7 Shot Revolvers

[Wheel Fan]

MIM means 'metal injection molded' This includes parts like the trigger, hammer and other internal parts. Basically molded instead of forged. MIM is very strong and will last but is not as strong as forged. MIM is cheaper to produce but not cheap. The perception of MIM is frowned upon by some. I'm going to venture and say MIM parts are very reliable - I would bet everything I own that the MIM parts in my guns will never fail. I'm sure there's a more technical explanation but that's what I know.

 

[M2MikeGolf]

They're called revolvers not 6-shooters

Finally, someone hit the nail on the head. Revolvers were only referred to as "six-shooters" (in the SA days) because that's what they were once commonly limited to. That's a pretty out-dated way of thinking. I'm pretty sure S&W never offered a "Model 6 Shooter". If you want an older design six round revolver, you can get them, and plenty of them. I can't believe anyone would protest against an extra round of ammunition; you certainly don't hear that kind of complaint in the auto lovin' crowd. Since they kept the cylinder the same size, I don't see the disadvantage, only the advantage. I just wish S&W had kept the 619/620 series; they were a perfect L frame version of the 65/66 K framers (which I'm pretty fond of too!). I've got a 619 and glad I got it when I did, I got it cheap, and brand new. I hope to get a 620 one of these days; I just never liked the balance of the full lug 686s, although I think they are great L Frames, even though they hold an "excessive" seven rounds!!!

 

[J. W.]

Once the fiance and me tie the knot I think I'm going to pick up a 3" 686+ as a house gun for her. She's quite recoil shy, but she very much enjoys my dad's 4" 686 and handles it very well.

Ok, ok, sure it can be "her gun", but depending on policy of my next department it may just become and off duty gun. Even in today's world, IMO a 7 shot .357 is as viable of defensive tool as a Glock 36 or sub-compact 1911.

 

[Wheel Fan]

Once the fiance and me tie the knot I think I'm going to pick up a 3" 686+ as a house gun for her. She's quite recoil shy, but she very much enjoys my dad's 4" 686 and handles it very well.

Ok, ok, sure it can be "her gun", but depending on policy of my next department it may just become and off duty gun. Even in today's world, IMO a 7 shot .357 is as viable of defensive tool as a Glock 36 or sub-compact 1911.

If she fires .38s out of it, the recoil be will like shooting a .22

 

[J. W.]

If she fires .38s out of it, the recoil be will like shooting a .22

Exactly, that's why she likes it!

She's shot my Glock 19 and 1911s but doesn't like the recoil.

 

[mcmerrill]

My 686+

Thought I would throw in a pic of my 686-6. 7 shot and all, I love it!

 

[dwpmusic]

Beautiful

Beautiful pistol. I'm sure you're proud of it. How does it shoot?

 

[mcmerrill]

Thanks, dwpmusic, I am very proud of her. I love the way it shoots. The recoil is very manageble and the Hogue grips really cushion well, also extremely accurate. The 4" barrel is perfect for me as I carried a 4" in the old days in the Air Force. I also had a Model 19 with a 4", prior to the 686, but it was stolen in a house burglarly, years ago.

 

[TSQUARED]

Stainz,
I also purchased one of those 7 shot 5 inch 686's without the barrel lug and with HiViz front and V-notch rear sights. I only shot it twice before switching over to the 8 shot 627 for both ICORE and stell challenge shoots. A friend shoots the 7-shot 686 and prefers the trigger to that in his 8-shot 627.
Tony

 

[dwpmusic]

Well, I can't really afford to buy, or let's just say "shouldn't" buy another pistol this year. But there's always next year, hopefully. I don't see anyone losing money on a quality firearm. Hope I'm right.

 

[allglock]

My favorite 7 shot S&W. It fits in my pocket, and its very light!

 

[Wayne M]

I was one of the seven shot dislikers until I got the first one. I can see the possibility of the advantage of that extra. Speedloading it takes some getting used to and some brass seems to fit tight in an HKS loader so for defense any extra loads need to be tested in the loader before use. Wouldn't get rid of any of my six shooters but the seven is really nice.

 

[Stainz]

That 242 is nice. Re my 5" h-l 686+, shown on page 1 of the posts. Here are two of the reasons it languishes in the safe most of the time:

I do have a third reason - I bought a second 2 5/8" PC627!

For comparison:

Model SKU MSRP Street (local - great prices)
4" 686 164222 $829 $669
4" 686P 164194 $849 $689
4" 627 Pro 178014 $969 $779
2.6" PC627 170133 $1,049 $849

The eight-shooters - especially the snubbies - are just unreal shooters. I can shoot better times/fewer misses on the SPC targets with them than I can get with the HiViz equipped 4" 627 Pro - odd as it seems. That big orange ramp is like a search light! All of my 627's have been moonclip ready - a great aid to fast reloading, albeit a lot slower than the moonclipped .45 ACP's in my 625JM. The hardest pill to swallow? The 627 Pro is only $110 more than a sixshooter 686! All of my 627's sport aftermarket wood grips. Thankfully, the 627 Pro has a springloaded front sight - it made the sight replacement with that HiViz a tool-less operation - taking seconds. Yeah, guess I like the 8-shooter N-frames better than the 7-shooters.

