Hi everybody,
My name is Leon and I live in The Netherlands. I just joined the forum yesterday after being a guest for quite some time checking out information about S & W revolvers. It looks a great place to share information about these great guns. In my country, The Netherlands, the S & W 686.357 Magnum revolver 6 "barrel is a very popular gun at shooting clubs and a good match vs. Various semi- automatics. At our range I recently started to shoot the Military Pistol discipline with it. It concerns 4 series of 6 shots singlehanded on multiple paper targets: 1st serie: 6 shots in 3 minutes on1 target at 25 meters, 2nd serie: 6 shots in 15 seconds on 1 target at 20 meters, 3rd serie 6 shots in 12 seconds in kneeling position at 2 targets at 20 meters and the 4th serie 6 shots in 9 seconds on 3 paper targets at 15 meters. The maximum score per shot is 10 points so the best score would be 240 points. At our shooting clubtwo of the best shots use S & W 686 6 ", using light loads usually WC's. Guns are to be standard, though trigger tuning, competition grips etc. are allowed. They shoot all series double action, which takes time to master, when doing precision shooting under time pressure. The advantage of a revolver vs. automatics is the long barrel and the possibility to use light loads to reduce recoil. My gun is a bit on the short side, it is a 686 model 4 with a 3,5 "barrel (apparently a shortened 4 "barrel with a custom front sight installed), so the smallest aiming error is being punished. I am in the process of acquiring another 686 with a 6 "barrel. It is an old model, a 686 Mod 2, but it still shoots well. I tested it on Monday and it is very accurate. A pity that it has the lower rear sight slide compared to my 686-4 which has a taller slide with WO. Gun laws are very strict over here so it will take some time and paperwork until I can take delivery. I negotiated a price of 250 Euro’s (US$ 325) including a cleaning kit, extra wooden grips and he still has the original box.
In this respect I have question to the forum members:
Can you convert a 686-2 rear sight with a taller WO slide ? Or will the front sight be too tall as you will slightly raise the rear sight by installing a taller slide? What ist he maximum height you can install?
With my current 686-4, which hast he taller WO slide, I have to adjust the rear sight all the way down to the frame in order to hit the bullseye at 25 mtrs. Perhaps this is due also to taking off .5 inch from the barrel.
How are ,you guys feeling about the Model 686-2? My understanding ist hat older series are more appreciated.
I look forward to your suggestions.
All the best, Leon
My name is Leon and I live in The Netherlands. I just joined the forum yesterday after being a guest for quite some time checking out information about S & W revolvers. It looks a great place to share information about these great guns. In my country, The Netherlands, the S & W 686.357 Magnum revolver 6 "barrel is a very popular gun at shooting clubs and a good match vs. Various semi- automatics. At our range I recently started to shoot the Military Pistol discipline with it. It concerns 4 series of 6 shots singlehanded on multiple paper targets: 1st serie: 6 shots in 3 minutes on1 target at 25 meters, 2nd serie: 6 shots in 15 seconds on 1 target at 20 meters, 3rd serie 6 shots in 12 seconds in kneeling position at 2 targets at 20 meters and the 4th serie 6 shots in 9 seconds on 3 paper targets at 15 meters. The maximum score per shot is 10 points so the best score would be 240 points. At our shooting clubtwo of the best shots use S & W 686 6 ", using light loads usually WC's. Guns are to be standard, though trigger tuning, competition grips etc. are allowed. They shoot all series double action, which takes time to master, when doing precision shooting under time pressure. The advantage of a revolver vs. automatics is the long barrel and the possibility to use light loads to reduce recoil. My gun is a bit on the short side, it is a 686 model 4 with a 3,5 "barrel (apparently a shortened 4 "barrel with a custom front sight installed), so the smallest aiming error is being punished. I am in the process of acquiring another 686 with a 6 "barrel. It is an old model, a 686 Mod 2, but it still shoots well. I tested it on Monday and it is very accurate. A pity that it has the lower rear sight slide compared to my 686-4 which has a taller slide with WO. Gun laws are very strict over here so it will take some time and paperwork until I can take delivery. I negotiated a price of 250 Euro’s (US$ 325) including a cleaning kit, extra wooden grips and he still has the original box.
In this respect I have question to the forum members:
Can you convert a 686-2 rear sight with a taller WO slide ? Or will the front sight be too tall as you will slightly raise the rear sight by installing a taller slide? What ist he maximum height you can install?
With my current 686-4, which hast he taller WO slide, I have to adjust the rear sight all the way down to the frame in order to hit the bullseye at 25 mtrs. Perhaps this is due also to taking off .5 inch from the barrel.
How are ,you guys feeling about the Model 686-2? My understanding ist hat older series are more appreciated.
I look forward to your suggestions.
All the best, Leon
