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Just picked this up yesterday from my FFL. It is a S&W 686 Plus (7-round) L-Frame .357 Magnum 3" Barrel Talo Edition. I can offer no rational justification for this purchase other than I just wanted it. My collection has been getting boringly repetitious, all semi-autos of various brands and configurations, so I thought a nice .357 Magnum revolver would add a little variety to my collection.
First impressions: The gun is very well-made, high quality, butter-smooth action and tight lock-up, which is typical of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The DA trigger pull is long and fairly heavy, I would estimate around 12 lbs. It is, however, smooth as glass with a crisp break and no stacking. Now the SA trigger pull is a different story! Very light and crisp, no wall, no stacking, puts my 1911's to shame. The gun is heavy! That's OK, as it's intended use will be as a range toy. It will see limited CCW use, although I did order a Wright Leather Predator Pancake holster for it for when I do CCW it. I am also ordering a pair of Altamont rosewood checkered boot grips to lower the profile for CCW.
I don't care for the internal lock. I have no intention of using it, and I'm sure I will learn to ignore the little hole on the left side of the frame...
I am not embarrassed to say that one of the reasons I bought this gun is that it is beautiful to look at. Aesthetics are important to me, and this gun does not disappoint! Also, Hickock45 loves this gun and has a video on it. He can hit that gong way up on the hill every time shooting it DA!
I have been trying to figure out the proper grip for shooting this gun (the standard high thumbs-forward grip does not work on revolvers, as you know). This is the first DA revolver I have owned in a very long time, so I have to re-learn the fundamentals of proper revolver grip. I watched a couple of Jerry Miculek instructional videos, so I think I have it figured out. I am taking it to the range tomorrow, so I will find out! I will be shooting a combination of 158gr. .357 Magnum loads and 125gr. 38 Sp. +P's. Still trying to figure out the various .357/38SP loadings so I can standardize.
Will update this thread with a range report tomorrow.
First impressions: The gun is very well-made, high quality, butter-smooth action and tight lock-up, which is typical of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The DA trigger pull is long and fairly heavy, I would estimate around 12 lbs. It is, however, smooth as glass with a crisp break and no stacking. Now the SA trigger pull is a different story! Very light and crisp, no wall, no stacking, puts my 1911's to shame. The gun is heavy! That's OK, as it's intended use will be as a range toy. It will see limited CCW use, although I did order a Wright Leather Predator Pancake holster for it for when I do CCW it. I am also ordering a pair of Altamont rosewood checkered boot grips to lower the profile for CCW.
I don't care for the internal lock. I have no intention of using it, and I'm sure I will learn to ignore the little hole on the left side of the frame...
I am not embarrassed to say that one of the reasons I bought this gun is that it is beautiful to look at. Aesthetics are important to me, and this gun does not disappoint! Also, Hickock45 loves this gun and has a video on it. He can hit that gong way up on the hill every time shooting it DA!
I have been trying to figure out the proper grip for shooting this gun (the standard high thumbs-forward grip does not work on revolvers, as you know). This is the first DA revolver I have owned in a very long time, so I have to re-learn the fundamentals of proper revolver grip. I watched a couple of Jerry Miculek instructional videos, so I think I have it figured out. I am taking it to the range tomorrow, so I will find out! I will be shooting a combination of 158gr. .357 Magnum loads and 125gr. 38 Sp. +P's. Still trying to figure out the various .357/38SP loadings so I can standardize.
Will update this thread with a range report tomorrow.