Bill In Texas
Member
Congratulations!
Grail Gun secured
- Thread starter BabaBlueJay
- Start date
That is one sharp revolver. I want one. A forum member sold me a 586 snubby but I still need the 686!
Always looking although there are very few on the buy list nowadays.
Always looking although there are very few on the buy list nowadays.
OP
It was the only one I saw, and it was everything I wanted in one revolver. Birth year gun, snub, -3, and S&W 'combat grips with original packaging/tools/manual. Just couldn't pass on that even if it was more than I wanted to spend.
Any advice on defense ammo? I'm torn between 38+p or 357
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Congrats! What is your new grail gun?
That L-Frame will easily handle .357 Magnum loads...
charlie sherrill
Member
....and, besides that, it will be more than worth what you paid for it in a short period of time.
Congrats on acquiring a grail gun! It's always satisfying, and pointless to put a price on.
A 2.5" 686 was my carry gun in 1987-88, though I sold it to fund a 3" 629 back in the day. I always regretted that and finally replaced it with a 686-1 2.5" I picked up earlier this year.
As far as ammo for defensive purposes, I like the Buffalo Bore .357 short barrel/low flash/recoil 140gr Barnes bullet loads. Serious, but not as unpleasant out of short barrel guns as the iconic Federal and Remington 125gr JHPs. No exposed lead to deform over time with repeated loading/unloading.
A 2.5" 686 was my carry gun in 1987-88, though I sold it to fund a 3" 629 back in the day. I always regretted that and finally replaced it with a 686-1 2.5" I picked up earlier this year.
As far as ammo for defensive purposes, I like the Buffalo Bore .357 short barrel/low flash/recoil 140gr Barnes bullet loads. Serious, but not as unpleasant out of short barrel guns as the iconic Federal and Remington 125gr JHPs. No exposed lead to deform over time with repeated loading/unloading.
1911haulic
Member
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing.
No recommendations on SD ammo, IMO any 357 is certainly plenty of power.
OP
Congrats on acquiring a grail gun! It's always satisfying, and pointless to put a price on.
A 2.5" 686 was my carry gun in 1987-88, though I sold it to fund a 3" 629 back in the day. I always regretted that and finally replaced it with a 686-1 2.5" I picked up earlier this year.
As far as ammo for defensive purposes, I like the Buffalo Bore .357 short barrel/low flash/recoil 140gr Barnes bullet loads. Serious, but not as unpleasant out of short barrel guns as the iconic Federal and Remington 125gr JHPs. No exposed lead to deform over time with repeated loading/unloading.
I think that the 686 will always have a special place in my heart as my first S&W. This one is slightly shorter than my 4" but the learning curve should not be too harsh as I have shot thousands of rounds through my 686.
I am leaning towards silvertips since they worked so well in my 4"
Erich
Member
Cooler than a fan! 
HOUSTON RICK
Member
Congratulations, and enjoy owning it. I am still looking for that minty WWI and WWII Luger with Imperial and Wehrmacht issue markings. 
OP
Should be arriving today or tomorrow �� looking forward to having it in hand to go to the range this weekend.
OP
Picked it up and it's even better than the pictures! The finger grooves fit my hand like a glove and the balance is as good as my 4" 686-1. Had a busy day with an interview for a Catholic School building principal job today and now we have Bible camp for the girls but when things slow down I'll post photos!
Congrats! I'll spare you my regrets over letting a 586 go long ago. My current lock 686 of recent manufacture is the best revolver overall that I have had. All the others along the way were lots of fun. Yay S&W wheelguns!
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Congrats on your purchase my grail gun is a -3 also
i "SETTLED" for a -4 2.5 inch 686s shoot just well
as the 4 inch
i "SETTLED" for a -4 2.5 inch 686s shoot just well
as the 4 inch
OP
As promised, here are first photos of me holding it. Feels great in the hand.
@Browns fan that is great to hear! If it shoots as easily as the 4" then I got a gem
I'm also from Cleveland area by the way and a Browns Fan as well!
@Browns fan that is great to hear! If it shoots as easily as the 4" then I got a gem
I'm also from Cleveland area by the way and a Browns Fan as well!Attachments
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AveragEd
Member
One of my S&W grail guns was a 686-3 National Match. This one appeared to be unfired and was on GunBroker and went through three auctions without the reserve being met. When a bid in the upper 13-hundreds didn't work, I swore it was my "final offer" and went to $1,400. That turned out to be the magic number! It came with a set of standard checkered targets so I bought the dual-speedloader cutout checkered targets on it now. Their figure isn't breathtaking but they have full three-edge bookending. I later found a new Bill Davis original grip set on eBay for $18. That five-inch barrel just has perfect balance.
Ed
Ed
Attachments
Congratulations, that is a beautiful addition to the family
My snubby 686 is product code 104212.
This is one of the guns from the original Lew Horton run.
Mine was manufactured back in 1984 but it did get a little scratched up after it left the factory
I changed the grips on mine, I thought the bananas looked better with all that scratching
This is one of the guns from the original Lew Horton run.
Mine was manufactured back in 1984 but it did get a little scratched up after it left the factory
I changed the grips on mine, I thought the bananas looked better with all that scratching
