Smith & Wesson 686 Plus
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Loosedhorse
member
Love it.
What price? I think a 4-inch barrel is perfect.
In my opinion the absolute easiest way to learn reloading is with a 357mag revolver, loading 38spl loads. Then if you enjoy it, move onto the more challenging loads. Its forgiving and extremely cheap. Not to mention you will enjoy the heck out of it, the 686 is a quality piece. They are accurate as all heck, easy on the recoil, and just plain fun to shoot!
Okiegunner
Member
Fantastic revolver! In my opinion, it is the 2nd best .357 made. Only the Colt Python would rank ahead.
Stainz
Member
If you are talking about a new purchase, the L-frame (medium frame) 4" 686+, SKU #164194, weighing in at 39 oz, has an MSRP of $849. The slightly larger N-frame 4" 627 Pro, SKU #178014, weighing in at 41 oz, runs an MSRP of $969. The 627 Pro has some desired features over the 686+: an improved trigger, an easily changed (no tools) front sight, a target barrel, eight shot capacity, and it is moonclip ready. My one 686+, a 5" partial lugger, has sat for over four years in my safe since that 4" 627 Pro arrived. My 627 Pro is top, below:
I fitted my 627 Pro withaftermarket grips I like, but most like the stock Hogues, same as the 686+'s. Also fitted - the HiViz fiber optic front sight - a tool-less change. Note the moonclipped rounds in the lower left - and the 5starfirearms.com speedloader and base plate, too - great accessories. The shorter barrel version is from the Performance Center and is a 2 5/8" PC627 UDR, SKU #170133, 39 oz, MSRP $1,049 and takes the same 8-shot moonclips and speedloaders.
As others have said, the beauty of shooting a .357 Magnum/.38 Special is the wide range of ammo you can buy - and wider range which you can make. I have no need for 'real' .357 Magnums, even my 'protection' rounds being the Remington R38S12 .38 Special +P 158gr LHPSWCs, as in the speedloader and moonclip. I do reload - and use a lot of .357 Magnum cases - at decidedly 'wimpy' load levels. That, too, is a benefit of 'rolling your own'. You can't beat the availability and cost of brass and reloading components, either. Good luck!
Stainz
I fitted my 627 Pro withaftermarket grips I like, but most like the stock Hogues, same as the 686+'s. Also fitted - the HiViz fiber optic front sight - a tool-less change. Note the moonclipped rounds in the lower left - and the 5starfirearms.com speedloader and base plate, too - great accessories. The shorter barrel version is from the Performance Center and is a 2 5/8" PC627 UDR, SKU #170133, 39 oz, MSRP $1,049 and takes the same 8-shot moonclips and speedloaders.
As others have said, the beauty of shooting a .357 Magnum/.38 Special is the wide range of ammo you can buy - and wider range which you can make. I have no need for 'real' .357 Magnums, even my 'protection' rounds being the Remington R38S12 .38 Special +P 158gr LHPSWCs, as in the speedloader and moonclip. I do reload - and use a lot of .357 Magnum cases - at decidedly 'wimpy' load levels. That, too, is a benefit of 'rolling your own'. You can't beat the availability and cost of brass and reloading components, either. Good luck!
Stainz
sig228
Member
I love my 686+ 4"
420Stainless
Member
The 3" pre-lock I have is an outstanding revolver. Nothing I don't love about it.
creitzel
Member
I love my 686+, mine also has a 4" barrel. Great gun. 
Jim Watson
Member
I had a 686+. It was functionally satisfactory, it shot and hit the target, etc. But it was not much real use for me, since I DO compete. It was ok for USPSA for a while but they soon went to a six shot limit, and IDPA has had one from the start.
I offered it for sale or trade, but nobody fell for it, so I paid S&W a good deal of money to install a 6 shot cylinder and time the action for it. It is now a good revolver for my purposes, I just paid for the lesson.
I'd get a sixshooter.
I offered it for sale or trade, but nobody fell for it, so I paid S&W a good deal of money to install a 6 shot cylinder and time the action for it. It is now a good revolver for my purposes, I just paid for the lesson.
I'd get a sixshooter.
Elm Creek Smith
Member
Excellent choice. I carry a regular S&W 686 as my duty weapon.
ECS
ECS
Hondo 60
Member
686+ (the plus is for a 7th chamber for those who don't know)
Excellent offering by S&W, if you're looking for a stainless adjustable-sighted revolver.
Excellent offering by S&W, if you're looking for a stainless adjustable-sighted revolver.
Zeke/PA
Member
I own a 686 4" that I've had for several years,
Good solid piece with really good accuracy.
Good solid piece with really good accuracy.
Okiegunner
Member
Elm Creek Smith
Just curious...What department do you serve with? Did you get grandfathered-in to carry a wheel gun? Many departments these days are mandating what an officer may or may not carry.
