8 3/8" 686 buy or leave?

[Wicknim]

Hi,
I found a 8 3/8" 686-1 M silhouette with original box and manuals for sale at a LGS. They say it was a safe queen, almost unfired. Could it be more accurate than a 6" shooting at 25 yards standing without rest because of the longer sight radius?
Anyway, is it rare? Is it a good pick? Because I've heard the best dash numbers are -3 and -4.
TY.

 

[Alton]

It would be nice to know the price?

 

[s3dcor]

S&W made the 686 in 8 3/8" early on. I won't say they are rare but certainly hard to find. I bought one in 2022 and it is the only one I have seen. The silhouette sights will be a bonus as is the box etc. Easily worth $1000 and more likely $1500. I would get it if I found one.

 

[jrc1]

I just recently got these 6” $750 with box 8 3/8 $800 no box


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[-BTM-]

Hi,
I found a 8 3/8" 686-1 M silhouette with original box and manuals for sale at a LGS. They say it was a safe queen, almost unfired. Could it be more accurate than a 6" shooting at 25 yards standing without rest because of the longer sight radius?
Anyway, is it rare? Is it a good pick? Because I've heard the best dash numbers are -3 and -4.
TY.

The silhouette sights seem to get a premium, I’d love a set but on a 6”. 8 3/8” is heavy for offhand shooting and awkward to carry.

 

[Wicknim]

@Alton, s3dcor
1000* (Euros). Not bad, I guess, considering the rarity.
Used 686 are usually 600-800*. New around 1500*.

@jrc1
Your 8 3/8 is pretty much the same I found.

@-BTM-
The balance can't be much worse than a 6", now, can it?
I can only carry it unloaded in its case and take it out at the range.

 

[JohnRippert]

I never saw the need for anything longer than 6inch since I almost never shoot further than 25yd with a handgun. When I do, I am trying to bust clods on the berm with a Ruger MKII.

 

[DT75]

I'd say it's a good pick, assuming it's as good as the seller claims it is. Check for the usual stuff like timing, carry up, hammer push-off etc. Seems like it also got the M stamp as well?

Like you, I can only shoot at a range, and carry outside of the range is not an option. I have a 6" -6 Target Champion for Mag events and a regular 6" -4 for .38 shooting. I would love a 8 3/8" for Mag, regardless of -#.
I think the sight radius would be beneficial for the longer ranges, and I'm not worried about the balance.

If you want it, I'd say go for it.

 

[6string]

I just recently got these 6” $750 with box 8 3/8 $800 no box


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Those are crazy-great prices!
The whole handgun shooting world has gone nuts with this “tactical” fad. If it’s not a 14 shot plastic 9mm that fits in a pants pocket, then a majority of today’s handgun owners just aren’t interested.
OK, fine! That’s good news for the rest of us!

The silhouette sights are so fantastic. You get an awesome sight picture plus the ability to have four fully adjustable elevation presets on the front sight.
And, yes, to answer the OP, they are capable of shooting better than a conventional 6”. I think statistically if you compared, say, a dozen silhouette 686s with a dozen standard 6” 686s, put’em in a machine rest and fired multiple 6 shot groups using a cross section of multiple bullet weight loads, the silhouette models would have a clear performance advantage. The longer the shooting distance, the better!
(And, that’s saying something! The 686 and 586 have all distinguished themselves for excellent accuracy since they were introduced in the 1980s!)
In fact, when these guns first came out, back in the days when IHMSA was a popular shooting sport, these very same types of tests were carried out.

It’s nice to know that these great revolvers are on the market and at very nice prices. Hopefully, new revolver shooters will jump on these and discover how well they shoot.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Buy the 8 if you want an 8.
Speaking as a Guy who never liked the 8, anytime I’ve had an 8 I have sold it!

 

[-BTM-]

@-BTM-
The balance can't be much worse than a 6", now, can it?
I can only carry it unloaded in its case and take it out at the range.

