7 Shot Revolvers

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I was sorely tempted by a 686+ with 3.0 inch barrel not long ago. I didn't buy it because my speedloaders are all for 6-shot revolvers, and frankly, the 686+ just looked "crude" to me. The lettering wasn't sharp and crisp, there were rough edges on the cylinder and other surfaces and I guess my 6.0 inch barrel 686 has spoiled me with pre-MIM and pre-lock - not that I'm trying to start any problems here. I'm glad I held out as I found one of my grail guns (Model 13 with 3.0 inch barrel, and yes, a 6 shot) a few weeks later.

Best of luck,

Dave
 
Interesting. Well, it's just hard for old folks such as myself to think of a 7 shot wheelgun. Don't know why. I'm still trying to get used to my wife's 5 shot 642. Both seem a little unorthodox. Just me. Who knows? I might still find a good used Model 19. Just love guns, I guess.
 
Got me one of them new fangled TRR8 8-Shot 357 N-frame revolvers.

Pretty impressed with it, nothing like having 8-shots of 357Mag at the ready.

Is it traditional, nope but it sure is a great piece to shoot :D
 
Oh, ho doubt. I'm sure it is. Just an oddity of mine. And believe me, I have a few more.
 
I've got to say that the 620 is one sweet revolver. One of these days one will find its way into my stable, I'm sure!
 
While my examples of an older 7-shooter date from the 30's & 40's, the old Russian 1895 Nagant dates back to the end of the century before last. The Belgian brothers Nagant designed a wondrous piece of Victorian engineering - over four score years before the 586/686 hit the streets - before the 'plus' versions by a bit more. So... 7-shooters have been around for a while... they are 'traditional' - not so much as the sixshooter, granted.

While I have five Nagants, I only have one 686 - and it's a 686P - 7-shooter. Furthering it's odd nature, mine is a 2004 'Stocking Dealer Exclusive' - with a 5" barrel and a partial lug. It's a beauty - it came with Ahrends square conversion grips in cocobolo, a HiViz front sight, and a V-notch rear sight. It takes the HKS #587 speedloaders - which function fine with .38's or my wimpy .357M's. The trigger eased up nicely with break-in - and responded well to spring changes - a slick trigger which rivals my 66's. The 686P has one major fault... it isn't a 627! Seriously, my 5" JM PC627 V-Comp, my first 8-shooter, was a fine revolver - my best-ever trigger - just 'clunky'. I bought a 4" 627 Pro 5/08 - it started a trend - I bought more 627's! While 7 is nice, 8 is nicer!

IMG_3369.jpg


Seriously, if you want an extra round - get a 686P - want two extras, get a 627. Obviously, I don't worry about the IL. I haven't found a new S&W that wasn't perfect, either. Oh, I find fault with some - oddly, two of my oldest - a 625-6 from 1996 and a 625-7 from 2001. Both have laser-etched barrel nomenclature - which has seriously faded over years of wiping the bright SS barrels with cotton rags. Roll-imprinted, they'd still be fine. Nitpicking!

Stainz

PS The 'other' 7-shooter:

IMG_3425.jpg
 
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I think a look and S&W's catalog will reveal your answer. In the past year most of the 6 shot 686's have been dropped from production and the 686 + has become the new "standard". They didn't do that because it's less expensive to build the 7 shooter, they did it because the 6 shot 686 just isn't very popular anymore. What is left in the 6 shot version is the 686SSR and IIRC a 4 inch 686. As for why those remain, it's simply because IDPA only permits 6 rounds loaded in either SSR or ESR and indexing a 7 shooter during a reload costs time.
 
Boys, I carry a 686-5 in seven shooter configuration everyday. I made the decision to move away from the .45 auto several years ago and really liked the concept of 7 rds. Plus, I liked the concept (much better) of leaving my 19,24,26,27,28,29,14,etc. in the safe. Do I like the mim and the lock? Not really but I can leave my goods one for the range and hiding in the safe and carry this stainless 7 puffer to "sacrifice its' hide" in the holster. IMHO, only. I must confess I carry a 342 Ti when dress dictates.

Bill
 
327 Night Guard ? Yea Man

I have had alot of guns in my life and when I ordered a used 327 8 shot night guard from Buds I was a little skeptical at first. Heard that Scandium was to light and wouln't last, also that The cylinder was just to big for CCL carry, also you couldn't find a speed loader for it, also that the black finish would wear off, Man, after so many negative things I still figured what the heck. I am glad I purchaced this fine gun now. At 27 oz's its very light, to me to carry. It shoots very good and having to carry it concealed in the pants here in Texas (Hot) no problems so far, I think that I also have more confidence in having 8 shots at my side. I had an old Colt new service for many a year and although I like 6 shots I think buy all means I like 8 better.:) Thanks
 
7 shooters

The 7 shooters are my favorite L frame I have several of them and all are moon clipped. I think they are quite popular.
 
Heck, I'm 67 years old and all my revolvers hold 6 even my 617 no dash revolvers. Why, because I'm stuborn and also because they have always worked for me. If I need more then 6 rounds I carry a Sig with 16 rounds of 9mm or 15 40 S&W rounds and if I'm going to war again it won't be with a revolver.
 
Man, those are some beautiful pistols, Stainz. I know you must be very proud of them. I know I would.
 
