my preference would be a 7-shot -5.

Now I bought my 686+ used and did have a minor issue with it. The previous owner must have shot a lot of .38 spl in it because there was quite a bit of carbon fouling in the chambers. Occasionally, the cases wouldn't easily slide forward past the fouling and would jam against the frame nearly locking up the cylinder. A very heavy trigger pull was required to overcome this when it happened. This was resolved simply enough by scrubbing the chambers clean with a .40 cal brush. I just wonder if the geometry of the 7-chambered cylinder makes the "+" models more susceptible to this issue?

What do you plan to do with the gun? If you ever want to play gun games like IDPA, you might want to go with the 6-shot. Don't get me wrong, you could use the 7-shot, but you'd only be allowed to load it with 6 rounds - this would make reloads tricky cause you'd probably want to index the cylinder to the empty chamber before closing.

If it's for home defense, I'd say go for the "+" and have an extra round on tap.

If it's just for the range, take whatever you can find a better deal on.

 

[jrandyh]

I just bought one of the Performance center guns. It's a 686+ 2.5 inch. The 7th chamber is out of time. It's first + I have owned and just got off the phone with S&W and it's going back. May be just a fluke as there sre other issues with the gun.
JR

 

[PDD]

For what it's worth, I bought my 686+ a year ago and the first time at the range shooting Hornady 357 Mag I had a trigger fail to fire in DA. Sent it back to S&W and they replaced a couple of springs.Two months ago again shooting Geco 357 Mag the gun worked OK but after some cleaning the cylinder would not close,again sent it back and this time they replaced the ejector rod assembly.

I'm thinking a brand new little used gun should work perfectly without having to send it back to the factory twice in the first year.

JMO

 

[BobR1]

For general use, and as a range gun the 686+ works just fine.

If you plan to ever shoot in IDPA (SSR Division 4" barrel), or ICORE (Classic Division 4" or 6" barrel) you will want the 6 Shooter. As was said above the Safariland Comp III, and Jet Loader's are only made for the 6 shooters.

The 5 Star is a very good general purpose speed loader, however for competition use it is not in the same league with Jet Loaders, or the Safariland Comp III.

I own several revolvers. I own 3 that are not 6 shooters. My LCR22 holds 8, and my two SP101's hold 5. I have Jet Loaders for the SP101's.

If you do not plan to shoot in revolver competition either will make you a great revolver.

Bob R
Big Creek Kydex Speed Loader Carriers

 

[Rpg]

Don't worry about inherent strength between 6 and 7 shots.

More basic is the issue of whether 7 shots is worth a dime compared to 6 (or 5) shots.

I wouldn't give a nickel more for a 7 shot as compared to a 5 or 6 shot revolver for sd : I've no interest in a bulky revolver that is harder to conceal than a handier handgun.

Zombie fantacies aside, if you need more than 2 or 3 shots in a sd situation , you have a problem one or two extra shots are not going to solve.

Learn to hit what you're shooting at.

Having the ability to shoot an extra shot or two won't change your first 5 or 6 misses.

 

[MX5Fan]

At the end if the day, with all the advice and pontificating about a 6 or 7 shot, either one is an excellent choice and if, as you said "I like the idea of 7 rounds", then go for the 686+ and put your mind at ease that it is a fine quality revolver.
Like others have said, it's a personal choice and you can't go wrong with either one.



Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Jagrmaister]

I had a 686+ 4" and ended up selling it. I have a Ruger GP100 wiley clapp that I kept over it thinking they fit the same role. Now I'm trying to reacquire a 686 4" again for a fair price but have thus far come up empty. I wouldn't hesitate buying a 6 or 7 shot if one came up for the right price.

 

[JFrames4ever]

686 or 686+

I have a 686+ 3 inch and a 686+ 2 1/2 inch. My only 6 shot 686 is an SSR I bought for IDPA. If you are not shooting in competition that limits you, I'd definitely go for the 686+

 

[at_liberty]

For what it's worth, I bought my 686+ a year ago and the first time at the range shooting Hornady 357 Mag I had a trigger fail to fire in DA. Sent it back to S&W and they replaced a couple of springs.Two months ago again shooting Geco 357 Mag the gun worked OK but after some cleaning the cylinder would not close,again sent it back and this time they replaced the ejector rod assembly.

I'm thinking a brand new little used gun should work perfectly without having to send it back to the factory twice in the first year.

JMO

I don't like "quality by rework" either, but at least it didn't cost you anything, and I'll bet the gun wasn't gone for long. Most of my guns, whether bought new or used, have been works in progress, until I had them to my liking at my cost or the manufacturer's.

 

[jimsguns]

Get the extra round 686+. Also never heard about any problems with cylinder wall thickness. The 7-shot cylinder is bigger in diameter than the 6-shot version...it's not like they drilled an extra round into the base 686 cylinder and were left with thin areas...the cylinder is physically bigger in order to maintain critical thicknesses​

 

[snowman]

The 7-shot cylinder is bigger in diameter than the 6-shot version...the cylinder is physically bigger in order to maintain critical thicknesses​

Sir,

Your statements here aroused my curiosity. I have both the six-round and seven-round versions, so I measured the cylinder diameter on both with my dial caliper. They are exactly the same; both measure 1.563

I suppose it's possible a change was made later on, but I don't know that the frame window would accommodate a larger cylinder.