Stainz

 

[Curiousnewbie]

Stainz,

I need to find out where your area is to get on some of those prices. Those are pretty darn good.

Found a 65-5 Ladysmith a while back, and I think that i've been bitten by the S&W bug. Now, looking into getting another one and seriously considering a 7 or 8 shot.

Prices in my area are nutz. Might be worth it to buy somewhere else and just have it shipped to my FFL.

That 242 is nice. Re my 5" h-l 686+, shown on page 1 of the posts. Here are two of the reasons it languishes in the safe most of the time:

I do have a third reason - I bought a second 2 5/8" PC627!

For comparison:

Model SKU MSRP Street (local - great prices)
4" 686 164222 $829 $669
4" 686P 164194 $849 $689
4" 627 Pro 178014 $969 $779
2.6" PC627 170133 $1,049 $849

The eight-shooters - especially the snubbies - are just unreal shooters. I can shoot better times/fewer misses on the SPC targets with them than I can get with the HiViz equipped 4" 627 Pro - odd as it seems. That big orange ramp is like a search light! All of my 627's have been moonclip ready - a great aid to fast reloading, albeit a lot slower than the moonclipped .45 ACP's in my 625JM. The hardest pill to swallow? The 627 Pro is only $110 more than a sixshooter 686! All of my 627's sport aftermarket wood grips. Thankfully, the 627 Pro has a springloaded front sight - it made the sight replacement with that HiViz a tool-less operation - taking seconds. Yeah, guess I like the 8-shooter N-frames better than the 7-shooters.

Stainz

 

[M2MikeGolf]

Simple question. Have the 7 shot revolvers met with much popularity? Just wondering?

And here's the simple answer: Yes, and you can now stop wondering.

 

[Joe Kent]

My L-frame 7 shooters are all pre-lock and I love them as carrying and using revolvers. Why carry 6 when you can have 7 at less weight? If I was still wearing a duty belt every day and was carrying a revolver, the 686 Mt. Gun would most certainly replace my absolute favorite Model 19 as my "work" gun. I should mention tho that none of my 6shooters have left home either.

 

[epj]

The only reason I don;t shoot my 686P 7-shot much it that I'm shooting my 627 8-shot instead.

 

[SOUTHPAW]

I had a 242 & 686+ 3" and they were okay....I now have a 681PC and LOVE it!!!!!! 3"....7-shot...RB...Fix-sight. A real fighting Revolver!!!!!

 

[Tom 38]

"Did I fire 5 shots, or was it 6, doesn't matter, I've got 7." Truthfully my 620 is one of the nicest shooting revolvers I have ever owned.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

Some people have a problem with a 7 shot 6 shooter. I fought it like the Glock phobia I had sometime back I now have 3 Glocks.I think that I also have 3 of of the 7 shot. S&W"s.They are ok.

 

[S4alex]

For comparison:

Model SKU MSRP Street (local - great prices)
4" 686 164222 $829 $669
4" 686P 164194 $849 $689
4" 627 Pro 178014 $969 $779
2.6" PC627 170133 $1,049 $849


Stainz

Those are some good prices for the 686's.

At least now I don't feel so bad paying $750 OTD (including TAX/DROS/Transfer) here in Cali.

It seems that all the 4" 686 are really hard to get. Shop had to put in an order and hopefully it should be here in a week and then I can hurry up and wait more (stupid 10 day wait for Cali)

 

[remnard]

I would think that unless there was a call for a 7 or 8 shot revolver, which must be due to competition with large capacity self loaders, no one would be making them. They must be harder to get the timing perfect on the cylinder rotation and barrel alignment. Not to mention the fact that since you are cramming another round or 2 in to the same size cylinder, you are by necessity thinning the walls between the cylinder chambers, making it weaker. Not a big deal with a 38 but when pushing +P velocities/pressures in a 357 mag, things might get a little more demanding as far as metalurgy is concerned.

That said, each round I have that gives me more time before my next reload is a good thing to me!

 

[Harrison]

I have a 3" 686+, it had a lock which got replaced by the plug. It is MIMd; however, it has the best smoothest double action trigger of any of my 8 other S&W revolvers, the quality control on this particular pistol is great, it is very accurate, has great balance and is my favorite 357. Speed loaders are available and inexpensive. I love my 686+ and cannot see the downside to having 7 instead of 6 shots. Some folks are just Luddites. Back in the 1800s the flintlock shooters fought those newfangled percussion cap guns and claimed they were not a good as the traditional flintlock.

 

[scooter123]

I have a 3" 686+, it had a lock which got replaced by the plug. It is MIMd; however, it has the best smoothest double action trigger of any of my 8 other S&W revolvers, the quality control on this particular pistol is great, it is very accurate, has great balance and is my favorite 357. Speed loaders are available and inexpensive. I love my 686+ and cannot see the downside to having 7 instead of 6 shots. Some folks are just Luddites. Back in the 1800s the flintlock shooters fought those newfangled percussion cap guns and claimed they were not a good as the traditional flintlock.

LOL, I'll bet that when the flintlocks were replacing the matchlocks there was also a group who felt those new fangled "sparkers" would never replace a good burning wick.