Does anyone have a 686P 6" 7 shot??? How do you like it????

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

Just put on layaway a 686P 7" and wanted to check with someone who owns one what they think of it. I hear they are pretty nice, that is why I ordered one, but just want to make sure you are happy with it. I have a 4" Ruger Service-Six and wanted an S&W with a bit longer barrel.
Thanks,

 

[valkyriekl]

I have a 6" 7-shot 686, topped with an UltraDot red-dot sight, that I use for Bullseye. I like how early the cylinder locks up in the trigger pull (or really, when I cock the hammer, since I almost never shoot double-action). I only use 5 chambers at a time for Bullseye, though, and I've only ever shot .38 Specials through it.

Are you talking about the 686PP (6-shot Power Port) or 686+ (7-shot)?

 

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

Val,
The 686P 7 shot 6" not the power port.

 

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

And anything that you don't like about it compared to other .357's S&W's

 

[ambassador]

686P

I've had one for two years now,love its a great gun.I only shoot 158SJHP or 125SJHP Remington or Magtech,both shoot tight groups.I would never sell this gun.

 

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

Thanks I am only hearing positive replys!

 

[CliffH]

I have a 686 6" 6 round. Mostly shoot at the range in single action for pleasure. It seems like a very nice gun (well balanced) . I did put a UltraDot on it and it really helped me tighten up the shot group- not that you need to do that but anything would help my group. I don't think you are going to be disappointed- enjoy.

 

[valkyriekl]

And anything that you don't like about it compared to other .357's S&W's

That it's bigger than my Model 19? I like K-frames, though. That's probably the only thing: I wish S&W had found a way to have a full forcing cone on a K-38/357 (though that would sacrifice some strength of the yoke/ejector-rod). The K-frame .357 Magnum-chambered Models 65 and 66 could've stuck around a little longer...but what sells, sells.

With the L-frame 686, you get the power of .357 Magnum, the durability of the full forcing cone, and less felt recoil, all for just a little bit more bulk and weight--a good compromise. They even squeezed another round into the cylinder while simultaneously addressing a perceived weakpoint of the cylinders: on the 6-shot (and every cylinder chambering an even number of rounds) the cylinder stop notches are cut into the metal near the thinnest part of the chambers. With the 7-shot (and every cylinder chambering an odd number of rounds) the cylinder stop notches are cut between chambers, where the metal is thickest.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I don't know why I was thinking that you were talking about a 7 inch 7 shot 686, these are rare.

 

[ab4ka]

I've got a 6" 686+ and I absolutely love it! It's much more accurate than I am and it's a dream to shoot. The only think I want to do is replace the rubber Hogue with a nice set of wood stocks. I like the shape of the Hogue but the top is just a wee bit too narrow for me. I'll probably get a set of Ahrend's for it, but eventually I'd like to get a set of Herrett's customs for it.

 

[valkyriekl]

I've got a 6" 686+ and I absolutely love it! It's much more accurate than I am and it's a dream to shoot. The only think I want to do is replace the rubber Hogue with a nice set of wood stocks. I like the shape of the Hogue but the top is just a wee bit too narrow for me. I'll probably get a set of Ahrend's for it, but eventually I'd like to get a set of Herrett's customs for it.

If you think the Hogues are too narrow up top, then the Ahrends will definitely be too narrow up top. They're barely wider than the grip frame (okay, that's an exaggeration of course, but they do feel very narrow). Even the retro targets, if I recall, are fairly narrow. The Altamonts (like on Bullseye Smith's gun) feel just as narrow up top, in my opinion. If you can, try a set on your gun before you buy them.

I happen to like the narrow Ahrends grips; they direct recoil into the meat of my hands, whereas the wooden Hogues direct recoil into the bones (no idea on how the rubber Hogues do under recoil, but I don't like the way they feel anyways, so I'm not inclined to try...). Even the heavy recoil of .44 Magnum is manageable, for me, with these grips. I imagine the Altamonts will feel similar...

 

[Greenbeanie67]

I have a 686+ 7 shot with a three inch barrel. It is one great gun, and I really love it. It is one fine shooter. I bought it about 9 years ago, and have never looked back. I have had numerous offers to buy it but will not part with it as long as I can stand up and hold it.

