Older Smith and Wesson 586 as good as the 686?

[BCRider]

You're obviously a lady of fine upbringing and high taste in art, politics and the other pursuits of a civilized society from your preference towards fine blued firearms.


Four S&W revolvers share my roof and all are finely blued. I may opt for some semis in stainless over time but my wheelguns will always be blued if at all possible.

 

[TonyT]

Like fine wine as it ages it improves. In my opinion the blued guns are made of a tougher steel than the stainless guns. You have the option of less care and wear to the exterior finish vs a tougher basic steel. Also the earlier guns had better actions than the newer versions.

 

[Mopsie]

Well, I bought one! It's from the 1980's. The trigger on it is much lighter and better than on my husband's (don't tell him, though).

I had my husband check it over and it passed his test. I got it for $550. Is that a good deal or not?

This isn't my picture, but it looks just like this:

 

[BCRider]

Nice......

I'm not a big underlug fan so I tend to prefer my Model 19 with 6inch barrel. But the 586 I shot once sure was a fine gun too.

The other I have and love is a Model 28. The K frame 19 is a hair smaller and lighter than your L framed 586 and the N framed 28 a touch larger. Having the two that are smaller and bigger I don't see much point in getting my own 586. But if I didn't have either of them a 586 would be high on the shopping list.

 

[blackrussian]

To Mopsie - What condition is it in? Can you post a picture? Also, THR member Radagast has a DOB thread sticky at the top of this forum.

 

[Ratdog68]

"More Gooder? I dunno... I've never fired a wheel gun as sweet as my 686 which I bought new in '84 for $300.00. I've put 1,000s of rounds through this ol' bird... it just works like a Swiss watch.

Congrats on the new 586... they are fine !

 

[golden]

Probably a fair price

The L-frame S&W revolvers seem to be holding their value better than the older K-frames. You paid a fair, but not low price. I bought my 586 about 6 years ago and paid $550.00 Canadian. So I think your price is fair.

Mine has been MAGNA-PORTED and had a first rate action job. With HOGUE grips, it is a sweet heart to shoot.

Jim

 

[Confederate]

I'd argue the assertion that the 686 is technically superior because it's stainless. The stainless 686 will offer superior corrosion resistance.

Well, this is certainly a technical superiority.

The carbon 586 will offer superior wear resistance, in certain moving parts engagements.

I doubt it, but what sort of wear resistance are you speaking of? The hammers and triggers are both chrome plated ceptin' for the latest models, and I don't reckon either will make a difference in this day and age. So what parts would make a blue model wear better? Seein' how the hammer, trigger and hand/ratchet are all pretty much the same on both models.

Both should shoot comparably, allowing for differences between barrels & other dimensions inherent to any other gun or guns. Shot little & rarely exposed to corrosive atmospheres or agents, no "technical" superiority between the 586 & the 686, IN S&W'S STEEL FORMULATIONS, and IN OTHERWISE IDENTICAL OLDER VERSIONS WITHOUT MIMS OR LOCKS.

The stainless resists flame cutting better than the blue, and most of the internal parts are not only either carbon or MIM parts, in the early stainless guns, they were hard chromed plated. So all in all, the stainless guns were generally better. If you have an early 586 (pre-lock), your chances of getting a fantastic gun is many times greater than buying it now.

 

[Hawk]

I don't typically do bling but, on rare occasions, the price is too good to pass up.

Not all 586s are blue.

 

[Slamfire]

Shooting bud of mine claims that 586's are more accurate than 686's. He set a Police PPC National Record in competition with this 586. Because he was a reserve policeman his record was disallowed.

Regardless, this 586 is exceptionally accurate, even after 40,000 + rounds of 38 Special.

 

[Ratdog68]

I don't typically do bling but, on rare occasions, the price is too good to pass up.

Not all 586s are blue.

Silver plated? That thing's gorgeous !!!