New (to me) 686!

[RLG2]

Hello all,

Long, long time reader, first time poster.
First off, I just wanted to thank all of you for the incredible wealth of information that has been compiled amongst the thousands of posts I've read over the years!

Now, I would like to share my new (to me) 686-3 that I picked up last week!

Finally....I'd love it if you all could share some suggestions for a narrower pair of stocks. I've got some pretty big paws, but these stocks just feel huge in my hands.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Welcome to the forum & congrats on your new find!

Those grips are the classics but they never felt great to me either. I use either Badger grips or Hogue's on mine, depending what mood I'm in.

.

I like their round butt grips (686-6 Talo, 325NG & 357NG) a little better than the round conversions grips (657-5 & 686-0)

......................657-5
686-6.....................
....325NG...357NG....
.........686-0............

.

686-6 Talo, 5"

.

 

[Super Dave]

That's a fine looking gun you have.
I've settled on the rubber Hogue Monogrip for my range guns.

Dave

 

[Browns fan]

congrats you now have in your possesion the finest version of the 686 the -3 never trade that gun away every other 686 wishes it could be a -3 lol all kidding aside a great gun do a search on the 686 and you will find others here that say the same thing

 

[Graywolf586]

Great gun you have. Yes the stock grips are a little thick especially at the bottoms, but don't get rid of them put them away and keep them with the gun. I swapped my grips out for three different sets before I found what works best for me. My 586 now wears a set of Kim Ahrends tactical finger groove grips made of Caribbean Rosewood.

 

[Dale53]

I have a couple of 686's (a 4" CS-1 with Pachmayr Compacs and a 6" with Pachmayr Decelerator Grips) along with a Smith Model 520 with 4" barrel and Decelerator Grips). I have been extremely happy with the Pachmayrs.

I consider the "L" frame Smith to be the absolute best platform for the .357 Magnum (no disrespect to those that choose the "N" frames). I particularly like the cylinder length on the "L" frames that doesn't limit me on what bullet I can use. I use nothing but home cast bullets in my revolvers.

Here is the CS-1:


RLG2;
Congratulations on a fine choice!

Dale53

 

[bigwheelzip]

Howdy from South Carolina, and welcome to the forum.

Very nice choice you made. Enjoy.

 

[patjmc]

I have a 686-4 that came with the Houge grips and I love 'em. Never considered changing them and I have fairly large hands. Mine is a 6" but I'm keeping an eye out for a deal on a 4". Yours looks great.

 

[Green Frog]

As I have stated repeatedly, for the K/L grip frame size, I am quite fond of the factory Smooth Combat Grips with Finger Grooves. When I got my 6" Model 686 ND, it was devoid of any grips at all, so that was what I just HAD to put on it. No regrets!

Froggie

 

[Coastie762]

OP, Welcome to the forum and congrats on a fine revolver!

There are a number of great suggestions here regarding stocks for your new gun. Much like holsters, you may go through a couple of different ones before finding a set that fits your needs.

For wood stocks I would recommend you take a look at what Ahrends has to offer. They make a number of styles to fit your taste and hands.

I like the Retro Combats with finger grooves. Attached is a photo of my 6" 686-3 wearing Ahrends retro combats in Cocobolo. These had been refinished by myself using boiled Linseed Oil.

Good luck and enjoy that fine gun!

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM! Very nice 686! I have a 686-3, with a 6" barrel. It has target stocks, as yours does. My 586 no dash has Herrett Target stocks on it. Forget that this pair is well worn. They feel good, and are comfy! Bob

 

[BigCityChief]

Welcome to the forum. Enjoy your beautiful revolver.

 

[JeepinSoldier]

Welcome to the forum!

If I could only keep one revolver, (And I have lots of them) it would probably be the 4" 686. Very light recoil with .38 Special target loads but can handle the most powerful .357 loads with out being too big and heavy overall.

My 686 wears pachmyer 'Gripper' grips. I like the way that they feel in my hand, absorb recoil, and the look of the black rubber against the silver revolver.

The same grips came stock on my 625 Model of 1988.

The only other grips that I like better are the Craig Spegel extended boot grips for K Frame.

 

[Engine49guy]

Very nice 686-3,
You will enjoy that one as has all the improvements and can handle any factory .357 loads made.

Lots of good stock suggestions but do some experimenting on what works for you as usually its a compromise between looks and function, the perfect set looks and feels the best.

On a side note the stocks in your original post are not original to your gun but have some value as trade fodder.

 

[loeman]

Another welcome from a former "Region" dweller (Hammond). Here's a pic of my Md 681 which is the same as your 686 but with fixed sights. It is wearing Ahrends Tactical Smooth (without finger grooves). I love them as they are not as big as the Targets you have and they have an open/exposed back-strap.

 

[trigger945]

Congrats on a fine revolver! Hogue, Pachmayr and VZ offer plenty of options. Magna grips may also work well for you.

 

[paragain]

What a great find in a beautiful revolver. Enjoy it as I do mine!

 

[Cuyler]

Hello all,

Long, long time reader, first time poster.
First off, I just wanted to thank all of you for the incredible wealth of information that has been compiled amongst the thousands of posts I've read over the years!

Now, I would like to share my new (to me) 686-3 that I picked up last week!

Finally....I'd love it if you all could share some suggestions for a narrower pair of stocks. I've got some pretty big paws, but these stocks just feel huge in my hands.

Thanks again everyone!

Welcome to the Forum RLG2. Congrats on your new 686-3.

I replaced the factory wood grips on my 686-3 with rubber Hogue Finger Groves and I love how they feel and fit my hand.

 

[RLG2]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and for affirming that I picked out a nice revolver

I appreciate all of the suggestions for stocks and I'm leaning heavily toward trying a pair of Ahrends. However, I just eyed a 66-2 this afternoon and she's calling out to me.....I guess we'll see which direction my funds choose to go!

loeman- great to see someone actually made it OUT of the region! Haha

 

[RLG2]

Very nice 686-3,
You will enjoy that one as has all the improvements and can handle any factory .357 loads made.

Lots of good stock suggestions but do some experimenting on what works for you as usually its a compromise between looks and function, the perfect set looks and feels the best.

On a side note the stocks in your original post are not original to your gun but have some value as trade fodder.

I'm curious- what would have been the original stocks that came on this gun?