S&W 625 vs 686 for nightstand?

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Shrinkmd

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I was wondering what people thought of the 625 4" as a nightstand HD gun. I figure it would combine all the benefits of a revolver for that job, plus the big bore of the .45acp and the ability to practice way more with a load closely resembling what you keep in it for HD. None of the "shoot 38's, keep .357 magnum for the real thing" problem. It seems that .45acp is definitely cheaper than .357 mag, and if you are ok with Wolf, substantially cheaper, almost 9mm pricing.

Anyone have any experience/opinions on recoil, feel of the 625 in 4" shooting a 230 jhp or 185 jhp, vs the mighty .357 mag 125 jhp out of a 4" barrel?

Also, any reliability concerns on using the moonclips for a nightstand gun? I know they make it more reliable, but is there still something less than 100% with that setup compared to the 686?

Thanks! (after all, its just an excuse to dream about a next purchase...:)
 
I'll throw in my .02 on some of your questions. I have a 625 5". Really great revolver. The first time I took it to the range i was very surprised. The only other N frames that I had fired were .44 mags and I expected something similar in recoil. It was like shooting a .38. The recoil is truly negligable. I also shoot an S&W 19 .357 which is like shooting a cannon in comparison. Also the 625 is wickedly accurate.

After I bought mine I immediately bought a LOT of moon clips. I load up the clips before going to the range and the reload is almost as fast as a semi auto and extremely reliable. It will shoot anything in terms of ammo with 100% reliability.

Personally I think the 625 is a perfect nightstand gun if prefer a revolver. Reliable, accurate, fast reload, manageable recoil, readily available ammo and low muzzle flash.
 
The model 625 is a great nightstand gun for all the reasons already posted, but the 686 is also, especially if loaded not with .357 ammo, but with 38 +Ps like the FBI load. Of course you might say, "Why not a model 10 with the +P loads?". Good question and my answer is that the 686 has a slightly better trigger pull and due to its weight has less flip and is better for repeat shots.

I am a firm believer in not using the .357 indoors, too much noise and flash. The only gun that might be better as a nightstand gun is the 8 shot 627 with +Ps.
 
I have 686 6" with Rem GS under my pillow. Flash or noise is not a concern when someone is invading my pad.
Flash is a function of ammo, not the gun. So depends what you shoot really. For 45, I use my USP.
 
You don't see many 38+p vs 45acp threads...

Gotta love the choices and versatility in revolvers, eh?

I assume that the .45 loses some velocity out of the revolver compared to a semi-auto of similar barrel length. Does it really feel like a decent 38 special going off? Hmm...
 
The 625 makes a great nightstand revolver!

Yes, the revolver gives up a little velocity compared to the automatic. In my experience, the 5" Gov't model barrels are a trifle faster than the 5" 625s.

They seem to be about equal to the 4 1/4" Commander length barrels.

Much better behaved when fired indoors, compared to a .357 magnum. It is still loud, of course, but not near as loud.

If it weren't for my Gov't model I would use my 625 for that purpose.
 
I own both. I use the 625JM regularly gfor nightstand duty. I almost never use the 686, for all of the reasons above. That said I do love both guns.
 
I assume you own both. Personally, for a bedside handgun I'd only use .38 indoors. In fact, a smaller framed .38 might be better. Or a small 9mm. So, my answer between the two you have is .38's carried in the 686. Remember, those big caliber/magnum rounds tend to travel through plaster walls, hollow wood doors, etc.
 
Both are great. Just comes down to what caliber you are most comfortable shooting. If you're a 1911 guy, then you may have more experience shooting this cartridge and know what it can do. However, I am partial to the Magnum though I know it may be considered overkill to some. Also, just FYI, if you're a .40S&W guy then you may opt for the M646. I just wish the M696 was a 9mm instead of .44spl. :(
 
I'am not a real big fan of using full
power 357's indoors,medium velocity
357's might be better.I would go
with the 625,faster reloads and not
as much flash/recoil as the 357 mag.
 
