[natedog]

First off, how accurate is it? Recoil? I see it has some under barrel lugging. Is the 7 or 8 shot cylinder (can't remember which) get in the way anymore than a regular cylinder?

[Guy B. Meredith]

How accurate is it? Probably better than you'll be without tons of practice. I am not a good shooter, but with the 6" barrel version of the 7 shot 686+ I can put dozens of rounds through less than 4 inch hole from offhand position at 15 yds in one session. On a good day the hole may tend to be closer to 3 inches. From the bench it should be a whole lot better, but I've never learned to shoot well from a rest.

The 686 is a six shot, the 686+ a 7 shot. I don't understand your question about the cylinder getting in the way so you may want to help me there.

Recoil is very subjective. Heavier revolvers (underbarrel lugs, longer barrels, bigger frames) tend to dampen recoil. Then there is the issue of .38 spl vs .357 magnums and all the gradations between the two. With .38 spl the recoil is negligible, with .357 magnum I notice it while other shooters may not. By comparison I can shoot hot .357 magnums from my 8 shot 627 all day. By further comparison I would not want to shoot a whole lot of magnums in my M66. The 686 is a beefed up version of the M66.

[10-Ring]

The 686 is a nice revolver. Point well, easy to operate, VERY accurate. I guess I'm a traditionalist, I prefer the 6 shot version (at least this week I do ;) )

[Dr.Who]

How steady is your hold? Most will shoot better than you can hold with the right ammo combo. Re-Coil... Function of ammo, barrell size, and weight... .357 can shoot .38's for very light re-coil. 7 or 8 shot will depend on your purpose. If just for plinking with out compettion, 7 shot. If your shoot'n, IDPA 6 shot. On full .357 loads, the 6 shot will have a strong cylinder, more material around the bullets. Good for Hunting...

You can now get 8 shot converions of .357 or 380's for more fun, they are used in the IPSC matches... Enjoy...;)

[bpisler]

My 2.5" 686 was very accurate with most 357 ammo and quite poor with 38spl's.Natedog,the 6 and 7 shot cylinders are the same diameter.

[Dr.Who]

By the way, I enjoy shoot'n my 686 6" 6 shot. It works great in .357 or .38. For target practice, I use the 38 loads... 3.1 grains of Bulleye with either 125 JHP or 158 LRN. Hardly any noticable recoil. It's a plessure... Enjoy ;)

[Dr.Who]

bpisler... Yes the cylinders are the same size however, an extra hole removes more material, puts the bullets closer together and reduce some overall strength of the cylinder. Under normal shoot'n no problem. But a steady diet of Mag and wildcat loads... not good. It depends on what you are going to use it for, just pick the right tool for the job at hand.... Enjoy ;)

[Lone Star]

ANY of the S&W K-frame or larger .357's is usually capable of putting all shots in the cylinder into a ragged hole at 25 yards from an offhand target shooting pose... if you can do it, and the gun likes the ammo you're using. I'm sorry, but I'm unimpressed by the people who post here that they shot a four or six-inch group at 10 or 12 yards. I assume that's d.a. pointed fire. You should be able to hit a human target in the kill zone at 100 yards with an S&W .357 and a steady kneeling or sitting position. Some can do better.

The M686 will kick less than the K-frames like the Combat Magnum (M19/66) because it's larger and weighs more. The underlugged bbl. does reduce muzzle rise some. The weight adds "feel".

I talked about this heavy barrel business with the late Bill Jordan one day. (The Border Patrol gunshark, not the RealTree clothing Jordan.) He had an old M&P .38 fitted with a heavy bbl. as well as his Combat Magnum and showed me how they tended to line up on point better and hold steadier than slimmer barrels. He was right. By the way, he could hit asprins at about 10 feet with hipshooting, using wax bullets...

Lone Star

[Dr.Who]

Lone Star,
Your right in some respects..

But as long as they/we enjoy the sport of guns and what they/we are doing. Nothing else really matters... We all have are twists. Impressivness is not my goal... Enjoy;)

[Guy B. Meredith]

Dr. Who,

Many have commented that on the seven shot cylinder the notch is now between rather than over the chamber, making for a potentially stronger combo.