Hang a 2.5 ounce weight and hang it off the front of a 6” barrel to find out.

 

[1sailor]

As I understand it the 8 3/8" barrel was the longest they could have without going over a certain length of sight radius. This was to be able to still qualify for some particular target shooting that I am not familiar with. I own an M27-5 with the long barrel. I don't find it to be particularly nose heavy or awkward but they have something of a pencil barrel and a short underlug. This probably makes it a bit lighter even on an N frame.

 

[jrc1]

This is how I got the 6” I took the weight off


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[Mike SC Hunter]

Does it come with support wheels for the barrel. That would be a BIG pass for me.

 

[wproct]

The only 8 incher I have owned was a 8 3/8 inch model 617 no dash that I bought new. I loved the looks of it and liked the revolver but all of my shooting is off hand and that longer barrel was just too much. I had an opportunity to trade it for a 6 incher and I was much happier. However, they make different lengths to make us happy, and what one of us don't like, the other may love it.

 

[madmikeb]

I think I'm in the minority here but I'm a big fan of long tubes. I'd be all over that if the price is right!

 

[pasound]

I own several 6" Smiths. A K22, K38, 38HE, 44HE, and a "modern" 617. All are front heavy to hold for extended target shooting. The 617 is actually the heaviest, 22 bore in a full size barrel, with a full underlug. Yet I'd love to try out the 8 3/8" 686 with those sights (but probably off a rest...)

 

[CH4]

Unless I could get it for a steal, I’d pass. Not a fan of barrels over 4-5 inches.

 

[6string]

As I understand it the 8 3/8" barrel was the longest they could have without going over a certain length of sight radius. This was to be able to still qualify for some particular target shooting that I am not familiar with. I own an M27-5 with the long barrel. I don't find it to be particularly nose heavy or awkward but they have something of a pencil barrel and a short underlug. This probably makes it a bit lighter even on an N frame.

Yes, the 8 & 3/8” barrel was actually a reduction in length from the 8 & 3/4” length that was the maximum offered when S&W first introduced the 357 Magnum in the 1930s. The reduction was to meet sight radius rules for Bullseye pistol, I believe as governed by the USRA (United States Revolver Ass’n).
For IHMSA silhouette, barrels of 10” were OK for production class and 14” for unlimited class.

The use of long barrels, even for one handed Bullseye shooting, is just a matter of training and technique.
Dedicated target grips can also help.

See an earlier thread I started:

New Karl Nill UIT Grips for my 14-4 (8-3/8”)

Speaking of long barrels, here’s my Hämmerli 160 free pistol, with 11.5” barrel.

 

[D Brown]

Those are crazy-great prices!
The whole handgun shooting world has gone nuts with this “tactical” fad. If it’s not a 14 shot plastic 9mm that fits in a pants pocket, then a majority of today’s handgun owners just aren’t interested.
OK, fine! That’s good news for the rest of us!

The silhouette sights are so fantastic. You get an awesome sight picture plus the ability to have four fully adjustable elevation presets on the front sight.
And, yes, to answer the OP, they are capable of shooting better than a conventional 6”. I think statistically if you compared, say, a dozen silhouette 686s with a dozen standard 6” 686s, put’em in a machine rest and fired multiple 6 shot groups using a cross section of multiple bullet weight loads, the silhouette models would have a clear performance advantage. The longer the shooting distance, the better!
(And, that’s saying something! The 686 and 586 have all distinguished themselves for excellent accuracy since they were introduced in the 1980s!)
In fact, when these guns first came out, back in the days when IHMSA was a popular shooting sport, these very same types of tests were carried out.

It’s nice to know that these great revolvers are on the market and at very nice prices. Hopefully, new revolver shooters will jump on these and discover how well they shoot.

I certainly agree about the accuracy! This Model 686-2 is the most accurate revolver I've ever owned. I bought it new in 1988.