Hmmm

It's nice to hear that people are happy with the 625. I don't reload, (maybe someday when kids are older, more time, etc) so it seems like bulk Wolf .45 is the same price as 38 special and way less than 357. No feeding or wearing out the extractor or whatever anti-wolf issues on this one. I guess nothing is as fun as a couple cylinders of 357 (then again I haven't shot a 44 or 500 yet!). At Sportsman's Guide Wolf 45 is about 130 bucks a case, plus shipping, etc, but it still seems to be comparable to LRN 38, minus the lead clean up (plus demooning I guess)

Gotta dream a bit more on this one.
 
You must rememeber that firing a .357 inside your bedroom means inside a presumably DARK room. The .357's flash inside a dark room will temporarily interfere with your vision. Try it. I did it in a darkened indoor range.

+P .38 will be much more appropriate.
 
I like the 686, but I'd go with the 625, for the reasons already stated.

Much better behaved when fired indoors, compared to a .357 magnum. It is still loud, of course, but not near as loud.
Click to expand...
Big-bore, low pressure rounds like the .45 ACP and .44 Special are perfect for a home defense handgun. They pack a good punch and are much less blinding/deafening than a .357 Magnum.

I won't use .357 indoors, so I'd have to load the 686 with .38+Ps. At that point, as someone already observed, why not just go with a lighter, handier (and cheaper) Model 10? Classic nightstand companion.

I use a 4" S&W 629 as a bedside handgun, loaded with .44 Special JHPs. Its job is to get me across the room to the Remington 870 12 ga shotgun. (That's a loud gun! But you get a lot more payoff for that noise and flash than with a .357 revolver.)
 
Does the 686 really have a better trigger than a Model 10? I've read plenty of statements that say the opposite. I'm guessing it is just a matter of which one came out of the factory better plus which was worn in more.

I don't think you would lose much, if any, velocity from a revolver compared to a semi-auto of the same barrel length.
The revolver has the gaps, but a semi-auto is already opening up when the bullet is leaving. The gas pressureis immediately pushing against the slide and springs.
Further, if barrel lengths are the same, the revolver actually has more barrel. A semi-auto's chamber is part of that length, but they are seperate in a revolver. Plus, there is the extra length that is within the chamber. Not much, then again each inch or so counts for about 50 fps I'm told.
I bet that all balances out pretty well, maybe even in favor of the revolver.
 
I think the 625 makes a great house gun if you prefer a handgun for such duties.

One advantage to the 625 is the ease of loading/unloading with moon clips. If you unload the gun daily for storage, it's much easier than messing with individual cartridges.

If you prefer to load the 625 with Auto Rim ammo (no moon clip required), Cor Bon is now loading their excellent DPX load in Auto Rim brass.

www.corbon.com
 
I have both the .357 in a 686 and the .45 in a model 25-2...either will do what needs doing and I'd not hesitate to use either one......the .45 will have less flash and not as sharp a crack when fired. Either will stop all but the mentally deranged,,,,without a torso hit.:D
 
Shrinkmd
As a fellow New jersey resident I'm sure you know about the absurd hollow point law.
Its for that reason my nihgtstand weapon is a 25-5 (.45 Colt).Those big slow 225 grain lead semi wad cutters should do the trick.
As for the 625 with full moon clips,that sounds very nice.Come to think of I do have two night stands........hmmmm sounds like permit time.
Mike
 
hollow points

I checked the N.J. state police web site,and I believe the law is this; You can carry them from place of purchace to your home or to the range or from your home to the range but they must be locked in a separate case,not with the gun or must be in a separate part of your car.As for using them for self defense, I heard that was illegal but as I said I heard it I did not read it. It just may a rumor
Mike
 
First, the lockwork of the K/L & N frames are very similar, differing mainly in the size and type of hammer and trigger, and, of course, the fitted pawl/hand. The 686 does 'feel' a bit different from the 7-shot 686+, but even that is minor. The trigger's position is a cause of some difference in 'feel' - and that is enfluenced a lot by grip style. The K&L frames will take the same grip. The N isn't much different - in fact, Hoque made the .500 Magnum's X-frame grips 'universal'... they will fit all; K, L, N, and X-frames. The K, L, and N-frames even take the same springs.

