Performance Center 686-3 Hunter

[KMB]

After searching for quite a while, I finally found one! No IL, hammer mounted firing pin, square butt, practically new, and for a VERY reasonable price. I love it. As soon as I got home with it, the rubber Hogue grips came off. It is now wearing a beautiful set of Hogue wood grips. Can't wait to take it out to the range! I'm sure it is super accurate.

By the way, can someone please look up the DOB for me? The serial # is PCM01xx.

Here are a couple of pics. I'll do a more extensive photoshoot over the weekend when I have more time. Enjoy!

 

[2hawk]

Schweet!

Very Nice! I have his bigger bro in 44,

If a gun can be boringly accurate this is the one. Let us know how it shoots!

BTW, does yours have the barrel weights?

 

[KMB]

Very Nice! I have his bigger bro in 44,

If a gun can be boringly accurate this is the one. Let us know how it shoots!

BTW, does yours have the barrel weights?

Yep, it has the barrel weights. I am itching to go shoot it!

 

[Rick R]

Nice gun! Looks like no holds were barred when they designed that one.

 

[socal s&w]

I have one of it's step-brothers, the 'Competitor'.

You will not believe how much fun these are to shoot!

Accurate and smooth as butter are good descriptions.

 

[duckloads]

nice grips

 

[Gunhacker]

Crap that's a looker ... are those Mag-na-port vents I see up front, and were they "factory"? If so that would be first time I've seen them on a gun that was not done post sale as after market.

 

[KMB]

Crap that's a looker ... are those Mag-na-port vents I see up front, and were they "factory"? If so that would be first time I've seen them on a gun that was not done post sale as after market.

Yep, the porting is done at the factory. I believe that the porting is the main factor that differentiates the Hunter model from the Competitor model.

BTW, thanks to all for the compliments!

 

[colt_saa]

Congratulations on the new addition.

200 of these were produced in 1998 if memory serves.

 

[RayGT3]

Waiting on arrival of 625-5 in 45 colt to go with it's 627-3, 357 brother. Next need to find a 41 and 44 to complete the set, I think. If your's is a Horton gun, drop them a line with the model and S/N and they will give you the production numbers and dates. They've been really nice about doing that for me.

 

[colt_saa]

Crap that's a looker ... are those Mag-na-port vents I see up front, and were they "factory"? If so that would be first time I've seen them on a gun that was not done post sale as after market.

Mag-Na-Porting on Performance Center offerings and special runs was not uncommon in the nineties. Especially on the Hunter series of revolvers. I have several of them.

Here is my 625 Hunter

625 Lite Hunter

657 Magnum Hunter

627 Hunter

There are more of them out there.

 

[KMB]

Colt_SAA, you have quite a collection there. I'd love to have that 625 Lite Hunter or 657 Magnum Hunter (or both).

RayGT3, thanks for the suggestion. I'll contact Horton to find out the exact date of manufacture. By the way, if you are looking for 629 PC Hunter/Competitor, there are 3 or 4 right now on GB. The prices are not too bad.

 

[RayGT3]

KMB,
Thanks for the heads up. But will have to wait till after the holidays, if I'd like to stay married.

 

[SmithNut]

Yep, the porting is done at the factory. I believe that the porting is the main factor that differentiates the Hunter model from the Competitor model.

BTW, thanks to all for the compliments!

At the time these were first available, the Hunters were also offered with a Nikon scope, not sure if all but all the ones I'd seen back then had the Nikon scope. The Competitor is basically the same gun, sans porting and scope, but it does have the integral scope mounts.

These are among the first guns the PC made, interestingly they have square butt gripframes, while the PC shortly changed to using exclusively RB gripframes.

 

[KMB]

Thanks for the info, SmithNut. I didn't know that some Hunters came with the scope. I have all the original paperwork, accessories, and the case (blue plastic) for mine. The case seems too small to fit the scope, plus the revolver, lock, etc. and the S&W tag on the case does not indicate anything regarding the scope. This leads me to believe that some came with scope; others did not.

But while on the subject--I expect to put a red dot on it in the near future. I am split between UltraDot Four and Burris FastFire II. At this time, I am leaning more toward the FastFire. The revolver is heavy as is and FastFire will only add 0.9 oz to the overall weight (vs. 4.8 oz for the UltraDot).

 

[socal s&w]

Yup Smithnut, that's the same revolver that I have, only I have Big Butts on mine and a Leupold dot tube on her.

I also sent her back to the factory for a unfluted cylinder 'cause I like the look and it's easier to clean.........no stuff stuck in the flutes.

Great combination!

 

[KMB]

Socal S&W, your Competitor was actually my primary inspiration. After I saw your "beast," I just had to have one as well. That picture (meaning the one of your Competitor) is still my desktop background.

 

[SmithNut]

Here's a Lew Horton flyer on the Hunter, showing an unfluted cylinder.

 

[socal s&w]

Socal S&W, your Competitor was actually my primary inspiration. After I saw your "beast," I just had to have one as well. That picture (meaning the one of your Competitor) is still my desktop background.

Gosh KMB......I'm dad-gum proud to be your inspiration!

I am positive that you will be thrilled with the performance and accuracy of this fine piece of metal. The dot sight absolutely enhances the performance greatly.

I bought mine new from a local dealer that had bought-out a going-out-of-business shop a few years ago. Serial #69, they unfortunately had sold #70 the day before I got this one or I would have bought them both.

I used it to shoot some ICORE competitions right after I bought it and a friend loaned be his speed holster, one of those hard plastic jobs. What a big mistake! There was some grit inside that holster that put huge scratches down the sides of the barrel....ouch!

I used the Scotch-Brite pad method to bring her back to looking good and bought myself a speed holster that only grips the muzzle and the trigger gaurd, much better.

I since sent it back for the cylinder replacement and I really like that look a lot.

It is by far the nicest and most accurate revolver that I own.

Enjoy the one that you now proudly own!

 

[KMB]

Thought some of you would enjoy this video. 686 Competitor in competent hands is indeed very accurate.

YouTube - Smith and Wesson 686 Target shooting