New S&W 686 Shame on S&W

[davek42_43130]

Wow;
Just received My new HandGun Magazine June 2018, Here in Hawaii things run a little late (That's the Hawaiian way) I'm not Hawaiian, Not that's anything wrong with that.
Anyway, I read the article about the new 686's with tears in my eyes.
S&W is now building there versions of the Taurus revolver with Ruger Redhawk sights. What a cheap looking revolver,For only 900.oo Shame on S&W
Why; S&W has always been a leader in the handgun world, And industery If my pops was still alive he'd be cussing.
If you open the drawer in my gun room there My small collection Of S&Ws.
My pop's 27 3.5" built in 1957,mdl 36,Mdl 19, Mdl 14,Mdl 327-R8,Mdl 617, Mdl 60,Mdl 625 and the Governor King of home defense guns, As you can see I am a S&W guy
I have had them all, but always come back to the best.
What are these guys At S&W thinking,
If a Taurus in your price range that's fine there great guns, But there Not S&W
Rossi and Taurus Were built off S&W.
Not the other way around.
Roy Jinks should be rolling his eyes
The old Marine class of 1975

 

[1sailor]

I don't subscribe to Handgun Magazine so I'm not familiar with the article you mention. What has changed. I'm not sure how they could make a copy of something that is a copy of their product to begin with. What's changed with the sights. The S&W site isn't showing anything that jumps out at me as being significantly different.

 

[Clarke Hammer]

Not sure what you're talking about...

 

[1sailor]

A little info on what you read or saw in the article that lead you to that conclusion would be a great help. I'm probably not the only one here who doesn't subscribe to that magazine. Not doubting you but your original post tells us nothing at all. I looked at some Redhawk pics and I am having a hard time grasping what you're talking about.

 

[Protocall_Design]

It may be the 686 with cheap looking vent rib and orange plastic front sight. I don't like those, personally. The rib was a good idea, but poorly done, and the plastic front sight makes it look more like a toy than a serious piece of equipment.

 

[1sailor]

Maybe. I guess we'll never know though without a little more info.

 

[ImDrRich]

I really wish you'd say more. I have a 686+ and it is probably the best S&W revolver I own. More to the point, I believe it is the most popular S&W revolver ever made.

If you have a Performance Center handgun version of the 686 or 686+, that's a different animal. Maybe.

 

[S&W Rover]

Ah. These may be the 686 models in question. SKU's 11759 and 11760. Performance Center(R) Model 686 Plus | Smith & Wesson

These are primarily for competition shooters. I'm not sure why the front sight is orange, but I'd guess it serves some purpose in one or another type of competition shooting.

OP needn't worry -- not many of these will be sold to the general public. We can applaud S&W for meeting the needs of a segment of the shooting population... while being happy the various original-style 686's will still be on the market.

 

[Gunhacker]

That article was about the two 686 performance Center versions... which are horses of a different color in looks and features to the regular production guns.

Performance Center(R) Model 686 | Smith & Wesson

Performance Center(R) Model 686 Plus | Smith & Wesson

I don't get the comparison to the Redhawk sights... unless it's eluding to how "prominent" the front sight blade style is on the PC model compared to a regular model 686.

 

[Alk8944]

A bit of advice to OP, read this thread! To say the least you have exaggerated the description of the revolver in question.

Bashing, Crying, & Whining

 

[Tom S.]

I'm wondering if alcohol may have played a part in the original post.

It starts off with a gripe about getting the June issue of a magazine late - in early May. Um, OK.

Then a swipe at S&W's latest 686 followed by a bit of rambling verbiage of days gone by. I really wonder if the OP has had a chance to fire one of S&W's recent (say the past 15 to 20 years) offerings. I have, and found them be every bit as accurate (perhaps even more so), as well made and even smoother than my older editions. To wit:

6 shots from my PC 629. 25 yards from a bench:

Fired from this gun:

Or my last outing, fired off hand at 20 yards:

With my recently acquired Model 627.

I wish I could post a target of my newest purchase - the latest 686-6 offering from S&W, but alas, I'm still waiting for some moon clips. At any rate, here's the gun, and if it's anything like the two above, I'll be happy as a clam:

 

[ImDrRich]

I'm wondering if alcohol may have played a part in the original post.

It starts off with a gripe about getting the June issue of a magazine late - in early May. Um, OK.

Then a swipe at S&W's latest 686 followed by a bit of rambling verbiage of days gone by. I really wonder if the OP has had a chance to fire one of S&W's recent (say the past 15 to 20 years) offerings. I have, and found them be every bit as accurate (perhaps even more so), as well made and even smoother than my older editions. To wit:

6 shots from my PC 629. 25 yards from a bench:

Fired from this gun:

Or my last outing, fired off hand at 20 yards:

With my recently acquired Model 627.

I wish I could post a target of my newest purchase - the latest 686-6 offering from S&W, but alas, I'm still waiting for some moon clips. At any rate, here's the gun, and if it's anything like the two above, I'll be happy as a clam:

Nice shootin' there, pal.

 

[shakyshoot]

Dude, if a Smith happens to look a bit like a Taurus, it's only because Taurus revolvers are (superficially at least) clones of Smith and Wesson revolver designs. They borrowed everything from S&W, right down to the model numbers.
Personally, I bought 3 brand new S&W revolvers last year and one brand new Taurus. I love em all, but I kind of give the edge to the 5" 686+.

 

[Tom S.]

It may be the 686 with cheap looking vent rib and orange plastic front sight. I don't like those, personally. The rib was a good idea, but poorly done, and the plastic front sight makes it look more like a toy than a serious piece of equipment.

I agree about the sight, as mine came broken from the factory, but replacing it is easy. Similar to the newer Model 41's, it can be removed without any tools, and there are already aftermarket replacements available (see my picture above).

About the vent rib though, I do not agree. This is machined in place, not an add on unit, and along with other machining done, reduces the weight considerably. I do understand that not everyone likes this new model, but it instantly became a favorite for me, and I consider the price a value.