Now... my 625JM is a fun gun - and I have basically homebrew 230gr FMJ 800 fps rounds for it in .45 ACP; more, and even a bunch of 255gr LSWC whackers in .45 AR cases... absolutely no JHP's. My wife's side of the bed has a 2003 vintage +P rated 2" 10 loaded with +P 158gr LHPSWC's. Oddly, those rounds from a snubby rate significantly higher in 'one shot stop' stats than 230gr ball ammo from a 1911. It doesn't matter, my wife likes the little 10. Count me in that column of FBI load lovers... .357 Magnums are just overkill in the home. The main reason I'd leave the 10 in HD is effectiveness/size, with a secondary reason being that I just would hate to lose the 625JM as evidence, should I have to use it for HD. I can get another snubby...

Which is right for you? You seem to 'want' the 625 more - so I'd opt for it. It will make a great bedside gun... properly loaded. For fun, it just can't be beat. Consider the 625JM, if you are buying new... lots of goodies over a standard 4" 625-8 - and just MSRP $28 more. One caveat... be nice to it - and 'think' of the future. Use brass cased ammo and save it. If you don't ever reload, you can at least sell it and recover it's additional cost. Once-used .45 ACP revolver brass is a lot nicer than those poor, often dented, cases cast aside by an evil-bottom-feeder.

Of course, you'll like the 686 just as well. If you are leaning that-a-way, look at the new 620, a 4" partial lug replacement for the 66. It has the L-frame - and the 686P's 7-shot cylinder - at $40-$50 less than a similar 686P. The 620 would be my choice, but I am partial to partial lugs... when possible! You'll like whatever you get... just pick what YOU want... it'll fill the bill.

Stainz
 
My own night stand gun is a .38 snubbie. I think it's plenty for home protection. I like the fact that it's small and hard for a BG to get a grip on to twist out of a hand. I also prefer the lighter muzzle blast indoors to any magnum caliber. If I had a 686 in the drawer (fantastic gun, BTW) I'd load it with .38s. A frangible might be a good thing and I've thought about range testing a few and loading the .38 with 'em so there wouldn't be any bullets bouncing around the neighborhood. Another thing to worry about with the .357 is over-penetration in a populated area.

Of the two choices, the .45ACP is the easier caliber to shoot indoors, less chance of over-penetration, less muzzle blast, and more umph than a .38 special. I'd load that 625 with light hollow points to keep the penetration down through walls or maybe a frangible and be happy. I much prefer revolvers for night stand duty. I don't like leaving an auto's mag loaded for years on end. A revolver will always work when you pick it up no matter how long it has set up.

I love the .357 magnum, powerful cartridge, among the best fight stoppers and very versatile as an outdoor caliber, but indoors it is an ear drum splitter and the muzzle flash is blinding. The neat thing about ANY .357, though, is it can shoot any of numerous very capable .38 special defensive loads. If you have other uses for the weapon, especially afield, perhaps you'd like the 686? I can tell you this, you won't find a better shooting revolver than the 686, fantastic revolver. Personally, I really have little use for a 625. The thing is fat, heavy, not that great to carry, and down on power for outdoor uses. I'd much rather carry my Ruger P90 outdoors, anyway. Be a great revolver for revolver bowling pins or pepper popper competitions and when I was big into shooting pins, I wanted one. Wound up buying one of those old WW1 1917 triple locks. It was okay, but I'd have rather had a 625. :D
 
Are you sure you have a Triple Lock? If it is a real G.I. M1917, it isn't a Triple Lock. On the other hand, if you have a Triple Lock that was made from the factory to fire .45 ACP in clips, you have something rather unique-ish.

Bart Noir
Who sleeps rather near to the 625.
 
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