Holster for 686 Plus

[dashootist]

My revolver is a S&W 686-6 Plus (7 shot). I bought a Bianchi Shadow2 holster because it's the only holster that covers the trigger guard, and it's suppose to fit a 686 as well as other L and K frame S&W. My 686 is very tight inside the holster, which is barely acceptable. However, the thumb break strap is not long enough; it's about 3/8" short. I'm kind'a puzzled. The manufacuturer explicit indicated that 686 will fit this holster, but it doesn't fit my 686. Is the 686-6 larger than pre-lock 686?

 

[WARDO88]

I bought a Bianchi 111 Cyclone for my 686-6 a couple of years back and it felt pretty snug when I first got it. I also thought the thumb strap was too short, I just could not get it to snap. With time, the holster broke in and was not too snug and by working the thumb strap for a while, it too loosened up to where it snaps with out a problem. I could be wrong, but I don't believe the is a dimensional difference in the 686+ between lock and pre-lock models.

 

[transatlantic]

My 686-5 Plus 4" fits in my Bianchi 5BH exactly like my friends 686-5 4" (6-shot). There are no differences in dimension between the two, except the number of holes in the cylinder of course.

I have a number of Bianchi 5BH and they all show some minor differences in fit.


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[The Lone Haranguer]

WAG

Is the section over the cylinder closely molded to the cylinder flutes? If it is, the differently located flutes on the seven-shot may be causing binding, not allowing the cylinder to seat deeply enough in the holster, which would make your thumb break strap come up short.

 

[dashootist]

I don't think it's the cylinder flute. Someone thought that the post-lock 686 are slightly bigger than the pre-lock because of the lock. The theory is that the frame had to be enlarged to accommodate the lock. I haven't been able to verify this yet.

 

[WC145]

I have a DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbard for my 586 L-Comp (same frame/cylinder size as the 686 Plus) and it fits fine, you might want to look into one.