Is a 4" 686 too large for occasional carry?

[American1776]

Sure, I carry full size N-frame very frequently. I open carry most of the time, but to conceal these guns, just wear a button down shirt over it.

Get a good stiff gun belt. Get a good holster that keeps it high and close. It won't be a problem.

It's really about attitude though. Many people will wear the gun for two weeks and then grow tired of the effort required to carry it. Decide on how much you want to commit to a full size gun, and you'll know the answer to your question

 

[creekman]

model 66- short barrel

do you think it can be used as carry gun...too heavy or bad profiling when carring-love my 66-8. thanks

 

[uncleted327]

Carried a 4" 686 IWB for the first year I EDC'd. Absolutely doable with the right setup. But a 3" is much better IMO. There is nothing you can't do with a 3" that you can with a 4"...

 

[rwsmith]

Only if.....

Only if I were hiking or camping or in a place where I"m likely to run into big critters rather than people.

 

[snubbyfan]

I'm about to get my CCL. I have a 686 4" that I shoot paper with and even hunt with. I looked at some of the J frames but since I won't carry very often maybe I can just tote the revolver I already have and save the money. What do you think? I'm 6'2" and 235 if that matters...Thanks

PS. What would be the best way to conceal this revolver?

If you're getting a CCL, I think you should just go ahead and get the J frame snubby and carry always.
Compared to you, I'm a little guy at 5'8" and 160 pounds and my snubby goes with me everywhere I go, easily concealed under a t shirt.

 

[flagman1776]

I carried my 3" M66-2 OWB many miles on foot & on horseback... I hand made my holster mostly an unashamed copy of the Bianchi 5BHL.

 

[dr. mordo]

A lot of the advice in this thread makes me smile, because I routinely carry a 4" M29 in Miami heat while wearing an untucked button-up shirt and cargo shorts. I'm 5'8" @ 175 lbs, bit of a belly. I use a Simplyrugged Sourdough Pancake holster @ 4 o'clock. Both the M29 and holster I got off this forum!

I typically also have a LCR327 in my front pocket and 2 Safariland speed loaders for the M29.

Occasionally, instead of the M29 I've carried a 4" M10 AIWB in a cheapo Uncle Mikes with no real issues besides having to adjust a bit when I sit down so it doesn't push my voice into falsetto.

So, yes, you can conceal a 4" 686.

 

[RGVshooter]

I'm one of the lucky "few" that live in a open carry state; Texas! But to be honest what I do that works for me (I'm 5'11" 165lbs) is I wear OWB but I throw a short sleeve shirt collared shirt over my T-shirt to "hide it". I've had no problems walking around town dressed like that with my M&P 9 in a safariland ALS holster. I can imagine carrying a 686 4" wouldn't be that much more difficult as long as you have the proper gun belt, and not just a good leather belt, but it has to be a belt designed to support gun holsters to distribute the weight.

 

[CH4]

Absolutely! For years I carried my 4" 686 in a shoulder rig off duty.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Zombie thread.........................

From about the early 60s IIRC the 2 1/2inch Model 19 and later the model 66 were the "Gold standard" for concealed carry. Though many, myself included, feel the later 3 inch models 65/13 and the 3" model 66s (only about 5500 ever made) are just a bit better!!!!!

 

[white cloud]

A friend of mine carries a 3" 686+ with round butt stocks. He had a custom kydex holster made up for it. He is not a real big guy but can conceal the gun pretty well under an untucked shirt. This sure isn't a light weight carry but if he actually needs to shoot he is going to be miles ahead of me with my 649 .38 Special.

 

[Mark IV]

Folks, the OP hasn't posted in this thread, or even anywhere on this forum, in nearly 3 years !!!

 

[jimmyj]

S&W K frame 4" I CCW in a Lobo dual carry pancake wore at 4 O'clock

 

[GTBL]

It can be done. I prefer the 640 for carry, The 3" 686 for my office desk, 4" for my bedside table and the 5" for just fun at the Range.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[SquarePizza]

I carried a 3" 686 for years in lobo holsters, both IWB and OWB. At 5'9" and 140" i print worse than most people, but nobody called me out on seeing my gun.

The sad part is at 36 years old, I started to develop pressure related sciatic pain if I carry heavy guns at 4 o clock anymore. So I have been pocket carrying a glock 26 or smith 649 for the last 4 months.

 

[crazyphil]

Carry your 686 concealed if you like it.
Be sure you use a good belt. If you don't have a gun belt, I recommend
the 30 Dollar Belt. You can get it on ebay.
Be sure the holster loop is the same size as the belt width.
Get a holster that will have the cylinder about at belt level.
Higher makes it top heavy and it sags. Lower makes harder to conceal.
Carry it at 4 O'Clock.
If you carry concealed I don't believe you need retention other than
tension. No strap or thumb break.
I'm about the same size you are and I will show you few rigs, for example,
that I use carrying big guns.

Left to right:
Chic Gaylord Combat Speed Scabbard, on a 30 Dollar belt, with Model 29.
Myres 614 Threepersons on a Haugen gun belt, with Model 29
Chisholm Trail's Ranger on a Sparks belt, with Model 29
Kramer Vertical horsehide, with Model 27
DeSantis Speed Scabbard, with Model 27

 

[silentflyer]

I have been know to carry a Model 57 with a 8 3/8" tube in a Bianchi X15 shoulder holster rig under a jacket...but I am a XL size guy....

 

[TexasArmed]

I carry the S&W 586 4" six shot revolver on my left side in a belt holster
occasionally and when I don't I carry instead a Glock SF 30 (45 caliber)
in my left holster and both are belt holsters. The Glock is easier to
conceal, and a second gun S&W 642-1 snub stainless steel revolver on
my right side. Both I conceal under a good shirt, or a jacket.
Now that Texas permits open carry I do not worry as much about
accidental unconcealment and I carry open inside my vehicle but
concealed when I leave my vehicle. I shot both, the Glock and the
S&W 587 at the run range recently and I seem to shoot a bit better
with the Glock than with the Revolver. In the S&W 586 I use 38P+
Gold Speer rounds instead of the magnum rounds but which are
jacketed hollow points.