 

[ab4ka]

If you think the Hogues are too narrow up top, then the Ahrends will definitely be too narrow up top. They're barely wider than the grip frame (okay, that's an exaggeration of course, but they do feel very narrow). Even the retro targets, if I recall, are fairly narrow. The Altamonts (like on Bullseye Smith's gun) feel just as narrow up top, in my opinion. If you can, try a set on your gun before you buy them.

I happen to like the narrow Ahrends grips; they direct recoil into the meat of my hands, whereas the wooden Hogues direct recoil into the bones (no idea on how the rubber Hogues do under recoil, but I don't like the way they feel anyways, so I'm not inclined to try...). Even the heavy recoil of .44 Magnum is manageable, for me, with these grips. I imagine the Altamonts will feel similar...

thanks for the input. I really want a set of Jordan Troopers (going from one extreme to the other) but Herrett's wants you to send the frame to them if they are for a stainless gun and I don't want to do that.

 

[valkyriekl]

thanks for the input. I really want a set of Jordan Troopers (going from one extreme to the other) but Herrett's wants you to send the frame to them if they are for a stainless gun and I don't want to do that.

I thought Herrett would accept a couple pictures or outlines of your hands...but if they want the whole frame (and basically, the whole gun), that would be far more expensive. Stainless and Blued guns of the same frame size should nominally be same size, though (although there are always very minor differences going from frame to frame)...

 

[missiondude]

A couple my wife knows bought one recently and was having trouble getting it on target. They know I shoot, although only bottom feeders. I did some reading online, and took them to the range. Problem was not with the gun, and they were soon hitting the 9 and 10 ring with consistency. I loved shooting it, but did not like the Hogue grips. They do not fit my hand at all, and dont allow as high a grip as I liked. Trigger pull was heavy but fairly smooth, although she had trouble doing more than 4 shots in a row. I bought them a set of snap caps and told them to practice. Great gun, but if I had one, the grips would go...

 

[valkyriekl]

Great gun, but if I had one, the grips would go...

That's the first thing I've changed with any S&W revolver I've pick up. Sometimes I didn't even shoot it first; I went right to my local Ahrends dealer (D&J Gun Repair in Sterling, VA, a few miles North of me) and they usually had a good-looking set, waiting for me...

 

[Bullseye Smith]

That's the first thing I've changed with any S&W revolver I've pick up. Sometimes I didn't even shoot it first; I went right to my local Ahrends dealer (D&J Gun Repair in Sterling, VA, a few miles North of me) and they usually had a good-looking set, waiting for me...

I second that

 

[MikeChandler]

I have a 6" 7 shot 686-4 - probably the very best version of the gun you are discussing.

It's a phenomenal gun. However, I think there are two things about it I don't really care for.

1) the round butt is not that great in a target gun. Yes there are round to square conversion grips, and I am using them. However, they still feel a little different than the square butt. Now if my 7 shot was a 2.5" it would be perfect with round butt combat Ahrends. But as a 6", I don't like it as much; the 6" barrel is VERY heavy and using round butt grips on it wouldn't make sense anyway. I didn't even realize this BTW, until I bought 2 more square butt L frame guns.

2) 7 shots. I know that's ironic... but it's my only 7 shot, and I just can't get it right. I keep thinking I am spent, and I eject and have one live round. Or I go too far and drop the hammer on an empty case. I'd like to do competitions, as the gun is incredibly accurate and easy to shoot - but they also only allow 6 rounds.

So I am currently trying to trade mine for the best of the 6 shot square frames, the 686-3.

Aren't you glad there are so many options?

 

[buck460XVR]

I don't know why I was thinking that you were talking about a 7 inch 7 shot 686, these are rare.

Well they were till about a year ago........now they are current production and I have seen quite a few in LGS's.

Product: Model 686 3-5-7 Magnum® Series

 

[SWP357]

I've got a 3" 686+ and it's one gun I'll never trade or sell, built like a tank, great looking and fun to shoot! You'll enjoy your new purchase I'm sure!