Just curious...What department do you serve with? Did you get grandfathered-in to carry a wheel gun? Many departments these days are mandating what an officer may or may not carry.
wankerjake
Member
Great pistols. They look good, shoot good, are well built and I love that 7th shot. I have them in 4" and 6". I really like the 6" barrel, the balance is perfect for me.
Elm Creek Smith
Member
Okiegunner
I'm an armed security officer contracted to City of T***a. CLEET requires that armed security officers qualify with either a semiautomatic or a revolver and officers are limited with whichever they qualify.
If an armed security officer wants a choice of semiautomatic or revolver, he/she must take the armed security officer class in its entirety twice! (This sounds to me like a training provider scam.) I didn't take the class with a semiautomatic, so I HAVE to carry a revolver. Almost everyone else carries a Glock 22. 
The big difference is the duty ammunition. Glocksters carry .40S&W 180 grain JHPs (1050 fps/466 fpe). I carry .357Mag 125 grain JHPs (1450 fps/583 fpe).
ECS
I'm an armed security officer contracted to City of T***a. CLEET requires that armed security officers qualify with either a semiautomatic or a revolver and officers are limited with whichever they qualify.
If an armed security officer wants a choice of semiautomatic or revolver, he/she must take the armed security officer class in its entirety twice! (This sounds to me like a training provider scam.) I didn't take the class with a semiautomatic, so I HAVE to carry a revolver. Almost everyone else carries a Glock 22. The big difference is the duty ammunition. Glocksters carry .40S&W 180 grain JHPs (1050 fps/466 fpe). I carry .357Mag 125 grain JHPs (1450 fps/583 fpe).
ECS
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
If 6 rounds of .357 Magnum are good 7 rounds are even better.
If I didn't already have a 6 round M686-2 I would without a doubt buy a M686+. What's not to like???
If I didn't already have a 6 round M686-2 I would without a doubt buy a M686+. What's not to like???
Stainz
Member
Jim Watson,
The OP said 'not for competition'. If one were so-inclined, however, S&W has a great solution - the 4" 686SSR. It was available for some time before I bought my 627 Pro back in 5/08. In fact, I went in to the LGS to finally buy a 686SSR, but they were out of stock. Fortunately for me, they had the 627 Pro in stock at the same price - it went home with me.
About the differences in grip size between K/L & N-frames... there is essentially none externally. The X-frame Hogue '.460/.500 Magnum' monogrips should show the minimal internal differences as it, closest to the K/L-frame in internal size/shape, fits the K/L, N, X, & Z-frames! Now, as to specific grips, I just took my 617 (K-frame) and 625MG (N-frame), both sporting Kim Ahrends retro targets in cocobolow without finger grooves. Placing them heel to heel - the K-frame heel is 1/16" thicker, while the N-frame heel might be 1/32" longer. My medium+ sized right hand's trigger finger falls naturally on the trigger in the same spot on both examples - the trigger 'reach' is <1/16" greater with the N-frame. The size differences are within acceptable manufacturing variation for wood. Oddly, the chosen pair are close to the same weight - the MG's N-frame really doesn't 'feel', or 'point' any heavier than the K-frame. Try it in a store - just be sure to compare apples to apples - make sure they have the same style grip.
To the OP - try a 627 Pro for handfit, if you can - mine is a keeper.
Stainz
The OP said 'not for competition'. If one were so-inclined, however, S&W has a great solution - the 4" 686SSR. It was available for some time before I bought my 627 Pro back in 5/08. In fact, I went in to the LGS to finally buy a 686SSR, but they were out of stock. Fortunately for me, they had the 627 Pro in stock at the same price - it went home with me.
About the differences in grip size between K/L & N-frames... there is essentially none externally. The X-frame Hogue '.460/.500 Magnum' monogrips should show the minimal internal differences as it, closest to the K/L-frame in internal size/shape, fits the K/L, N, X, & Z-frames! Now, as to specific grips, I just took my 617 (K-frame) and 625MG (N-frame), both sporting Kim Ahrends retro targets in cocobolow without finger grooves. Placing them heel to heel - the K-frame heel is 1/16" thicker, while the N-frame heel might be 1/32" longer. My medium+ sized right hand's trigger finger falls naturally on the trigger in the same spot on both examples - the trigger 'reach' is <1/16" greater with the N-frame. The size differences are within acceptable manufacturing variation for wood. Oddly, the chosen pair are close to the same weight - the MG's N-frame really doesn't 'feel', or 'point' any heavier than the K-frame. Try it in a store - just be sure to compare apples to apples - make sure they have the same style grip.
To the OP - try a 627 Pro for handfit, if you can - mine is a keeper.
Stainz
You have made an excellent choice. I carried a S&W 686 (no dash) as a duty gun for about 9 years before we went to the Glock 20. There is not a better S&W revolver in my not so humble opinion. I found the S&W 686 to be a reliable and well built weapon. Just my 2 cents worth from the Big Sky Country.
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