S&W 686 .357 Revolver. The best magnum revolver on the market???

[Flutac]

So, like any guy that conceals carry, I love me some Striker fired poly Framed Pistol. But there just something about a beautiful stainless steel magnum revolver. I also believe that for the price and quality, S&W 686 is hard to beat. In this video, I go indepth about my firsthand accounts and experiences with America's Revolver....


https://youtu.be/0d3XHZUu-NA

[603Country]

I’ve got a 686+, and it’s a fine revolver. I had the trigger lightened up to where it would (hopefully) be as good as that of my Python. And now it is. The grandkids were putting a lot of rounds through the Python, and I wanted to move the work over to the 686. I’m glad I bought it.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

The Kimber K6S is the best steel framed carry revolver. Smaller, lighter, better trigger, no snag night sights. Can't beat it.

[44 AMP]

I've never been a fan of the 586/686 guns. I'm a big fan of the N frame guns, I think the Model 28 is the best DA .357 for the money. The 27s have "nicer" finishes, but are mechanically the same, and I actually prefer the 28's satin blue over the 27's high lustre blue.

I have no issues with the weight of the L frames its actually exactly the weight of the N frame .357s (+/- an ounce or so due to variations in the grips), but my problem is with the full underlug barrel and the balance of the gun in MY hands. I don't care for it.

Many do, but I don't, so I don't have any of those model guns.

My personal choices for "best" .357 revolver are SA the Ruger new model Blackhawk, and DA, the model 28. I don't wear a gun as part of my employment, for a full shift, day in, day out, so minimum size and weight are not my priorities. I prefer 6" or longer barrels, and a bit of "heft" for my magnums. My favorite DA is my model 28-2, 6" which wears Pachmayr grips and has had the target hammer and trigger fitted to it.

My .357s are not for duty, or EDC, the are for sport and recreational use, so the concerns of a duty gun are not my concerns. I have the Model 28 (had a 19 years ago) Ruger Blackhawk, T/C Contender, three different semi autos and a Marlin carbine. I think I'm covered in the .357 dept.

If you feel the 686 (or something else) is the best for you, get one, or three I won't be competing with you.

[1972RedNeck]

I have no issues with the weight of the L frames its actually exactly the weight of the N frame .357s (+/- an ounce or so due to variations in the grips), but my problem is with the full underlug barrel and the balance of the gun in MY hands. I don't care for it.

I agree. That why I have three 7 shot L frames that aren't full underlugs. 4" 619, 4" 620, and 5" 686. Lighter than my 28 and 627, more capacity than all but one of my 357s, and tougher than my K frame.

[rc]

For a CCW, the Ruger SP101 might be a better choice. The GP100 is in my opinion the better choice over the 686 with the stupid lock. I've got a pre lock which is a fine gun but I also love my GP100.

[The Happy kaboomer]

To thine own self be true.........We all got opinions.......We all don't agree

[Paul B.]

"I've never been a fan of the 586/686 guns. I'm a big fan of the N frame guns, I think the Model 28 is the best DA .357 for the money. The 27s have "nicer" finishes, but are mechanically the same, and I actually prefer the 28's satin blue over the 27's high lustre blue.

I have no issues with the weight of the L frames its actually exactly the weight of the N frame .357s (+/- an ounce or so due to variations in the grips), but my problem is with the full underlug barrel and the balance of the gun in MY hands. I don't care for it."

I once had a 4" 686 .357mag and I'm sorry I ever sold it. I shot it well and it accompanied me on more than several desert hikes when I didn't feel like packing the 629 .44 mag

I still have an M28 5" that has some kind of finish that looks like a dark gray parkerizing. I bought that one second hand. I also have an M27 that someone has worked over the action and everyone who has shot that gun has tried to buy it.

However, probably my all time favorite is my pre-number S&W 38/44 Outdoorsman. It's just as heavy as any other N frame, has the old "long" action S&W used to use and just one heck of a delight to shoot. It's only a .38 Spl. on the 44 N frame but one sweet revolver. I think that if I had to sell off all my handguns but three, 5" K22, the 38/44 and one of my 1911s would be the ones I keep.
Paul B.

[Dfariswheel]

A good number of people are beginning to suspect that the finest .357 Magnum double action revolver today is..... the Colt New Python.

Quality is very high.
No locks.
Hammer and trigger are cast steel, not MIM.
It's made of a new, superior stainless steel for unlimited shooting.
Has the same accuracy as the original Python.
Can be tuned to have a single action trigger as good as the original Python.
Has a better double action trigger then the original Python.
Still has the old "Bank Vault" Colt lock up of the cylinder.
New action won't go out of time like the old Python was reputed to do.
Unlike some of the down right weird guns S&W is putting out, the Python looks like an American revolver should.

[RoyceP]

Originally Posted by Dfariswheel

A good number of people are beginning to suspect that the finest .357 Magnum double action revolver today is..... the Colt New Python.

Quality is very high.
No locks.
Hammer and trigger are cast steel, not MIM.
It's made of a new, superior stainless steel for unlimited shooting.
Has the same accuracy as the original Python.
Can be tuned to have a single action trigger as good as the original Python.
Has a better double action trigger then the original Python.
Still has the old "Bank Vault" Colt lock up of the cylinder.
New action won't go out of time like the old Python was reputed to do.
Unlike some of the down right weird guns S&W is putting out, the Python looks like an American revolver should.

Agree. The hillary hole kills it for me. No way I am ever going to buy a S&W with one of those.

