S&W 586 vs 686

[CWL]

from Google, changes to 586 & 686 over the years:

Model 586 Variants[edit]
586, 1981 Intro
586-1, 1986 Radius stud package, floating hand.
586-2, 1987 Change hammer nose and associated parts.
586-M, 1987 Product warning by S&W, M overstamp to indicate factory (mod for 586 and 586-1)
586-3, 1988 New yoke retention system. 1992 Delete 8 3/8" barrel and four-position front site. 1992 Delete nickel finish
586-4 1994 Drill and tap, synthetic grips, change rear site and extractor. 1995 Delete square butt. 1997 Delete 8 3/8" barrel, change to MIM thumb piece.
586-5, 1998 Change design to eliminate cylider stop stud. Change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin, change to MIM trigger, change internal lockworks.
586-7, 2006 Limited Edition. 7-shot variant only.
586-8, 2012 Reintroduced under Smith & Wesson's Classic lineup. 6-shot only.
Model 686 Variants[edit]
The Smith & Wesson Model 686 is a stainless-steel version of the post-1980 L-frame revolver.

686 no dash, introduced model
686-1, 1986, radius stud package, floating hand
686-2, 1987, changed hammer nose, bushing and associated parts
686-3, 1988, new yoke retention system
686-4, 1993, change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, change extractor, hogue grips
686-5, 1997, change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud, eliminate serrated tangs, change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin, change to MIM trigger, change internal lockwork
686-6, 2001, internal lock

 

[Walkalong]

I foolishly sold a 4" 686 no dash. The one I regret the most of the ones I let get away.

 

[Waveski]

Deal made. Traded the Browning BDA , plus $250 for the 586 no-dash in nickel. We agreed on a value of $750 for the 586 "Distinguished Combat Magnum" , (boy - they don't name guns like they used to!) , so the trade in value for the BDA was $500. No one made out like a bandit on the deal , but everyone is comfortable. The factor which kept me in the hunt is that the 586 is a no-dash ; that really motivated me.

Now I will have a J-frame , K-frame , and an L-frame ; all in nickel. I feel pretty good about that.

Photos will follow in a few days after the waiting period expires.

 

[PJSprog]

An excellent trade, Waveski. You'll not likely regret it. I've had my 6" 686 since 1987 - my first handgun purchase - and it remains my favorite firearm to this day.

Enjoy!

 

[Walkalong]

Congrats. I am sure you will enjoy it.

I will have a J-frame , K-frame , and an L-frame ; all in nickel.

Now you need an N Frame in Nickle. I walked into the shop and there it was. I went home and came back with trade fodder, cause I had to have it.

It never stops.......

 

[OrangePwrx9]

I have a 6" 686 Power Port and a 4" 586-3. Both have scary smooth actions and light crisp triggers. The 686 was born accurate and easily outshoots my Python. The 586 was a born turkey. After multiple trips back to Smith (the last one cost $), it's finally a shooter.

They're mostly very good; but not all.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Confederate, your opinion of the Ruger GP100 exactly matches my own. Why-oh-why did Ruger ditch the excellent Security Six to build that dog?

If they ever come to their senses and re-introduce the Sec. Six as a "Classic" or something, I'd buy one....or two. And I've already got a couple.

 

[Baba Louie]

Why-oh-why did Ruger ditch the excellent Security Six to build that dog?

Answer (from Bill Ruger IIRC)

"Well, that was our first double-action revolver. It’s given great service, but my recollections of it are of the difficulty we had in learning how to make the inherently more intricate double-action revolvers. I don’t think we made a penny out of any Security-Six, but many shooters still like them."

found here...
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-351160.html

 

[Waveski]

I said :

"I will have a J-frame , K-frame , and an L-frame ; all in nickel."

Walkalong said:

"Now you need an N Frame in Nickle. "

Just so happens , the LGS owner is tempting the bejeebers out of me with a model 29-3 in nickel , 8 3/8" barrel . --- $800!

 

[horsemen61]

waveski trade him your car if you have to to get that model 29-3 I know I would if given the opportunity

 

[il.bill]

waveski trade him your car if you have to to get that model 29-3 I know I would if given the opportunity

I agree. In a heartbeat I would trade Waveski's car to that LGS for a nice S&W 29-3; just not my car!

 

[diyj98]

I much prefer stainless or blue to the nickel. The nickel is very pretty, but once it's damaged, it can't be touched up or polished out like blue or stainless can.

 

[Waveski]

Mr diyj98 , your point is well taken. I used to feel that way too. I have several pieces in stainless. I love to polish that surface ; it just keeps getting better and better.

However , I have fallen prey to allure of nickel. Kind of like the call of a siren...

 

[handloader357]

waveski trade him your car if you have to to get that model 29-3 I know I would if given the opportunity

Haha! I tried trading my car for an interesting x86 about a month ago but the LGS wouldn't do it.

It was blued and stamped as a 686, but the label on the box with the matching serial number said 586. It was a pro shop gun, some kind of custom build I guess. Damn fine ported 7 shot revolver, but I didn't have 1400 to spare.

My old trusty 686-4 would have probably gotten jealous anyway. It was the 1st gun I paid money for and still love it. It's my go to gun for alot of purposes. Some people have said they're better than the pythons... And I do like my 686 alot, but I like my dad's python just a bit more.

 

[diyj98]

My old trusty 686-4 would have probably gotten jealous anyway. It was the 1st gun I paid money for and still love it. It's my go to gun for alot of purposes. Some people have said they're better than the pythons... And I do like my 686 alot, but I like my dad's python just a bit more.

I'll take the Python for collecting, but for a hard use as a shooter I'd go with a 686 every time. In my opinion, the S&W lockwork holds up better over time.