Looking to buy my first revolver

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mjt29

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Hello everyone. So I'm in the market for my first revolver and this will be a range gun. I'm looking at the S&W 686+ in the 3inch or 4inch barrel. I'm leaning towards the 3inch. Is the recoil noticeably different between these two models? As this will be my training revolver any other considerations I should make?

Thanks!
 
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The 4" barrel will be better for your use than a shorter barrel.

No difference in recoil.
 
I just had a similar dilemma and decided on the 3". I liked the balance in my hand better. In the wait period so I'll check up when I finally get it out to the range.
 
Scottastic said:
I just had a similar dilemma and decided on the 3". I liked the balance in my hand better. In the wait period so I'll check up when I finally get it out to the range.
Click to expand...

I agree with this, if it were me I'd take the 3". If you're shooting .38s there's almost no recoil either way.
 
As others have said, the 4-inch gun is probably a better choice, but if you really like the 3-inch gun it will be OK for you to any reasonable distance. I don't think you will notice a lot of difference in recoil. These are pretty heavy revolvers and while the 4-inch definitely will kick less, neither should seem abusive. If you are practicing with .38 Specials, especially so.

I'd prefer a six-shot gun. I never loaded more than five rounds for target shooting anyway, but I just generally prefer the six-shot guns so I suppose I am a stick in the mud about this. Seven- and eight-shot guns just don't appeal to me.

Be sure to keep the gun clean. The cylinder should always rotate freely on the yoke. It's a simple thing to take apart, clean, lube lightly, and put back together. If you shoot .38s, thoroughly cleaning the chambers after every trip to the range will save you some aggravation later on. :)
 
My very first revolver for ccw and the range was a 6" barreled Python in 357mag. My second revolver was a ruger police service six in 357mag. With a 2 3/4" barrel.
 
Here's my S&W 686-6 .357 Magnum 4"
 

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It's easy to keep recoil down...

Target ammo doesn't need to be hot, in fact, it's better if it isn't.


On the barrel, I have a 6" 686 and does feel nose heavy, but it grips and points well. So when you grip it to shoot, it doesn't feel nose heavy. I'd sure lean toward a 4".

Even if you get a 686 with recoil like a mule and a 1" barrel you will still have a great gun and a great shooter, which the 587/686 line is indeed.:)
 
Good Advice

As others have said here, the 4" barreled revolver is the better choice. While technically, a 2" barrel is as accurate as a 4" barrel, it generally requires some practice and experience to extract good accuracy from the shorter barrels primarily because of the shorter sight radius.
 
My first 686 was a 3", and then I bought a 4", and then I bought a 5".

Crazy!!

There all good, buy the one that feels best to you.
 
This is a good opportunity to find a local range that rents guns (686s are often found there). Balance, size and weight are all subjective (as noted above :)) and you may find one barrel length stands out for you.

Might I also suggest a used K frame .38 Special or .22 LR? Good luck in your decision.
 
Unfortunately, my local range carries almost no revolvers and their in store revolver stock is also limited.

The 3" interests me too because it's looks better balanced and these are large guns. Maybe that really isn't an issue with the 4" either.

Yes, my intent is to practice on .38 and eventually buy a j frame, but I want larger range gun to practice with.
 
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mjt29 said:
Unfortunately, my local range carries almost no revolvers and their in store revolver stock is also limited.

The 3" interests me to because is looks better balanced and these are large guns. Maybe that really isn't an issue with the 4" either.

Yes, my intent is to practice on .38 and eventually buy a j frame, but I want larger range gun to practice with.
Click to expand...

You will love the 3", and if you are considering a J frame as well, I highly suggest the 640 Pro.
 
I'm a really new shooter does that make any difference in my choice here? Good news is it's seems likes it's hard to go wrong either way.
 
There is no correct answer, just preferences. You could visit whatever local matches interest you and buy a revolver that the competitors suggest will work well. In my area the top dogs are 6" 6 shot 686s milled for full moon clips and 625s. Those are dedicated target revolvers, not training revolvers for self defense. However, most matches start holstered and your time is a very important part of your score so they might be the best training you get.
 
mjt29 said:
I'm a really new shooter does that make any difference in my choice here? Good news is it's seems likes it's hard to go wrong either way.
Click to expand...

Have you ever shot anything like an airgun or 22 before or is this really your first time around? I learned some fundamentals with a colt single action 45 and air pistols, so I personally felt more comfortable getting a 3".

If it really is your first I would have to agree a 4"-6" will be a lot more forgiving while you're learning to acquire a sight picture, flinching, etc.

Edit: I wanted to add, if you want a longer barrel but don't like the weight of the 4" 686 (like me) take a look at the 66. I almost got that instead of the 3" 686 when I was going through the exact same dilemma as you!
 
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If you're not going to conceal & carry I would say get the 686 4". IMO better for target practice and home defense. If you're ever in a dangerous situation and run out of bullets you can beat someone over the head with it. I have a J-frame which I carry the most but shoot the least because of the snappy recoil.
 
