686p 6" vs. 686 4" vs. 620 vs. 686ssr

H

herbie1

Member
Joined
May 2, 2007
Messages
41
Reaction score
0
I'm itchin to get myself a .357 stainless revolver. This is primarily for range and fun/enjoyment use.

My candidates are
686 plus 6"
686 plus 4"
620
686 ssr

I currently have a 6" GP100 and a 66 2 1/2"

What are your guy's (and girls if applicable) thoughts.

Thanks.

H.
 
Register to hide this ad
I'm itchin to get myself a .357 stainless revolver. This is primarily for range and fun/enjoyment use.

My candidates are
686 plus 6"
686 plus 4"
620
686 ssr

I currently have a 6" GP100 and a 66 2 1/2"

What are your guy's (and girls if applicable) thoughts.

Thanks.

H.
 
Have owned a 586 (blued version of 686) for 24 years. Due to the barrel lug the 6 in is a little muzzle heavy and slow, for me anyway. Not that much gain in performance but slower from the leather by a lot. IMHO anyway.
 
I have a 4" 686 and a 6" 686. I prefer the 4" for belt carry but thoroughly enjoy shooting the 6" at the range.

You really can't go wrong with either.

Dale53
 
My 686SSR is my favorite revolver and i have owned alot of 686's and the variants over the years. Balances great and is about as accurate a revolver as you will find.
 
I don't care for the look of barrel on the SSR so my vote is for the 4 inch 686+.

Truth be told, any of those guns will be excellent for the range use/fun/enjoyment you are looking for.
 
The 4 inch 686 (or 586) is one of my favorites. It just feels right. I recently added the SSR; it's a great gun. I like the wooden grips it comes with from the factory (which add $75 to $100 to it's value over a standard). The forged trigger and hammer are also nice extras. The lock up on mine is super tight sugesting some extra TLC in production, but this may have been just luck. While it's only an ounce or two lighter than the standard (which I believe is 40 oz.'s) it feels lighter. It's a great gun. A couple of comments, it doen't have a classic Smith look and I'd prefer a standard stainless finish rather than the bead blasted.
 
Thanks to all for the input so far. You guys are great.

I was leaning pretty heavily toward the 6" 686, but now you guys have gotten me to rethink this.

I was looking forward to getting one this week-end, but now I don't know.

One more think to add, I think I am looking for more of a 'Pride of ownership' gun rather than a 'working' gun. I am not in law enforcement nor do I hunt. I don't expect to kill anyone or anything with it. To me this makes the SSR more appealing.

How tuned and tight is the SSR? Is the cylinder gap 'tuned'. I currently have a GP100 which, although is a good gun, I think is a little sloppy. The cylinder gap is .008 (which I guess isn't bad, but isn't great) and it has some endshake. The cylinder just doesn't seem as tight as my 66.

Please keep your thought coming.

Again, Thanks.

H.
 
28 guage,

Thanks for the input.

I didn't get a chance to read it before my last response.

H.
 
The cylinder gap on mine is 5 thous. which is tighter than my new standards which are typically 7 thous. This 5 thous. may just be mine and not represent all production. Again, my lock-up was super tight. These guns are supposed to be a cut above their typical production guns but I don't know if that's true. Mine does seem a little better.
 
Jimtl, I have the twin brother to yours. Yes, it is a great shooter.

herbie1, if you like that 6" ruger, then I suggest the 6" 686. I prefer the little extra weight to reduce the recoil.
My 2cents as I am new to handgunning.
 
I have the fixed sight 620, the 619. Very accurate even with fixed sights and my novice revolver skills. Oh, and .38 Special. I
have not mastered the art of accurate .357 mag shooting yet!
 
I've had a 686, a 686PP and currently have a 686SSR which I like very much. The SSR badly need a trigger job, but since that was done it's a real pleasure to shoot! Dennis
 
I have a 620. Great gun, deadly accurate, well balanced, and 7 rounds.

I highly recommend it.
 
You guys are helping a lot, but are not making my decision any easier.
icon_biggrin.gif


Since I already have a 6" GP100, I think I will go with a 4" gun, that leaves the SSR and the 620.

I called one of the better and largest gun shops in the area and they don't have any SSRs in stock. They said they don't know how long it would take to order one. It depends on if their distributor has any.

If I can't get an SSR in a timely manner, I think I will go with a 620. I have not checked the availability of 620s in this area yet.

I do have a concern about the SSR:

The SSR badly need a trigger job, but since that was done it's a real pleasure to shoot!
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that the SSR was factory tuned! If an SSR needs a trigger job, then I would think it has little, if any, advantage over the 620.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

H.
 
My thought, also, is that since you already own a 6" revolver, go for the 4" 686.... the 4" 686 is a GREAT all-around gun. I seriously doubt you'll be disappointed.

Ruger makes a tough workhorse of a handgun, but my experience is that, compared to a Smith, they are not as attractive, have grittier, longer triggers, and don't have the "attention to detail" in terms of asthetics.
Good luck.
 
Update:

Today I put a down payment on a 686SSR.

I liked the feel and the trigger on the SSR as opposed to the 686.

I eliminated from consideration the 6" 686 because I already have a 6" revolver.

I eliminated the 686 4" from consideration because I wanted something a little more 'Special'. I do think that 7 shots is nicer that the ssr's 6 shots, but this is not for self defense or combat use, so 7 shots is not that important.

I found the 620 appealing, but I couldn't find one, and I'm not sure I want the 2 piece barrel. I'm sure it is fine, but if I ever want barrel work (which I probably never will), I would have to send it to S&W.

I also tempted by the 327 & 627, but I don't want to deal with moon clips.

The gun shop also had a nice used model 27 that was also appealing, but I wanted a stainless gun. I wish I liked blued guns.

I won't get to the range for a couple weeks, but after I do I will let everyone know what I think of the ssr.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

H.
 
I would bet that you'll be very happy with the 686SSR. I have a Treasury model overrun (686 CS-1 with 4" barrel that seems to make it easy to shoot well). I believe you'll enjoy the same with your new SSR.

I, just a few days ago, became the owner of a like new S&W 520. It's rather an interesting combination of features and I am looking forward to some serious range time in the next few days.

Congratulations!
Dale53
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
5" 627 length vs 686
Replies
17
Views
13K
gr7070
gr7070
D
686+ 4 inch vs 686ssr
Replies
14
Views
8K
Stainz
Stainz
8
  • Locked
WTS/WTT S&W 66-6 2.5" and extras, ready for carry
Replies
11
Views
3K
freddy137
F
J
627 vs. 627PC
Replies
16
Views
7K
colt_saa
colt_saa
J
S&W Model 610-3 10mm, 4", unfluted cylinder, with lock
2
Replies
31
Views
24K
S&W1006
S

Latest posts

Back
Top