What length barrel should I get?

[RGVshooter]

I'm ready to go S&W 686 shopping however I'm looking for opinions & discussion on what would be a good length barrel?

The pistol will be carried on occasion,
Will be taken on hunting/camping/trail hiking.
Will be used at informal friendly bowling pin matches.
Outdoor plinking fun...

i'm thinking 4" model.... What say you?

 

[Tom_R]

A 3" or a 4" barreled gun will fit the bill.

I have a 4" 586, and you would not believe the groups this thing shoots. It is an amazing revolver.

 

[Genetically Swiss]

I've always believed (and still do to this day) that every firearm owner should have a 4" barrel .357 magnum. Reliable and versatile enough to deal with a very broad spectrum of issues.


GS

 

[TNZ71]

4" is what you seek.

 

[WheelGunMagic]

The 686 is a great choice! I have one in 2.5, 3, 4, 5, & 6 inch barrel lengths. Love them all, but each has a different purpose. The 2.5 & 3 are great for carry & a hoot to shoot, but you give up a bit on accuracy. The 5 & 6 inchers are a lot more accurate for me & are super range guns, but are too big for carry & would get kind of heavy on the trail.

The 4" is my least favorite - not as accurate as the longer barrels & not as much fun or easy to conceal as the shorter barrels. But if you are only going to get one, the 4" would be good choice.

 

[Black Knight]

The 4 inch 686 can be concealed very well if you choose your clothing, holster, and belt carefully. The 4 inch is nearly the ideal barrel length. It is long enough for accurate defensive shooting while not being too long for carrying. BTW I carried a 4 686 for about 5 years as an Armed Security Officer and was very well protected by it. It did everything I wanted or needed it to do.

 

[Rpg]

You've picked the barrel length I'd choose: 4"

 

[bigwheelzip]

The pistol will be carried on occasion.....

If by "carried", you mean concealed carry under a shirt, then a 3" 686.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Another vote for the 4-inch. I think the added inch would offer a perceptible advantage in bowling pin matches. Both weight and sight radius.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

4" for best all around. Get a good outside the waistband holster and BELT designed for the holster. That should work for anything up through black bear.
Geoff
Who notes you should change your carry load to accommodate circumstances.

 

[BAM-BAM]

For a ''all around" utility .357 you can't beat a 4" 686 IMO.

Six incher guns are better at the range or for hunting.
<4" models are OK* but are not as good for concealed carry as a 3" K-frame.


* I had a 3" 586 that was a great gun; wish I still had it, but when I grabbed a .357 it was either my customized round butt 4" 686-nuttin for Penn's Woods or a 3" 65 for weekend concealed carry in the Burbs of the Burgh.

 

[Highhawk1948]

4 inch barrel is the best of both worlds. Woods and ccw. Get the right holster and belt.

 

[Mark IV]

Another vote here for the 4". Anything shorter (even the 3") is noticably tougher to hit smaller/more distant targets with, and doesn't really save you all that much in the way of bulk and weight, and, anything longer is cumbersome for carrying, without any major benefits outside very specific requirements (hunting, serious target shooting,etc.).
Also, the 4" is going to have the best resale/trade potential, which is something I've found wise to factor in when buying new toys.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Well, it all depends on what you're compensating for.

Seriously, there is a reason 4" service revolvers were the handgun of choice for police departments for decades. They aren't so big that they get in the way, and they fit almost everybody's hands.

Personally, I'd go with a new Model 66-8 for what you describe, but I've carried a 4" Model 686-6 on my duty belt 5-7 days a week for..., let's just say a long time.

 

[sdb321]

Another vote for a 4 incher.

 

[RGVshooter]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I live in Texas, which is an open carry state. Normally when I do carry it's OWB but throw a "Hawaiian" shirt unbuttoned over a tucked in Tee shirt. for the most part no one can see it yet it allows for a fast draw. Very comfortable in my 5'-11" 163lb frame. I've carried my 4" model 10 like that many a times in a thumb break DeSantis OWB holster pretty comfortably. As long as you have a good quality gun belt. I have a couple of these gun belts from DM Bullard out of Texas and I think they're the best out there. I agree that 4" is the best overall best length. I'll go shopping now...

Gun Leather, Concealment and Cowboy holsters, Azle, TX.

 

[scatter shot]

I pondered the same dilemma for several months recently, whether to buy the 686 in 3" or 4".
It seemed that the most common consensus was, the 4" was the preferred or recommended choice due to it's improved accuracy with the longer barrel. I kept leaning towards the 4" but something about the 3" Talo model just kept whispering, " Buy me, buy me...."
I went with the 3" model last September and can only say that I love to shoot and carry this gun. It doesn't seem to be as barrel heavy as the 4" and the balance on the 3" feels better in my hand. I also like the factory wood grips over the rubber grips and hope that it will make a difference in value down the road a few years.
But the key to my final decision was how it felt in my hand. I just liked the balance of the 3" better.
Your mileage may vary.

 

[GTBL]

The 5" balances very well for me. It doesn't seem the 5" gets a lot of love these days. Maybe that is why there are not a lot of options for the 5". I currently have the 3",4" and the 5". I go back and forth all the time on the question of, "If I could only have one" And everyday my answer changes. The answer is, all of them are good and there is no bad choice.

 

[steelslaver]

I used to be all about 6" guns. More velocity, easier to aim better because of the longer radius. I alway though it wasn't a problem because of my size, (6'4" and over 250#) that it wasn't bad to carry a 6". But, after years of packing them around and using a CA Bulldog for CC. I got a 4" gun, then another, and another. etc. Now my 6" guns sit in the safe,

 

[nachogrande]

686 YES!

Open carried in a good belt/holster combo, or as a range/shooting sport, EXCELENT choice (many may prefer a larger caliber) Great speed/accuracy @ 15 yard steel challenge/bowling pin type work. If you prefer "a gun that's missing it's rear sight" I use a 4" 681. Short story-long Yes for the 4"! Just no for CC.