S&W 686 or 686 Plus, which to buy?

no

Buy the seven shooter and have it machined for full moon clips. Buy a boat load of full moons and have fun.

I purchased the 686P 7 shot 3 inch model. I can not say enough about how happy I am with it. Either way you will be happy for sure!
Dave

Personally, I'd get the 686, only because my brain handles base 6 math better than base 7. I have other six-shot revolvers and no sevens. I've no reason other than wanting all of my revolvers to be congruent, and thus easier for my poor brain to operate efficiently.

If you like music by Rush, or if you enjoy avante-garde, modern symphonic music that has 7/4 time signatures, then go for the -Plus.

{I enjoy Rush and modern symphonic music but I still think in sixes. I'm practicing to be a curmudgeon }

Seriously: you'll probably be very happy with either.

Oh, and welcome to THR.

I have the seven shooter. Very happy with it.

Unless you are competing in a game that requires or is built around six-shot fire strings, there is no reason not to avail yourself of the extra round.

I had a Plus cut for clips to shoot in IPSC before the six shot rule went in. After that, I could not sell or trade the gun for anything of value. So I paid S&W about half the price of a new gun to put a six shot cylinder in it. Works great for IDPA SSR now.

How long have you been shooting 6 shot revolvers ?
If it's been years, you may just want to go with the 6 shooter.
I've been shooting wheelguns for years and finally decided to buy a 7 shot 686 plus.
I was in such a habbit of shooting 6 rounds and dropping brass that I could not stop shooting 6 rounds and now dropping 6 empties and one live round every time.
I got tired of dropping one live one every darn time and gave up the 7 and went back to the 6 shooter.
The 686 is a wonderful gun either way. Good choice & good luck on your decision.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

My 4" 686 is one of my favorite guns.

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I have had this 686 7-shooter for several years. It has never missed a beat. Based on its performance I sure can recommend the 7 shot 686!

I have a 686 Plus like dairycreek's with factory rubber grips and a fluorescent orange front sight insert. I have been a six shootin' Smith & Wesson fan since 1979 when I bought my first firearm, a Smith Model-18 Combat Masterpiece.

By going with an odd barrel length (for me) because I have mostly owned 4" and 6" barrel Smiths or little J-Frames; having a L-framed gun in 2 1/2" length makes it oddball enough that shooting 7 out of him is no big deal. Got used to the extra round quickly.

Mine has a lock on it, but I like the trigger pulls in both single and double action so much, it overcame my distaste for the lock hole. I haven't regretted it. She's as slick as my old Model-66 was and a fine shooter. I really like this gun. I wouldn't hesitate to get a coupla more (4" and 6") as 7 shooters.

The 2 1/2 incher is my winter carry gun and I just stuff it in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster. It rides just fine in my Carharrt's front pocket as long as I wear a pullover to hide the little bit of grip that stands proud of the pocket's top seam.

Easy answer. If you want 6 rounds instead of 7 then get the six-shooter. And vice versa. It isn't nuclear science.

Personally, I have a 686+ 4".

I have the seven-shooter version. I also have an S&W 637 five-shooter, as well as a J.C. Higgins nine-shooter and a Browning Hi Power fourteen-shooter. My wife has a Colt Pocket Model seven-shooter.

Dya get my drift?

Jack

You never know when you will want to use it in competition. That 7th round can be a bitch.