[Nathan]

It is a great revolver for lots of 357 mag or heavy loaded 357 mag. Similar to the Python or GP100. I prefer the GP100, only due to its more traditional lockless lockwork.

An older 686 would be a think of beauty or better yet a 586! I have my eye on a 586 some day. Might think about getting a deer with that! …but, my GP100 could do that too. Hmm.

I love the 686. I hope you are getting full enjoyment too.

[44caliberkid]

I like the 2 1/2 inch S&W Model 66 and 19’s. Bill Jordan knew his stuff.

[radom]

Here I vote for the model 60 chiefs target in .357.

[2wheelwander]

I agree. The hillary hole kills it for me. No way I am ever going to buy a S&W with one of those.

Same here. No matter how good they might make that trigger in a new gun, how pretty the finish or how cheap they sell it, nothing will make me buy a new Smith revolver so long as that Hillary hole is there. But I do have my share of -3 and earlier models.

[Pumpkin]

More guns for those who don’t care.

[Nick_C_S]

I carry a 686+ 3" bbl. Unlike the older Smiths, the trigger is pretty gritty. But I shoot a lot of revolver so it doesn't bother me at all. It's not like I'm jumping from a semi-auto to it.

[Nathan]

People complain and call it the Hillary hole, but….do some diggin’, it has more to do with who bought S&W.

[Pumpkin]

She would probably feel extremely proud if she knew that’s what it’s called.

Didn’t Ruger have one under the grip panels on their GP and SP revolvers for a while?

[ballardw]

If I had any cash when the police were divesting the 586/686 models I would probably have gotten one or more. Guess I'll just have to settle on the M19's I could afford...

[44 AMP]

A good number of people are beginning to suspect that the finest .357 Magnum double action revolver today is..... the Colt New Python.

Quality is very high.

I can't speak to what "a good number of people are beginning to suspect" today, but I can speak to the quality when they first came out, and it WAS NOT "very high"

Of the 7 "new" Pythons our local gunshop got, 5 had to be immediately returned because they were not functional. As in "would not work, at all"
and the 6th gun had to go back because, while it did fire, it was badly out of time and spit lead seriously.

SO, that's 6 out of 7 were unsatisfactory and that is NOT what I consider very high quality.

Even if I charitably assume they've got all the bugs out now, the poor quality of their initial production guns simply killed off what little interest I had at that time, and it has never returned.

[jetinteriorguy]

I’m an old S&W revolver guy and mostly like N frames so never been a big fan of guns with front barrel lugs. I’ve shot a couple 686’s from friends and never felt the need to add one to my collection, but on a whim I did grab a 4” new Python that I got a pretty decent deal on. I have to say it’s a very very well made pistol fit and finish wise. At first I wasn’t too keen on the trigger, it just didn’t meet my expectations based on reviews I’d read. I added a trigger shoe that I’d taken off my model 15 and after smoothing off the serrations it has helped tremendously. After this bit of modification I’ve really come to enjoy the Python and it’ll never leave my collection, it truly is a beautiful gun.

[Pumpkin]

I have a 686-4 2-1/2”. Beautiful gun and don’t let that short bbl fool you, it shoots terrific.

I also wouldn’t have any problem with a new 686, this discussion about how much better cast is than MIM is pretty pointless. Forged metal is one thing but cast and MIM both start with a mix master to mold process.

[eastbank]

i sold most of my revolvers, S&W,colt and rugers. but i kept several, a older K-22 blue with 6" barrel, blue m-28 and two no hole 686,s, a 3" and a 6", along with a 4" 624 and a 8 3/8" 629 also no holers and two m-60,s a 2" and a 3", both no holers. all fine revolvers that will out last me as i,m 81 now.

[bamaranger]

Between 1988-1993, I was issued a 4" SW 686 as a duty gun. Prior that NPS duty revolvers were primarily assorted K-frames, in my era firing the Treasury Load, a 110 gr JHP +P+ .38 Special. About the 1990, there were a series of gunfights where the Treasury Load did not do so good, and the decision was made to adopt the .357/110/125 agency wide. The existing Model 19's and 66's, many with multiple career's of service already behind them, did not hold up so well with constant mag ammo, and the old Model 10's, 15's etc could not chamber mag ammo, of course. The L-frame was the answer and I was fortunate enough to receive one.

The beefier L-frame tamed the 125 gr load to some degree. Blast and flash were still present, but the L's came back to earth quicker than the older K-frames allowing some what quicker repeat shots. I liked the K-frame grip size and a square butt large Pachmyer grip went from my previous M66 onto my new L, giving some semblance of similar feel. My objection to the L as a duty gun was the weight. As noted by 44AMP, the duty belt was a burden, loaded down with all the stuff modern policing requires. Seems as I recall all up with 1980's radio, intermediate weapons x2 , 2 sets of 'cuffs, collapsible baton, tourniquet, gloves, keys, multitool, M686 with 6 rds, 18 spare rounds in loaders and 2x2 pouch, the darn thing went 18 lbs, contributing to my hip replacement just after I retired! The K-frames were about 5 oz less, which may not seem like much but was after years of toting the dang things.

[Brian48]

I haven't shot all the revolvers out there, but I have shot a lot of SWs and the 686 is fine shooter if you're looking for a wheel gun. Had wonderful 4" 686-4 about 13-14 years ago but had to sell it off because I needed the money. My current 2.5" 686+ is probably my favorite revolver at the moment.