I love my 686+ it is built like a tank and the lock time is amazing! As mentioned above though the fit and finish is not like the K's of yester-year. It is more of a work gun for me.
 
My 686+ 3-incher is very popular with me! :D

I'm itching to get an N-frame and the 627, 629, or one of those NightGuards might just fill the bill. Too many tempting choices....

5-Star makes speedloaders for the 'oddball' cylinders and, as the other fellers have said, moonclips are an option (although you will have to send the revolver in for surgery).

Chris
 
I have a 7 shot .357 Mtn Gun without the lock and love it. It has the tapered barrel and is an L frame so it will take the punishment of steady .357 ammo etc.

Tom
 
I used to have an old L-frame 586 six-incher. While it was great to shoot, I thought it was a bit too heavy. I only have a Browning Hi-Power, right now, but if I ever get back to Smiths, I can't help thinking that a four-inch 686Plus might be the best deal going in terms of an "all round" companion handgun. The seven-chambered cylinder is very size-efficient (IF that's important to you, a Highway Patrolman fan might feel differently!), and the four-inch barrel got to be the most popular length for a reason. S&W nailed it when they brought out the L-frame, and I believe it was only the change to autos for law enforcement that kept it from being a much better seller. I wonder (and perhaps some of our police members from the 90's can comment), if the seven-shot version had been introduced from the beginning, would it have made any difference in the rate of agencies ditching the revolver for autos?
 
I don't like the seven-shot revolvers. I think they fall into a suboptimal no-man's land.

Seven isn't appreciably bigger than six, and if round count is really an issue there is the 8-shot M627, and of course if round count is truly important there's umpteen-rounders galore in auto. So seven just doesn't seem to make any sense when looking to add capacity.

In addition, all the games played the seven doesn't have a home. Six is practically required for IDPA and USPSA and again seven is less than eight for ICORE or Steel Challenge, etc. So seven makes no sense.

For carry I wouldn't bother with an L-frame when the K exists. And why bother with the K when the J frame is a great option to conceal.

Seven- shot revolver is just too big or too small for whatever the job is; it's stuck in no-man's land.

Lastly, while I own 6, 8, and 10-shot revolvers and am about to add a 5-shot there just seems to be something wrong about a 7-shot; typical sized revolvers are supposed 6 shooters.

I know lots of folks feel differently and really like the 7-rounders, but I don't get it.
 
scooter123 said:
I think a look and S&W's catalog will reveal your answer. In the past year most of the 6 shot 686's have been dropped from production and the 686 + has become the new "standard". They didn't do that because it's less expensive to build the 7 shooter, they did it because the 6 shot 686 just isn't very popular anymore. What is left in the 6 shot version is the 686SSR and IIRC a 4 inch 686. As for why those remain, it's simply because IDPA only permits 6 rounds loaded in either SSR or ESR and indexing a 7 shooter during a reload costs time.
Click to expand...
Gotta agree with scooter (gettin' to be a habit), a glance at the catalog tells the story. I have a 686+ Mountain Gun that I love. When I picked up a 2 1/2'' no dash, I sent it in to S&W for the firing pin bushing mod. While it was there, I had a 7 shot cylinder installed. It's a great carry weapon. The cylinder notches on a 6 shot are over the chambers. The notches on a 7 shooter are between the chambers. That may matter to reloaders who like to make flamethrowers outta their revolvers. I would never own a 6 shot 686, as I don't compete in a discipline that outlaws a 7 shooter. The 7 shooters are just too sweet.......
 
I love the stop notch cuts being between the cylinders. It's the newer barrel threading that keeps me from owning one. I would still like to find a 620 some day though even if it has the roundy round threading.
 
I believe the advantage of the 7-shooter is that the cylinder is the same size. Metallurgy improvements over the years have allowed more options, so why not take advantage of it? If they could have made 7 round cylinders back in the old days, without making them bigger, they probably would have.
I'm not saying the 6-shooters are obsolete, and I love my 5-shot J-frames. Just another option. Less traditional, more useful (unless you shoot 6-shot competition). There are great speed loaders made for the 7-round 686.
Just my $.02 worth.
 
I have a 3 inch 686+ 7 shooter. I think it's fun. Having the extra shot? No big deal - but it is cool. I buy a box of 50 rounds, shoot one warmup shot, then have 49 left so I reload 7 times ;) No I didn't get a 7-shooter because I'm waiting for that gunfight in the alley and that extra round will save the day. I also have a couple of HKS speedloaders for it so that's not an issue. I haven't seen 7-packs of Snap Caps so I'll have to splurge on a single cap if I buy those. They're called revolvers not 6-shooters. I had a 9-shot .22 revolver and a 5-shot .38 special.
 
686+

I have had my 686+ 4" for 10 years, and absolutely love it. The 7 shot cylinder was just an interesting plus. It's a great and solid gun. I bought it to replace my Model 19 4", that was stolen in a house burglary. Also a wonderful gun that I miss dearly.
 
I've had my 7-shooter for 13 years and it is my favorite range toy (revolver division).
allaround.jpg

art681Citadel5ART.jpg
 
Question: What does MiM mean?

I keep seeing MiM, or MIM, or one of the combinations of the letters M, I & M. It's easily discernable that it's not a preferred function/piece of one's revolver. Could I trouble someone to tell me what it means?

Thank you.
 
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