M&P R8 vs 686+

[HOUSTON RICK]

Which would you purchase first: A M&P R8 or a 686+ and why? Thank you for any pictures, advice or comments in advance. Rick

 

[Ashlander]

I bought a 3" 686+. It was much less expensive and not nearly as big. While the R8 is light, it is a big firearm (granted it has an 8 shot capacity).

 

[rickjones]

I would get the R8 or Trr8 without a doubt. The 686 is an excellent revolver but its not nearly as versatile as the R8. The 8 shot capacity, light and optic rails, and moonclips make it ideal for home defense or in a vehicle. I carry mine all winter under a jacket. The scandium frame makes it more than manageable and is really well balanced. I owned a talo 686+ 3" and it was a great shooter but it was awful to carry. For some reason I just didn't like how it rode on my belt. A lot of folks love it and at the range I would agree. The good news is that both guns are excellent! The bad news is that finding out which one is best suited for you might cost you a lot of money. The R8 has better resale value so i would start there and if you hate it maybe I'll buy it to keep my TRR8 company! Good luck to you, if you need any more info on the scandium's PM me!

 

[bigtubby]

I prefer the R8 super accurate 8 shots and I just don't care for the weight of a full lug. I don't own anymore 686's but still got the R8 it goes every range trip.

 

[ridgewalker]

Which would you purchase first: A M&P R8 or a 686+ and why? Thank you for any pictures, advice or comments in advance. Rick

Well it really depends how you want to use it. We need more information from you. Both are really fine firearms but fairly different. You are choosing between a 8 shot Scandium N frame and a 7 shot steel L frame. The R8 has a 5 inch barrel and you didn't specify for the 686+. Those are easy to find in 4 and 6 inch barrel lengths. There is a 686+ Pro with a 5 inch barrel too.

I agree with rickjones above that the R8 is really fine for home defense. That is the primary purpose of my TRR8 which I have mounted with a Streamlight under the barrel. It shoots great.

The durability of a all steel gun is hard to beat. It can be used for HD as well and it will be just as much fun at the range as the R8. But if you want to carry it out in the wilds, you don't have to worry about scratches, etc. as much as you would a scandium frame. The steel gun will be heavier of course.

So if you are looking for only one gun, I would recommend a 686+ in 4 to 6 inches. If you like the N frame better, also consider the steel framed 627.

 

[BoulderTroll]

I went with a 686+ 3". In fact I'm leaving in about an hour to go pick it up from the gun store.

The TRR8 is a very appealing gun to me (I like the aesthetics better than the R8), but right now I don't have any revolvers (until this afternoon). For an "only revolver", I want a traditional stainless gun, and the 3" 686+ is small enough that I think I could CCW it better if I chose to. I've wanted a TRR8 for many years, and will probably get one eventually, but for me it would always be as an additional revolver, not the only one.

By the way, for any fans of the Walking Dead series, Maggie carries an R8 in Season 5. Her revolver gets quite a bit of face time and close-ups.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

"We need more information from you." - Ridge, thank you, but I am not asking what I should do - only what you would do. I have 8 handguns (A Texas starter set) including a Model 28 and a Nickel Model 586. Not looking for one gun to do it all, just something cool.

 

[Revolver Rookie]

I bought the TRR8, followed by a 586 4"....
Tuesday I pickup my 686 Competitor.....

I now have all the biggies I need in .357....4", 5",6"...

Starting to look at J frames, but the damn wife says she gets one next.
How do I talk her into a snubbie? And still make her believe it's for her?

 

[Macinaw]

If you plan on shooting Steel Challenge competition the R8 will be a great choice.

 

[bigtubby]

"We need more information from you." - Ridge, thank you, but I am not asking what I should do - only what you would do. I have 8 handguns (A Texas starter set) including a Model 28 and a Nickel Model 586. Not looking for one gun to do it all, just something cool.

Any S&W revolver will have all the cool factor you need!! You have 8 "Standard" models get the R-8 and get the "wow" that's bad *** factor and if you don't like it you can easily get out of it.

 

[TAROMAN]

As an owner of both I can speak with some authority.
3" 686+ came into a LGS while I was in there.
Impulse buy.
A -5, it was very tight and precise.
But what would I use it for?
Already had a 65-5 Ladysmith that I preferred for CC.
Added an optic to try it for speed games. Meh.
It was quickly traded off.

The TRR8, OTOH, is a completely different kettle of fish.
With 8 holes in the cylinder, it shoots DA like a much smaller revolver.
Clip loading is what speed is all about. The top rail can be left in place allowing use of iron sights or quick swap to an optic. Shoot mine both ways.
First time out was a mano a mano speed game. Plates and a dueling tree at 25 yards. Won the revolver bracket then shot against the semi-auto bracket winner and cleaned him.
This thing is wicked accurate. Credit the 2 piece barrel, I guess.
Now loading it with .38 MID. 38 Special cases cut to .900" and loaded with 160 grain bullets.