Lone Star,

Some people have enough native skill or time to become excellent shots. The rest of us admire the revolver for getting us to the point we are at.

[Lone Star]

I wrote what I did in order that some newer shooters might know what a good revolver can do.

If someone doesn't tell them, they may be content with mediocre results. I don't think that will infringe on anyone's having fun; it just informs them of what the GUN will do, whether they or their friends can do it or not. I believe the question was phrased as to inquire as to the mechanical limits of the M686. It is in that spirit that I answered as I did. Not trying to hurt anyone's feelings.

Lone Star

[Shane]

Many have commented that on the seven shot cylinder the notch is now between rather than over the chamber, making for a potentially stronger combo.

Another thing is that with today's metalurology (sp?), you don't necessarily need thick cylinder walls unless you want to shoot mega handloads. With factory .357 magnum ammo, I believe the 7-shot .357 maggie 686 Plus is as strong as anyone needs. My personal 686 plus has fired lots of full house .357 magnum loads, and I've never had any problems or even indications that the cylinder is weakening.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All,

Another six-shooter fan here, as I can't stand
a wheelie that holds 7, 8, and sometimes 10 (S&W 617)
rounds. My Smith & Wesson 686 is the -5 model, with
a 6" tube. Very accurate with the standard S&W sight's;
red ramp with white-outline rear. The only drawback is
the fact that the double-action is not as smooth as I
would prefer; however, since all my shooting these
days is done in the SA mode I can live with it! Fit and
finish are exceptional; and I like the Hogue "Monogrip's"
that come standard on these revolvers.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[ruger357]

Very nice gun. I had the 6 shot one.

[Guy B. Meredith]

Ala Dan,

I bought the 7 shot as my first handgun when still learning all the pros and cons as a "cute" thing for self defense. The first few thousand rounds were healthy PMC .357 magnum which gave me a flinch I am still dealing with and a slow start on marksmanship, but didn't appear to bother the 686+.

I shoot strictly DA as it is more of a challenge as you watch the front sight through the trigger pull. There is a difference between the 686+ and the others that makes the others a tad smoother, but not sure why. The others are a 6 shot M66 (my all out favorite) and an 8 shot 627 and the round count doesn't appear to alter the smoothness.

After experiencing the Hogue monogrip on the 686, the Miculek wood on the 627 and the Uncle Mike on the M66 were replaced with square and round butt Hogue monogrips respectively.

[YodaVader]

"First off, how accurate is it?"

I have owned 4 686's since the late 80's and all have displayed exceptional accuracy. My 4th is the one pictured. I once decided to mount a scope on it (4X Redfield) and fired groups from the shooting bench. Using 158 gr reloads with Hornady XTP's and Winchester JHP I was able to fire the 6 and 12 shot groups pictured.

[Carbon_15]

Mine was death on the 100yd 8in gong. Scary accurate...the knid of accuracy that allows you to draw smilely faces on the targets. I though the recoil was quite managable.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Folk's-

Thanks Guy, for that report. Really, I have NO quarms
regarding the entire S&W revolver line; as it still is my
favorite! As a matter of fact, I'm just fixing to strap on
my 1979-1980 vintage S&W J-frame model 60, and
report for duty!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[cratz2]

They're plenty accurate and have a wonderful action. If you're not looking for a very light revolver for carry, I can't think of one I would recommend more than the 686. The 686+ has to have the same size cylinder or else it wouldn't work in the frame. Either of them are plenty strong but if you're going to be shooting extra heavy loads all the time, I'd probably try to seek out a 6-shot.

Also, very good deals can be found on the used market. I got mine for $275 but the dealer had three or four used 686s and 686+s on the shelf at the time. Good deals are out there.

http://photos.imageevent.com/cratz2/guns//DCP_0841.jpg

[Kahr carrier]

686 are great guns they are built on the L frame so they will hold up to extended Magnum use.:)

[Tamara]

My 686, despite being a 2.5" gun, is a real tackdriver.

[swampgator]

you have some of us who prefer blue steel! Don't forget the 586!

I think the L-Frame is the best handling S&W, with the 6" tube getting the overall nod. Seems to be the best balanced variants that I've tried. Oh yeah 6-shots!