S&W 686+ .357 Magnum.

MCorps0311

MCorps0311

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I have three S&W 442-2,638-3,M&P BG .38 SPL.+P Sunbies, and I have a S&W 1911CT .45 Auto.I been eye balling a S&W 686+ 357 Magnum 4". I would like to here some what opinions you all may have about the revolver, good and bad before I make up my mind?Thanks
 
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Sir,

I have two; a dash 4 and a dash 6, and am well-satisfied with both. Both have manufacturer's flaws, but they are very minor. Some here have been reporting having to send more recent examples back to the plant with more serious flaws, but I don't know how prevalent that is. You didn't mention the dash# of the one you're 'eyeballing', but regardless, every revolver should be examined as carefully as possible before buying.

Best wishes,
Andy
 
Depends what/how you are going to use it. It is a really good gun.it will outlive you, but barrel length and weight are something to be considered also depending on what it will be used for.
Like any gun it is best to shoot one to know your thoughts about it before buying one. I have bought many guns that had great reviews but which I sold because I just wasn't all that impressed/thrilled with the gun.
 
MCorps0311 said:
I have three S&W 442-2,638-3,M&P BG .38 SPL.+P Sunbies, and I have a S&W 1911CT .45 Auto.I been eye balling a S&W 686+ 357 Magnum 4". I would like to here some what opinions you all may have about the revolver, good and bad before I make up my mind?Thanks
Click to expand...

IMHO, THE S&W 686+, WITH A 4" BARREL, IS THE FINEST, AND MOST VERSATILE .357 MAGNUM REVOLVER IN CURRENT PRODUCTION. IT IS PERFECT FOR HD AND SD. IT IS EASILY CONCEALED, OR CARRIED IN THE FIELD. IT IS A VERY ACCURATE RANGE GUN, WITH .38 SPECIAL TARGET AMMO. IT IS VERY WELL BUILT, AND IT CAN HANDLE A STEADY DIET OF EVEN THE HOTTEST FACTORY OR BOUTIQUE .357 AMMO.......

SO IN SHORT, IT IS THE ONE GUN THAT CAN DO IT ALL. IF I WAS FORCED TO SELL OFF ALL OF MY MANY HANDGUNS (GOD FORBID) AND JUST KEEP ONE, THIS WOULD BE THE ONE THAT I WOULD KEEP.......
 
I love my 4" 686+, as does everyone that I let shoot it.

My husband swears it's possessed, because it seems to shoot great groups, even when your not trying very hard. :D
 
snowman said:
Sir,

I have two; a dash 4 and a dash 6, and am well-satisfied with both. Both have manufacturer's flaws, but they are very minor. Some here have been reporting having to send more recent examples back to the plant with more serious flaws, but I don't know how prevalent that is. You didn't mention the dash# of the one you're 'eyeballing', but regardless, every revolver should be examined as carefully as possible before buying.

Best wishes,
Andy
Click to expand...
The The 686+ is a 7 shot cylinder capacity,and the 686 is a 6 shot snowman.
 
I have a dash 4, 686+ in a 6 inch barrel, and it's awesome. Years ago, I duty carried a 4" 686 that I should never have let go. While I haven't shot any of the newer versions, I think the L frame S&W is one of the best revolvers ever produced. I hope it works out well for you, as I am sure it will.
 
I've been looking at them, handling them, and in general wanting one too. Almost everything I hear, see or read has been overwhelmingly positive, with the exception of a few having manufacturing flaws that likely could have been easily detected before purchase given proper, close scrutiny/inspection. So to echo snowman, I'd say buy one you can put your hands on first and take a good hard gander at. Refusal policy or no refusal policy in place, i personally wouldn't want the hassle of returning something that disappointed me. By the way, you don't have to go into the inspection CONVINCED there must be something wrong with it that you just aren't seeing... lol. Believe it or not, they're still making at least a few perfect guns. Good luck. I think the four" is a great length.
 
I've mentioned this in several posts before when someone asks about the 686. It was the first Smith I bought and will be the last to go. It is a 686-6 plus 4". I'm not that great of a shot but I can hit golf balls with it. I liked it so much I bought another exactly like it. :D
 
MCorps0311 said:
The The 686+ is a 7 shot cylinder capacity,and the 686 is a 6 shot snowman.
Click to expand...

Yes, both of mine are "+"(7-round) models; not sure I understand your response -unless it has something to do with the dash #'s? If so, those refer to the engineering changes in the model line, and are stamped in the frame immediately following the model number.

