686 or 686 Plus?

[Tecolote]

My buddy has decided that he wants a 686 4 inch barrel but now he's trying to choose between a 686 and a 686 Plus. Is one more reliable than the other? Are there any mechanical advantages to getting a 686 over a 686 Plus?

Also does anyone know when SW went from the stamped roll marks to the laser etched ones?

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I've got the 4" 686 Plus. I like having the chance at an extra shot -- and I can't say there's any mechancial differences between the two. Both are wonderful choices. I wouldn't know anything about your other question but I'm sure someone here will jump in.

Laura

 

[115grfmj]

I just had to wrestle with the same decision, in the end I bought the plus 4". I had searched alot about it on this and other boards
and nobody had, and problems with them. In the end I just
couldn't pass on the extra round. Also take heart my 686p is brand new
and without the laser etching, it has the old roll marks. Which to me at least
look better.

 

[Plinkerton]

I bought the regular 686 4". I wanted a "classic" six-shooter. Also, the Safariland Comp II speedloaders (only available for the 6 shot) are worlds better than the HKS ones. In my opinion anyway... I don't miss the extra round. But then again, I've never had it to miss...

 

[SteelyDan]

I'm curious about this too. Is there any downside to getting the extra round? Seems like I've read there's actually more metal between the cylinders in the Plus models, which probably can't be true, but there is, I think, some factoid about "more metal" in the Pluses that seems to make them the best choice. Help, please.

 

[Plinkerton]

I thought for sure, that there was less metal dividing the cylinder holes. I don't think there is any way there could be more... But, I don't know this for sure.

One thing that may be different mechanically, is that because the rounds are closer together on the "+" model, the trigger pull may be a little better, as the cylinder has to turn less with each trigger pull. Not sure on this either though.

Even if there is less metal on one of the models, it's not like it would keep it from lasting a lifetime, shooting .357's...

 

[Arub]

I'm a traditionalist. Revolvers are supposed to have six holes, not seven. That said, I have not heard of any problems with the seven holers.

 

[ChristopherG]

I thought for sure, that there was less metal dividing the cylinder holes. I don't think there is any way there could be more...

There is, as you'd reasonably expect, a bit less metal between the holes in the 7-shot; thing is, that's not the weak spot on a revolver cylinder. It's the little spot where the stop-notch aligns with the chambers on a 6-shot (or any other even-numbered) gun. And this is the advantage of the 7-shooter; the odd number of chambers means the stop-notch is not aligned with a chamber--thus the 'weak link' is removed, and the overall strength is therefore increased.

In reality, you're not going to hurt the cylinder of a 6-shot 686 unless you mess about with obviously dangerous handloads, anyway, so the point is moot. The choices boil down to whether you'd rather have a faster reload (with the better speedloaders available for the six-shooter) or an extra shot. Either will be a wonderful gun.

(If you contemplate shooting it in organized competition like PPC, IDPA or IPSC, get the six-shot; if not, get what you want.)

 

[Plinkerton]

Ah. that's right ChristopherG. I thougt about the stop-notches, but never eqated them with the even/odd chambers thing.

Thanks.

 

[scott45b]

I have a 4" 686+, 7 shot revolver. It has the finest action of all my revos. As far as having the 7th shot, I wished I didn't. I cannot compete under current IDPA rules with the 7 shot. I might try some ICORE matches with the 7 shot, but here again, the 6 shot revos like the the 610 with the RIMZ clips load so fast.

 

[Paladin7]

I have a 686+ 7 shot, and the action is great. About the only problem I have heard about is the index pads on the extractor star wearing due to plenty of shooting. There is less metal than on the 6 shot.

 

[Malamute]

Scott45b, you can have your 686 (6 or 7 shot) modified to use moon clips. These are of course very fast to use, and your gun can still be used without the moon clips.

 

[ChristopherG]

you can have your 686 (6 or 7 shot) modified to use moon clips

Yes, but guns thus modified are illegal in IDPA; and in IPSC (within the US, anyway), you can only shoot 6 shots before reloading, so at best, the extra round is an opportunity to screw up and find yourself suddenly classified 'OPEN', and shooting against the Big Boys

Thus my recommendation:

If you contemplate shooting it in organized competition like PPC, IDPA or IPSC, get the six-shot; if not, get what you want.

Outside of competition where fast loads are required, moonclips are an unnecessary fuss.

 

[Checkman]

I went with a 4" 686 + because I liked the idea of a seven shooter. It's a great revolver, accurate, nice trigger pull, etc. I'm very happy with it. I also have not had any trouble with it going out of time - which is what I had heard about the 686+.

If I have any complaint it would be that I'm so used to six rounds that I frequently empty out my cylinder and find that I forgot to shoot the 7th round. That's okay though becasue I bought it to shoot. It isn't my carry piece. Nice wheel gun.

 

[L-Frame]

I have a 681+ 3" as a carry piece and I didn't see any logic at all in choosing a 6 shooter. If you can carry 7 shots in the exact same size package instead of 6 and everything else is, for all practical purposes, equal, I cannot justify 6. I do agree and lament the fact that there are no 7 shot Safariland comp II speedloaders but with a little work HKS's are pretty close, plus the fact that 7 holes means less metal and is actually easier to speedload into than 6. In the end. both are as fine a revolver as you can buy, period.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Well, when I looked into the matter I chose the regular
Smith & Wesson six shot 686, with the 6" tube.
The reason for choosing the 6" barrel, is because it
wasn't bought for a CCW weapon; yet it serves has a
home defense piece. It is the -5 model, without the
infamous intergal lock design. Also, it has performed
well on the range.

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

 

[AirPower]

So do 686 and 686+ have the same width? I thought 7shot made it slightly wider.

 

[SnWnMe]

7 Gun grates on my ears...

 

[Black Majik]

Plinkerton stole my reason!

My main reason was because the safariland speedloaders were available only in the 6 shot configuration....

plus the NIB 686-4 Powerported model I found was a 6 shot. No internal lock

 

[Plinkerton]

[VILLANOUS LAUGH] MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! [/VILLANOUS LAUGH]

Wow... I'm such a nerd....

 

[355sigfan]

I read that the 7 shot models go out of time faster and are harder to re time.
Pat

 

[TechBrute]

Outside of competition where fast loads are required, moonclips are an unnecessary fuss.

Yeah, it's much more fun to feed the rounds one at a time. Dropping in all 6 (or 7) rounds at one time is just too easy to be considered fun.

 

[Plinkerton]

Yeah, it's much more fun to feed the rounds one at a time. Dropping in all 6 (or 7) rounds at one time is just too easy to be considered fun.

He's not saying speedloaders are an unnecessary fuss, just moonclips. I think I agree.

 

[TechBrute]

Speedloaders suck. One wrong move and your rounds are all over the ground.

 

[Malamute]

"One wrong move and you can dump all the rounds on the ground"?
OK, one wrong move and you can dump all the rounds from a loaded revolver on the ground.

I've never seen or heard of anyone that dropped their rounds out of a speedloader on the ground. I think it would be virtually impossible with a Safariland loader. It would take a profound level of clumsiness, perhaps to the level of the operator being unsafe to handle loaded firearms at all.

I've helped my Father load and unload moon clips, I think they are an unnecessary nuisance if you are not shooting in competition, tho obviously some people don't mind the trouble.