Gonna start an argument but it's a for real question............

[kbm6893]

19's are great. I have a 686 4" and it is great for open carry, HD, or woods carry. I had a 686 snub and it was too big and thick for concealed carry. I sold it. I have a 19-2 that is also a 4" and it is pristine. It never gets holstered, even at the range. Why would it? it doesn't get carried. Now, a 19 snub is something I would really like, BUT I would not get it in nickle. Nickle requires extra care, and I have seen nickle plating peel. If you want a recessed snub, either find a 19 or a 66. I have no desire to own a nickle gun. You can polish up a stainless so it shines like nickle if you want.

 

[therick]

OK, here's the contrarian opinion. If this one will be your carry gun and you plan to shoot not very many full .357s, the model 19. For any steady diet of .357s, because you can still get parts from the factory (unlike model 19 barrels in particular), and because I think you'll come out slightly behind in a straight trade, the 686.

Or why not buy the 19?

Cash flow is tight right now. I would love to be able to hoard them all but something's gonna have to go and a straight up trade is fine for me at this time. I'll find another 686 when things loosen up a bit.

 

[therick]

im a big fan of the 686 but on the other hand the 19 is not made anymore by s&w. I say trade for the 19 then start a savings fund for a replacement 686

Kind of what I was thinking.

 

[therick]

Call me a heathen, but I don't own a gun too pretty to carry. The only two I would worry about damaging or losing are the Model 18 my parents bought new in 1966 and effectively gave to me, many years later, when I was 15; and a Colt 1917 that saw duty in WWII Burma with Merrill's Marauders. The 1917 is quite weathered, but I am protective of it for its history.

OTOH, the gun on my right hip this morning is a 1981 vintage 13 3" that I bought LNIB and unfired last year from a guy who had kept it as a safe queen because it was "too pretty."

I have as much use for a gun that is too pretty to carry as I have for a woman who is too pretty to get dirty. But I carry and shoot the 13 a lot, and I have a lot of fun with my tomboy / farm girl / horsewoman / RN wife; and I find both to be quite pretty enough, even so.

I just don't "carry" my blued model 19-2 right now as the blueing is awesome on the gun and I don't wish to wear it off by carrying it. It DOES get shot at the range and out in the woods so it's not a true Safe Queen. I love a dirty girl ! LOL !

 

[H Richard]

Only you can decide. Consider the real facts, if you want the gun to shoot large quantities of light weight high velocity .357's you want the 686. If you want the gun to shoot mostly .38's and occasional .357's you want the 19. If you want a pretty gun to keep, you want the 19.

 

[senecaap]

Model 19 you can always get another 686....but with the 19 why would you want one

 

[Harvester]

Ahhh... another happy ending- what's not to like?!?

~Harvester

 

[Joe in SC]

I'd trade for the 19 if I didn't plan on shooting an unusual amount of hot magnum ammo in it. The 19 is, in my opinion, the very best concealed carry revolver. Accurate beyond my ability to shoot and capable of a decisive blow to a deserving recipent. The weight and balance is right.

The nickel is a plus if you like nickel. Just treat it like any good gun deserves and it won't be a problem. Keep the bore cleaners that are formulated to remove copper off the nickel finish and you will be fine. A carry gun should be wiped down at the end of the day anyway and it only takes a few seconds to do this.

 

[haggis]

I REALLY like the recessed cylinder and can't figure out why it was ever changed.

Since you asked...

• It's not necessary. Modern case design makes a rim blowout almost impossible, and the availability of balloon-head cartridges in the 30's was why the recessed cylinder was used originally, and why S&W .22's still have it (even though they may not need it).
• It's harder to make.
• It's harder to clean.
• It's harder to measure headspace.
• It's harder to put a good chamfer on the chamber mouth. It can be done, but you have to have exactly the correct angles on the chamfering tool.

There are probably others I have forgotten.

As far as what you you should get, buy what you want. You won't carry the nickel gun long without it's surface deteriorating. As far as the weight, I sometimes carry a 4" 625. If it's going to be in a holster, it doesn't much matter.

Buck

 

[M3Stuart]

A different answer

Ok, this only works if you know the guy really well;

Trade him with the deal being that either one of you can undo the trade, say a year later, no questions asked. Buuuut; with a few rules like that there's only one 'option date', neither of you can tear up the gun, etc.

You could do a couple months or whatever. By then you'll know which you prefer. You'll probably want both!

 

[454gun]

I would go with the 19 for sure .

 

[therick]

Since you asked...

• It's not necessary. Modern case design makes a rim blowout almost impossible, and the availability of balloon-head cartridges in the 30's was why the recessed cylinder was used originally, and why S&W .22's still have it (even though they may not need it).
• It's harder to make.
• It's harder to clean.
• It's harder to measure headspace.
• It's harder to put a good chamfer on the chamber mouth. It can be done, but you have to have exactly the correct angles on the chamfering tool.

There are probably others I have forgotten.

As far as what you you should get, buy what you want. You won't carry the nickel gun long without it's surface deteriorating. As far as the weight, I sometimes carry a 4" 625. If it's going to be in a holster, it doesn't much matter.

Buck

Thanks Buck.....Seems to me that with the recessed cylinder most all of the energy is headed down barrel and not out of the sides of the cylinder. I understand the logistics and difficulty of the engineering......

 

[therick]

Ok, this only works if you know the guy really well;

Trade him with the deal being that either one of you can undo the trade, say a year later, no questions asked. Buuuut; with a few rules like that there's only one 'option date', neither of you can tear up the gun, etc.

You could do a couple months or whatever. By then you'll know which you prefer. You'll probably want both!

I'm greedy so I DO want both, it's just not financially feasible at this time.