Thinking of picking up a 586? Opinions/Reviews?

[bananaman]

Old is Gold! (with guns anyway) I have a 586, 4" no dash.(1983) Also a 6", 686-3, 1989. You can't go wrong with either gun. 586 (4") is good at the range. 6" is fantastic! I have nothing against the newer Smiths. My only IL gun is a 625JM (2009) 1 of my favorites. Bob

 

[sunny61]

I bought a 586-8 in August. I wanted a blued gun for my collection and looked for months. I spend a lot of time on the road and just couldn't find one that called out to me. I was tempted to hit the auction sites but I enjoyed the hunt. I picked up a 586-8 in one of my local LGS, it just felt good. Once I got home and started to clean it I noticed that the channel for the rear site was a hair off center. I sent it back to S&W and the responded quickly with a new gun. It is an absolute dream! The blueing is very good and it is now one of my favorite guns. Double action is a bit heavy but smooth, crisp and breaks like glass. Single action is as good as any revolver that I own. I expected to change the springs and give it a light polish but I'm letting it break-in naturally. I shoot it regularly and it's going to the range today with my Wilson Combat 1911. My two favorite shooters.
I did add a set of John Culina's grips which pushed it over the top. Inspect them closely and I think you can find a good one.

 

[jrandyh]

I can't find a 4 inch 586 for anything locally. Have placed looking for in most of the local sites and not a peep. Don't usually look on GB as I like to see what I am getting. Looked one day and it was all the classic models. They ruined the look of the 66 in the Classic. Doesn't even look like the same gun. I looked at the classic 586 on the Sig site and looks like they used an n frame or something. Huge gap between the front of the cylinder and the frame.
JR

 

[M3Stuart]

If you do get a new one, be sure not use any Hoppe's #9 when you clean it or you'll take the blue right off!

 

[jrandyh]

I have two 6 inch 586. A no dash and one with the 6 position adjustable front sight. Can't find a 4 inch anywhere. I love blued guns and they hold up quite well if you take care of them. Bought a 19 in 82 and carried it everyday for 10 years. Put 50,000 rounds through it and you would never know it. Blue looks good. Here are the 6 inch 586.
JR

 

[yep380]

I have a 586-3 4", bought it new in '91. Great gun, amazingly smooth action. Don't know about the new ones, haven't touched one. Would really recommend trying to find a good used one if at all possible.

 

[Northwoods Trader]

What is wrong with a 586-3?

Not a thing is wrong with a 586-3. A lot of people look for a 586-4 because it was the last in the series without an IL, and MIM parts, and has all the updates to that point.

I personally own a 686-3 and love it...but I love my -4 more.

 

[handlebar]

I bought this in 1985, I think it is a 586-1.
It has 10's of thousands of rounds through it and has never been
back to Smith. Shot mostly in NRA and local matches and has won
me a lot of medals and trophies. It usually wears Herrett target grips.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I've had both 586 and 686 . The former went to my fiancé as a bday present . I truly love shooting it . I have a 686 and a 681 , the 686 was a LEO's gun up to retirement . He worked off shore in a boat drug patrol , dade county . It is an early one , but don't remember the -# . My 681 came back from the Aussie Fed Police force . It is my everyday carry gun .
All I can say , I'm very very happy with all the L frames I have owned and like I just mentioned I only let one go , for a good reason . The other 2 I still have and will always keep .
For the size , weight , power , endurance and flexibility of caliber usage , you just can't go wrong , IMO !

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

They are excellent firearms and a few are available in nickel.

 

[rwsmith]

My 686 no dash.....

My 686 no dash is the last gun I would sell.

 

[saemetric]

Great guns. My 586 no dash in nickel from about 1983




And and my 586-5 from about 1998