Scottastic said:
Have you ever shot anything like an airgun or 22 before or is this really your first time around? I learned some fundamentals with a colt single action 45 and air pistols, so I personally felt more comfortable getting a 3".

If it really is your first I would have to agree a 4"-6" will be a lot more forgiving while you're learning to acquire a sight picture, flinching, etc.

Edit: I wanted to add, if you want a longer barrel but don't like the weight of the 4" 686 (like me) take a look at the 66. I almost got that instead of the 3" 686 when I was going through the exact same dilemma as you!
Click to expand...

I've shot some 9mm and some .38.


BTW, I appreciate every bodies input. Great stuff, thank you.
 
mjt29 said:
Unfortunately, my local range carries almost no revolvers and their in store revolver stock is also limited.

The 3" interests me too because it's looks better balanced and these are large guns. Maybe that really isn't an issue with the 4" either.

Yes, my intent is to practice on .38 and eventually buy a j frame, but I want larger range gun to practice with.
Click to expand...

I find the 3" 686 better balanced too, it's what I would buy in your situation (and I own both 3 and 4" barreled revolvers). If you ever decide to carry your 686 it will be easier to conceal too.

Don't worry about being a new shooter - the 686 is easy to learn on, just stick to standard pressure .38 specials until you get the fundamentals down. Try to learn to shoot in double action too, rather than cocking the hammer for each shot.

I know this is the S&W forum but if you have very small hands you might like the Ruger GP 100 with the 3" barrel, very similar to the 686 but can take smaller grip sizes.
 
mjt29 said:
Hello everyone. So I'm in the market for my first revolver and this will be a range gun. I'm looking at the S&W 686+ in the 3inch or 4inch barrel. I'm leaning towards the 3inch. Is the recoil noticeably different between these two models? As this will be my training revolver any other considerations I should make?

Thanks!
Click to expand...



Sir,

First of all, let me welcome you to the forum; and I'm always glad to hear from new shooters seeking some assistance.

I'm a bit surprised that no one has yet asked you what it is that you're looking to accomplish with this gun. The answer to that question will, to a large degree, answer your question(but not completely). Let me try to explain myself.

There are two major, and very different, uses for a revolver: 1)defensive; and 2)target, or 'bullseye'(Hunting is a 3rd major use, but I'm including it under 'target', since the process of becoming more proficient is very similar for both.). Both require range practice in order to become more proficient, but that practice is much different for defensive shooting.

You posted later in the discussion that you ultimately want a J-frame, which seems to indicate to me that you want a gun for defensive use. Am I correct? If so, then shorter barrels are the order of the day. There's more than one reason for this, but let me summarize it by saying that shorter barrels are more easily maneuvered and retained in the very short-range, rapidly-moving situations a typical defensive encounter entails(And no, I've never experienced such a situation and pray that I never will -but one need not have such experience to know the advantage of a shorter barrel under those circumstances.). If you plan to carry your defensive gun, especially concealed, the advisability of a shorter barrel becomes even more obvious.

Having said all that, it doesn't appear to me that there is really enough difference, for defensive use, between the 3 and the 4 inch guns to matter all that much. I have 4" 686s to defend my home, since a home defensive encounter is more likely to involve a longer-range shot and more warning that something is amiss; and a 2-1/4" Ruger to carry outside the home.

Either of the options you're considering may of course be used for target shooting as well, if one so chooses. But, as has been mentioned already, longer barrels such as the 6" provide a longer sight radius to help make those groups smaller, which of course is the goal of target shooting. All my target guns have either 6 or 8-3/8" barrels.

Well, I'm up way too late and have to wrap it up for now. Others are more expert than I -just thought I'd throw in the above issue if it might help you clarify in your own mind what you want to accomplish.

Best wishes in your choice, and let us know how things go for you,
Andy
 
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Welcome to the FORUM! I started out L frames because of a trade. Traded a 3" 65 for a 4", 586 no dash. Really liked it & bought a 686-3, 6". Well 1 thing always leads to another! In March, I traded into a 686-6 Pro-Series. It is a 5". Can't tell you which is my favorite. "Decisions, Decisions!" Bob
 
Welcome. For a range gun I would recommend the 4 or 6 inch barrel. For a carry gun the 3 or 4 inch barrel will do nicely. For an all purpose gun the 4 inch barrel is difficult to beat. As a former Private Security Officer I carried a 6 inch barrel Colt Python for about 3 years. I then switched to a 4 inch barrel S&W model 28-2. The 4 inch barrel did everything I wanted and was more comfortable when seated in a chair at a check-in desk or in a patrol car.
 
If I had a gun that was just for the range, I can't think of anything better than a 6 inch 686+.

With one gun I can use 38 wadcutters and then end the session with teeth rattling 180gr lfn-gcs.
 
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