Anyone own S&W 686 revolvers?

[Confederate]

My friend bought his to hunt with, but he hasn't had a close enough shot yet. Mine's mostly for shooting steel at the range.

Your friend bought an 8-3/8 686?

I've never had the opportunity to heft one, but they look unwieldy. What would the advantage of the 8-incher over the 6-inch? I've had lots of friends who go hunting regularly with a 6-inch and none has come back saying, "I've gotta get me an 8-inch!"



°°°

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have an 8 3/8". It is a pleasure to shoot. The longer sight radius is nice.

 

[doc540]

accurate at 50yds with cheap ammo

 

[gotboostvr]

Doc, that EXACT picture (seen long enough ago I don't remember where our when) convinced me to try scoping my 6" 686.
I liked it, but prefer irons. May scope a different handgun in the future.

 

[CopperFouling]

It was an 8 3/8" 29, actually. He has a 6" 686. The real advantage to the longer barrels is velocity with magnum loads, although it's only about 100 FPS extra per inch.

I prefer the shorter barrels, personally.

 

[gotboostvr]

re: longer barrels,
If hunting with a 4" barrel was legal here in Ohio, I wouldn't own anything longer.
We have a 5" minimum however. 5" Smiths can be hard to find.
One of these days I'm going to find a 5" 629 classic, one of these days.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Smith currently makes a 5" 686. My local gun store had a half a dozen.

 

[CopperFouling]

So, I definitely bought another 686 today. It's barely used. I will have it tomorrow.

 

[VanGoghComplex]

I'll be buying one soon!

 

[wrdwrght]

Glad to have a 6" -4. Its SA is something that needs to be pulled to be believed.

 

[gotboostvr]

PythonElite, it appears they do!
I recently aquired a 6" M19, and would love to compare how they handle side by side!