Check me though; I would be curious to know if newer models are different.

Regards,
Andy

 

[one eye joe]

More than one article I've read over the years has theorized the 7-shot cylinder is actually STRONGER. It has to do with the bolt notches. On a 6-shot cylinder the notches are over the chamber - the thinnest part of the cylinder. On the 7-shot cylinders the notches fall between the chambers - the thickest part of the cylinder.

ONCE AGAIN, THE KERNEL KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. IN THEORY, THE 7 SHOT CYLINDER WOULD PROVIDE GREATER STRENGTH, BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE NOTCHES……
REALISTICALLY, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BLOW UP EITHER CYLINDER WITH FACTORY AMMO OF ANY BRAND, INCLUDING THE LIKES OF BUFFALO BORE, ETC. DOUBLE CHARGED LOADS BREWED UP BY BUBBA, OVER A COUPLA 6 PACKS OF BEER IS A DIFFERENT STORY. ANY AMMO THAT DOES NOT EXCEED THE SPORTING ARMS & AMMO MANUFACTURERS INSTITUTE (SAAMI) SPEC OF 35,000 PSI CHAMBER PRESSURE IS SAFE TO SHOOT IN EITHER VERSION……
I HAVE BOTH VERSIONS. I FIND NO DIFFERENCE IN FUNCTION BETWEEN THE TWO. I HAD MY NO-DASH 2 1/2" CONVERTED TO A 7 SHOT @ S&W, FOR CARRY PURPOSES. MY 686 MOUNTAIN GUN IS ALSO A 7 SHOT. MY ONLY 6 SHOOTER LEFT IS AN 8 3/8" NO-DASH RANGE GUN, THAT SHOOTS LIKE A RIFLE. THERE IS NO COMPELLING REASON TO HAVE A 7 SHOT CYLINDER FITTED TO THAT REVOLVER. I FIND NO ADVANTAGE TO HAVING THE 6 SHOOTER. THERE ARE SEVERAL BRANDS OF SPEEDLOADERS AND 7 ROUND SPEEDSTRIPS TO INVESTIGATE, IF THAT IS A CONCERN……….

 

[Neumann]

A round that will blow up a 686 will blow up a 686+ too. However, hot loads have been known to bulge the chamber where it intersects with the notch, making extraction hard. It's something you look for in any used 6-shooter, but less likely to occur in an odd-shooter.

AFIK, the only difference is in the cylinder and star. Smith could probably fit another cylinder (they won't sell magnum cylinders, period), but you'd be better off selling or trading. I have no regrets or issues with the 686+, but I'm okay with six shots in other revolvers too. Aside from IDPA rules, the 7 shot version is more popular.

 

[Brian41]

I have the 686 plus as I found one lightly used at a good price. I had a 586 with 6 round cylinder as well and have liked both guns equally.
The downside of the plus was finding speedloaders and already owned the 6 shot ones. That and a molded holster has to be made for a 7 shot model which meant another expense.
Still I like the plus version and sometimes carry it too. I don't know the one extra round is important but suppose if you shot 6 you'd be glad for it

 

[at_liberty]

Get the extra round 686+. Also never heard about any problems with cylinder wall thickness. The 7-shot cylinder is bigger in diameter than the 6-shot version...it's not like they drilled an extra round into the base 686 cylinder and were left with thin areas...the cylinder is physically bigger in order to maintain critical thicknesses​

That couldn't be bigger by much because of cylinder window size in the L-frame.

 

[Pizza Bob]

An L-frame is an L-frame, is an L-frame. Snowman is correct - the limiting factor is the cylinder window in the frame. I've been down this road before because somebody argued that the 7-shot was a larger diameter based on the fact that it wouldn't fit his 6-shot kydex holster. I pointed out to him that the cylinder flutes were in a different location on the 7-shot gun and the holster was tightly molded. We then did some measuring and found them identical - as did Snowman. I also measured the cylinder of my 646 and found it also to be the same dimension.

I wish there was a measuring device (probably is) with which we could measure the wall thickness of a 6-shot cylinder, at the bolt notch, versus the wall thickness between chambers of a 7-shot cylinder. Remember, the circle described by both the 6-shot and 7-shot chamber arrangement would be the same diameter because the location of the hammer/firing pin is not a variable.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[theoneff]

"I'll probably end up with both after a while."
Yep Street just like most of us.

 

[jimsguns]

Sir,

Your statements here aroused my curiosity. I have both the six-round and seven-round versions, so I measured the cylinder diameter on both with my dial caliper. They are exactly the same; both measure 1.563

I suppose it's possible a change was made later on, but I don't know that the frame window would accommodate a larger cylinder.

Check me though; I would be curious to know if newer models are different.

Regards,
Andy

I had seen a video where a reviewer was comparing the two models side by side and made this comment. If you have measured the two and they are the same, then I stand corrected

 

[Usmc5811]

I love my 6" 686-5+ that I picked up in June of this year. No problems so far and have had a lot of ooh's and aah's when it is brought out. Even makes my father drool a little and he isn't a pistol guy. Go for it you will love it. The only problem I have noticed is my ejector rod loosened up occasionally so I just check it and tighten if needed.