S&W 386sC Mountain Lite Value

[mbliss57]

I have an opportunity by a 386SC 357 Magnum mountain Lite 3 1/8" barrel Product code 163687FC. Not the PD.

This gun is LNIB unfired except from factory. The guy who wants to sell it doesn't know what it's worth and neither do I.

He bought it new in 2003 and only has a couple of guns total.


Is there anything about this gun that would be a negative to buying? Problems?

2nd: Does anyone have a data base or an idea of current market value?

Any help appreciated.

I just foud 1 on GB completed but it is a 2.3" barrel from 2008. Not exactly he same gun. Also it is gun only. If that's a pretty normal price then I may have my answer. But on GB auctions sometimes get blown up and you get a really high sale that is outside the norm. I am not sure this falls in that category.

Mike

 

[mbliss57]

I have had no response at all. I will brig it up 1 more time. Maybe someone has some experience with a 386SC. ??

 

[BillBond]

I had one about 15 years ago.
I ended up selling it for three reasons.

Couldn't find a good off the shelf holster for it. (No Uncle Mikes for me)

It was too light to fire .357 without pounding my hand and I felt it was
too big of a gun to just fire .38 +p since I already had several j frames.

I didn't like how quickly the titanium cylinder was turning black with
powder marks after only firing a couple of rounds.
Then trying to clean it without messing up the cylinder finish seemed impossible.

Having said that I still think it was a cool gun and would have kept it if
I could afford having a gun around that I never fired or carried.

ETA:
I don't remember what I paid for it or sold it for,
but I do remember it took me a long time to sell it and I had to sell it at a loss of $200-$300.

 

[mbliss57]

Thanks Billbond. They were my concerns exactly but I just wanted to hear from someone who had experienced it. I will pass.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I’ve had a 386 SC/S, but it’s not the same gun. I also have had several Ti cylinder guns. The lock turns a lot of people away. If this one is prelock, buy it now! They can be a little brutal with magnums. I find a 3” 60 easier to shoot with magnums for some reason. Any 3” 686 holster should fit just fine. Be very careful cleaning the cylinder. In fact, many people don’t clean their Ti cylinders.

 

[murphydog]

I think it depends on your intent for it. As a shooting gun (very occasionally with .357) it sounds to be a very specialized tool, likely why it didn't sell in large numbers when new.

If your intent is as one for your collection it's intriguing (to me). I don't recall seeing one for sale recently, but it's the most expensive variant in the 386 lineup per the SCSW, $950 ANIB. So if you can negotiate a good price, I'd at least give it a thought.

 

[Paul105]

I had one. Bought it as an understudy to my 396 Mtn Lite (same gun but 5 shot .44 special). Never could make the one I had shoot accurately. Never had any problems with it. Got rid of it because it wasn't comfortable to shoot and, for me it wasn't accurate -- it just wasn't going to get used.

Have no idea what they currently sell for.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[BillBond]

......Any 3” 686 holster should fit just fine.....

OK, I will put it another way.
I was looking for a holster that was made for it, not a holster that "should" fit.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

OK, I will put it another way.
I was looking for a holster that was made for it, not a holster that "should" fit.

There are probably none made for the 3” 386/396. It’s a rare enough gun no one has probably thought to mass produce them since the 3” 686/696 is so close. A 3” 686 will be the exact same profile in regards to the frame. The 3” 686 will have a full lug barrel and the 3” 386 a half lug barrel.

 

[ss440gp]

Great guns. I have one and its one of my favorited smith's. Ditch the crappy stock grips and get some round to square conversion's, wood or rubber. Even SW targets work good. With stock grips the TG slams the knuckle of middle finger. I think its a $1,000. gun, all day. 7 Shot,3", 357 ,18oz, doesnt get much better for a carry gun.

 

[CJSmith]

Not the same exact gun but I love my 386PD. I mostly shoot stock 38 special loads and really like the trigger. I bought it for backpacking, since it is light and takes the magnum loads. I like the look of the black frame/titanium cylinder as opposed to the frame color of the SC Mountain Lite. I wouldn't sell my 386PD for less than $1K but I'd guess the market value to be $800 or higher. I know I would buy another at $700.

 

[old pipefitter]

I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Whats not to like about a 7 shot .357 mag. Thats light enough to carry. Someone will chime in about cleaning the Ti cylinder.

 

[joebuck]

Its a great gun. $800 would be fair for both parties. They go for more on Gunbroker but that's not between friends. I love shooting it. Can load it as soft or as brutal as you want. I would ditch the lock and never clean the cylinder with anything but nylon brushes and Hoppes Elite gun cleaner.

 

[ss440gp]

They don’t come up much. If you don’t want it pm me, please.