The Ideal 686

[Hopper]

My ideal is the 686-6 Plus in 3", with a red HiViz front sight. I originally tried putting a Wilson Combat spring kit in it, but was getting too many light primer strikes in DA. Low and behold, this is shooting in with the factory springs beautifully, so no need IMHO for a spring swap at all. This feels really solid, and very well-balanced in my hands. For being a 3", it's every bit as accurate as my NM 66 Combat Magnum.

Here's a picture:

And, with warm 357 loads, it's like holding the 4th of July in your hands!

 

[2rott]

Sorry no pics, but by now I'd only be duplicating.
Okay 686's...4 " best for IDPA & & Steel Challenge...
4" Plus.. better foe steel challenge...
6" Great for bowling pins...
All have some king of fiber optic on them. I would have more, but i'm outa room in the safe with the Mod. 10's- 617& 629
The 686's are still my favorites...

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Sorry no pics, but by now I'd only be duplicating.
Okay 686's...4 " best for IDPA & & Steel Challenge...
4" Plus.. better foe steel challenge...
6" Great for bowling pins...
All have some king of fiber optic on them. I would have more, but i'm outa room in the safe with the Mod. 10's- 617& 629
The 686's are still my favorites...

Can't get enough Model 686 "porn".

 

[Engine49guy]

Photobucket acct is working again...yayyy.. 7 shot Model 686-5 with SB targets


Model 586 (no dash) in blue and nickel


Bottom to top are a 2.5" Lew Horton 686 (no dash), 4" 7 shot Model 686-4, (last version with grooved tangs and forged parts),
Model 629-4 "Classic" 5" above.

 

[Browns fan]

Mine would be a -3 with 4" barrel and square butt.

Prefer the flash chrome hammer and trigger, wood stocks, square butt and original style rear sight.

The -3 also has all the upgrades made to the line over the years.

i agree the -3 IS the best version of the 686 series i would not trade my 4 inch -3 for any other 686 imo the finest .357

 

[RudyN]

I only have one 686 and it is a -6 with a 4" barrel. I like the way it looks and feels in my hand. It's almost match is a Ruger GP100 which is nearly as nice as the 686.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I have a 4" 686+ and a 2.5" 686+. I have a 3" coming - that should be interesting.

The 4" is excellent and I have carried it in the field. The 2.5" is also excellent and I can conceal it if i want to. Ipso facto, I like the snubby better.

But if you're talking about a range gun, a target gun, and a hunting gun, and if concealment doesn't matter, the 6" is probably the best selection. I happen to also have a 6" M586 so I can't compare it per se to a 686+ but let me tell you something - it will reach out and touch something, and I mean at real distances, rifle distances, so I'm guessing a 6" M686 is its equivalent.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/member...-revolvers-picture13552-model-686-6-plus.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/members/iscs-yoda-albums-s-and-w-revolvers-picture12690-686-001-a.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/members/iscs-yoda-albums-s-and-w-revolvers-picture12669-m586.html

 

[Raystown]

Great thread, I enjoyed reading all the posts. Just yesterday I picked up a 686-4 in 4 inch. Can't wait to take her to the range. Looking forward to enjoying this for many years.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Having several 6" barrel S&W 357 revolvers already, and taking advice of others into consideration, I eventually opted for the 686+ with a 4" barrel. I also lost patience and could not wait for the non-fluted cylinder.

 

[shinbone]

A 686-5 Mountain Gun for me. 7 shots, not a full lug, tapered barrel. Sweet!

 

[Engineer1911]

The perfect L-frame, M586 or M686

The perfect one is the one(s) you own and shoot. Between Terri and I there are 10, three 4 inch (M586, M686, M581) and a stainless and blue of the other three barrel lengths.

Indecision is a wonderful thing.

 

[automan71]

As this is the only one I currently own, I guess it will have to be this CS1.

 

[Valkahuna]

For me it's a 4 inch. I own a model 686-5. Great shooter. I also own a 620-4". Although a lot of "purists" don't like this model, but I love mine. Perfect balance, shoots really well, and weighs 4.5 oz less than my 686.

 

[Mehutch]

The only one to elude me is the Holy Grail of the S&W 686's...

S&W 686-4, 4" barrel, 7 shooter, pre-lock, pre-MIM parts oooh baby.

If anyone has one for sale, just shut up and take my money!

I have eight or nine of the 586 and 686's in 2.5", 4", and 6" barrels.

I can live without it, I guess. I have 686-4, -5, -6, -7 types... 6 and 7 shooters... but not the Holy Grail one. No complaints, I am happy that I am the caretaker of so many fine shooters.

................................................but still...!

Three of mine.

 

[bananaman]

I like L frames, but only have 3. It started out with a 4" 586 no dash that I got in a trade. Was impressed, so I got a 686-3, 6". March gun show, picked up a 686-6, 5" Pro-Series. They are good looking, good shooters. I am missing a 2.5" though. Bob

 

[diyj98]

I've always felt 4" was about ideal, but after coming across a 5" 686+ I grown partial to it. A lot of may just the thoughts of having something outside the the norm, much like some many want the 3". The 6" was just long enough to become unwieldy for me and the short barrels don't really fit my needs for a gun as large as the 686.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

The ideal 686+ (you said 7 rounds so it is a 686+) is the one I am using for the particular use of the day.

My 4" 686+ in its custom holster is the one that goes to the feral hog fields with me.

My 3" 686+ is presently my bedside gun. Why? Mostly because I think it balances better than the 2.5" 686+ that it replaced and because, at zero-dark-thirty, as much as I like those pretty rosewood stocks, if I am in OMG-SOMEONE-IS-IN-THE-HOUSE mode I don't want my sleepy hands sliding on that polished wood, I want a solid grip and I want it NOW!.

There is nothing particularly special or different in these guns when it comes to shooting. Recoil is more or less negligible, even with full house loads. Accuracy varies a little due to barrel length but since most of the shooting gets done at an indoor range the distance where accuracy could change long barrel to short barrel doesn't really exist.

So, please note that a 6" barrel is not in the offing for me. Why? Because I have a 6" 586, it is deadly accurate at long range, just not so easy to tote around so I don't even have a proper holster for it. I just carry it in a gun rug and if I want to use it I take it out and let'r'rip. So a 6" 686+ is just not needed (I know, need is not what counts, but I have the one 6" so I don't want any others presently, either. )

Scientific? I was at a close quarters pistol craft class and I ran out of 9mm ammunition (long story as to why; twas not my fault!)so they let me switch to the 4" 686+. I devastated the targets, including a moving combat target. Nothing like a 4" barreled combat revolver!

That's as scientific as I can get.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

And, interestingly, I see I answered this thread some time back, a shorter answer, which I forgot about!, and I haven't changed my opinion since then!!! Kinda sorta. Because I don't carry an L-frame snub, I carry a K-frame snub. Far easier. YMMV

 

[exdetsgt]

My household protection is a Ruger GP 100 Match Champion with a 4" barrel. Too large to carry IMO. Is it similar to a K frame, or an L frame?