shootbrownelk
Member
I have a S&W stainless mountain gun in .41 Magnum that will be the last gun I'd ever sell.
S&W 586 or 686 357 Combat Magnum?
- Thread starter Michael A Ferber
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If you intend to carry it in rough, wet country, far from the chimney smoke, I'd go with the SS model, and a 4" bbl'd one at that. Less weight to tote around and all the accuracy you need out to 50+ yds if you know how to shoot.
Best regards, Rod
That's one of my 'grail' guns...a good all-around caliber if you handload your own and in a packable overall sized revolver too.
Best regards, Rod
I have had a 4” 586 no dash, two 4” 686+s and a 4” Python elite. The 686+s were very nice, the Python was excellent but the 586 the best of all (smoothest trigger, best accuracy). I like the 586 looks better than the Python, seems like understated elegance versus glitz (ventilated rib?). I sold the 586 and the Python because they seemed too nice to shoot. I wish I would have kept one of the 686+s.
tightgroup tiger
Member
I waited a long time to find a decent 586 or 686 and this one presented it'self to me just this year. 686-4 pre-lock. A police officer traded it in on something and when I checked it over, it was so tight and the trigger was, oh so nice! I wouldn't put it down, I called my wife and told her I needed to get this thing.
She said "if you need it go ahead and get it! "
That's why we've been married for 41 years.
Man, this thing will shoot. I do wish it was a 4" but these are scarce around here in any condition. This is only the 2nd 5-686 I've seen here in 10 years and now i know why.
I bought it a week before the store was broken into and 17 of their hand guns were stolen in 48 seconds flat.
You snooze, you loose! I'm glad I didn't
Blued, Stainless, you can't go wrong with either one.
tightgroup tiger
Member
That would be my grail gun also.
Sneakshot92
Member
All the more reason i've got plans for a 4" 586. The guy at my lgs is a die hard Ruger guy like me and he has 6 blued Smiths in 357 mag as personal guns 3 being 586's. 2 model 27's and a UNFIRED 4" model 19 from 1978. He also has a couple model 29's and a model 25.
The other day when I stopped by he had the 19 on his hip in a velvet lined holster with a wheel full of 140gr XTP loads. I just about shat a brick when I saw him with it!!!! It's his safe queen.
I guess with all the stuff going on it is worth the risk of carrying it to him.
shoebox1.1
Member
“What is that...velvet?? ( coming to America) lol
New production 586 sitting on some Ahrends retro target cordia stocks.
Some ppl ask me why didnt I look for a pre lock, in actuality I wanted to just shoot the piss out of this one so I went with a new gun and warranty. I already have a handful of pre lock safe queens.
Some ppl ask me why didnt I look for a pre lock, in actuality I wanted to just shoot the piss out of this one so I went with a new gun and warranty. I already have a handful of pre lock safe queens.
Sneakshot92
Member
I'm buying one for the same reason.
I agree with the new gun to shoot idea. For some reason I don’t feel right about shooting a gun that might have some value as a collectible. As shooters the new guns are just as good ( not triggers or lock holes)) or better ( frame mounted firing pins and cylinder crane lockup ). I have a 27 Classic, trigger Is good just not as good as my ex 586.
jcs266
Member
The 686 is my all-time favorite revolver.
P5 Guy
Member
I prefer fixed sites.
BobWright
Member
Just to set the record straight (I know, picky, picky) the Model 19 was the Combat Magnum. The 586/686 is the Distinguished Combat Magnum.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
Got my son a 6" 686-2 for his confirmation in 2011. Shot very little, carried a lot, hence finish wasn't perfect so it got a full refurb job and mirror-finish polishing before I presented it. It was (and still is) stunning. I almost thought about keeping it myself and giving him a NIB 4" Python safe queen instead. But only almost; I knew teenagers like to shoot too and he has put quite a few rounds through it during last nine years.
The Evangelist Cowboy
Member
I've had about 4 Smith 686s, only 586ni ever had was the L Comp. I loved but I did not fancy using moonclips in the l comp with 357 or .38, I feel moonclips work much better with auto calibers in revolver rounds rather than full length cartridges.
shoebox1.1
Member
Something about a 586/686 with pretty stocks. Make a man write bad checks!
Sneakshot92
Member
Thankfully it's pretty hard to write those when the guns are tough to come by.
gotboostvr
Member
I prefer fixed sites.
I had one of those, a Distinguished Service Magnum, 681-2. Great wheel gun.
I like 'em both. Most blued guns will eventually get some speck, freckles, or some sort if minor (if not major) blemishes in the finish - someone will eventually not give it enough care to keep this from happening - but they do look good. My 686 is the most awesome revolver I've ever handled (out of quite a few).
Late to the party but my 2 cents worth. Have had both and both are great revolvers. I also shot a 10.5 inch Ruger Super Blackhawk in both blue and stainless. I shot thousands of rounds in the blue gun because it shot alot better. So maybe blue can be smoother in the barrel. Guess it depends on who rifled it. If I had to choose it would be the 686 + an extra round can mean a lot on the street.
About the only one missing in my family is the 4" barrel, I carry the 3" now and my 6" barrel is a no dash. The 617 is use to practice double action shooting first before shooting my cc gun. But I definitely would buy the 586 because they are pretty. I stick to stainless because I use them in harsh conditions , sometimes involving salt water conditions. I love the balance of the 4" barrel on the 617 and lately I have been thinking that the 4" could tame some of the recoil better than the 3". So I could carry either gun depending on my mood that day.
jcs266
Member
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