Andy
 
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Great guns!
I've got a 2.5" and a 3"....
Heaven forbid the " walk out the door with only one handgun " but one of them might be it...,
 
I like the 686 so much I own three of them, a 2-1/2 inch 686-4, a 4 inch 686-5, and a 6 inch 686-6. I'm probably not done buying them yet, I'd like to add a Performance Center model as well.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
one eye joe said:
IMHO, THE S&W 686+, WITH A 4" BARREL, IS THE FINEST, AND MOST VERSATILE .357 MAGNUM REVOLVER IN CURRENT PRODUCTION. IT IS PERFECT FOR HD AND SD. IT IS EASILY CONCEALED, OR CARRIED IN THE FIELD. IT IS A VERY ACCURATE RANGE GUN, WITH .38 SPECIAL TARGET AMMO. IT IS VERY WELL BUILT, AND IT CAN HANDLE A STEADY DIET OF EVEN THE HOTTEST FACTORY OR BOUTIQUE .357 AMMO.......

SO IN SHORT, IT IS THE ONE GUN THAT CAN DO IT ALL. IF I WAS FORCED TO SELL OFF ALL OF MY MANY HANDGUNS (GOD FORBID) AND JUST KEEP ONE, THIS WOULD BE THE ONE THAT I WOULD KEEP.......
Click to expand...

Yes One Eye Joe, I could not have said it better. The 586 and 686, 686+ is a weakness for me. I have five or six in total. I am weak enough to buy another one, or two.









and this Model 65-1



 
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My first Smith was a 686+ 6" and when I purchased a 617 I was disappointed as it was no where near the smoothness of the 686. There is nothing wrong with the 617 but the 686 just outclass it as well as every other handgun I have ever owned. Like others have said it will be the last one that goes.
 
Neither of mine are seven shots but the 686/586 681/581 Line of Revolvers are what I'd say are the Apex of Smith and Wesson Revolvers. The full sized frames with full under lug are tough, absorb felt recoil but are sleeker than say a GP100.
 

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Mehutch said:
Yes One Eye Joe, I could not have said it better. The 586 and 686, 686+ is a weakness for me. I have five or six in total. I am weak enoughttp://smith-wessonforum.com/images/blue_style/editor/separator.gifh to buy another one, or two.









and this Model 65-1

Click to expand...
Wow you have great collection,I like them all but that 586-5, 6" Blue stand's out for me.
 
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As stated above, the 686/686+ (depending on your likes regarding capacity) are likely the best wheel gun going, if you ever had to just pick one. Shoot .38s all day long for fun, shoot all the .357 you can handle and when carrying for defense or hunting, stuff it with whatever load you like.

In my opinion, the late 90s 686+ Mountain Gun is the best of the pack for a carry and shooting gun! It's profile cuts a few ounces off and the trigger is oooohhhh so smooth right from the box. I absolutely love mine and while I don't carry it much now, it will likely never go away until I do. Never know when the bug will bite to strap it back on or send some lead downrange.
 
Teep said:
My first Smith was a 686+ 6" and when I purchased a 617 I was disappointed as it was no where near the smoothness of the 686. There is nothing wrong with the 617 but the 686 just outclass it as well as every other handgun I have ever owned. Like others have said it will be the last one that goes.
Click to expand...

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, Teep. THE 617 IS NOT EVEN IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS THE 686---JUST NO COMPARISON.....
 
MCorps0311 said:
I made that move today,I changed my mind about the S&W 686+,and went with the S&W 686-6.I want to think all for your opinions.Here she is.
Click to expand...

MCorps: What dash number is the Plus model you were looking at? As I mentioned earlier, my 686-6(dash 6) IS a Plus(7-round) model, as is my 686-4. I'm not sure I understand your post; it seems to be saying that a 686-6(dash 6) is different than a 686+, when in fact the 686-6s came in both the six round or seven round("+") configurations. Can you help me out here?

At any rate, I'm sure you'll enjoy your new gun; the 686 is one of S&W's best designs, in my view.

Regards,
Andy
 
snowman said:
MCorps: What dash number is the Plus model you were looking at? As I mentioned earlier, my 686-6(dash 6) IS a Plus(7-round) model, as is my 686-4. I'm not sure I understand your post; it seems to be saying that a 686-6(dash 6) is different than a 686+, when in fact the 686-6s came in both the six round or seven round("+") configurations. Can you help me out here?

At any rate, I'm sure you'll enjoy your new gun; the 686 is one of S&W's best designs, in my view.

Regards,
Andy
Click to expand...
The 686+ I was looking at didn't look nothing like the one I bought, and it was a 7 shot.This is my first and only 686-6,I don't know what tell you.I'm sure you know more about the 686 series than I.Mine is a 686-6 Pro Series.
 
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