S&W 686 it's hard to beat

[357smallbore]

I love to handle, carry and shoot my 1984 no dash 686. Bought it new and it's never let me down.
Pythons are a thing of beauty, Rugers GP100 is a tank. For me, the 686 is unbeatable for beauty, smoothness, reliability, balance and accuracy.
This 357 is my old friend that will go the distance.

 

[red rick]

My very first revolver was a 686-3 . It is still my favorite .

 

[AK2]

I feel the same about mine. Camping gun, house gun, range gun, hunting gun.

 

[MrBorland]

I’m a fan…

 

[shoebox1.1]

I get my no dash In a couple days! I got the stocks all done for it and a holster. I can’t wait

 

[WestKentucky]

I had a 686-6 and honestly it was a major letdown in almost all aspects. It didn’t feel right, it damn sure didn’t shoot right, but it sure was pretty. I tried hard to like it but it never lived up to its predecessors in my 357 evolution. If I get another smith 357 it will be an N frame. Truthfully though I would be happy with a Taurus 689 like I had in 2000. I can’t find one exactly like I had though. I know where my gun is, but it’s been gone through and heavily modified as a race gun.

 

[e rex]

I like my 686-4 but would like to have a model 19 to go with it.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I hate that.. you have something and someone changes it all up ( most times in bad way) and you don’t want it back. Has been my experience with couple vehicles

 

[357smallbore]

I had a 686-6 and honestly it was a major letdown in almost all aspects. It didn’t feel right, it damn sure didn’t shoot right, but it sure was pretty. I tried hard to like it but it never lived up to its predecessors in my 357 evolution. If I get another smith 357 it will be an N frame. Truthfully though I would be happy with a Taurus 689 like I had in 2000. I can’t find one exactly like I had though. I know where my gun is, but it’s been gone through and heavily modified as a race gun.

I had a 4in 689. It was a great piece. I'm glad the one I got didn't have the vent rib. Traded it off for something else.

 

[357smallbore]

I like my 686-4 but would like to have a model 19 to go with it.

I had a model 66-1, I just never could warm up to it. Nothing against the gun. Just not for me.

 

[357smallbore]

I get my no dash In a couple days! I got the stocks all done for it and a holster. I can’t wait

Congratulations

 

[PapaG]

My 686+ is one of my favorite revolvers. 6”. Not my carry gun, however.

 

[ontarget]

I love my 686 no dash. Pretty fond of my Taurus 689 also.

 

[.38 Special]

I had a model 66-1, I just never could warm up to it. Nothing against the gun. Just not for me.

We are just exactly the opposite! I am passionate about the 66/19, but have never have been able to feel the same way about the 686 - and I have far more rounds through the L frame than any other gun.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

No dash, no MIM, no hole.

 

[Diamondback]

S&W has manufactured many, many great firearms....to me the 586/686 series are some of the very best. Thanks to all of you for showing off your fine specimens. I can never look at too many.

 

[ms6852]

I love my no dash 686 with original grips and new grips for formal events.

 

[JB111]

I purchased a 686-1 a few years ago and have become quite fond of it. The fact that it was/is in great condition is what drew me to it. Mine is very accurate and very balanced. It also never had the fix done to it, but I have yet to have a problem. Some people do not like the factory grips that came on them, but I find them to be just fine.

 

[P5 Guy]

I like fixed sights.

 

[red rick]

Count me as one that doesn’t like the factory grips as far as shooting and fitting my hand . I shoot mine a lot better with the Pachmayr grips . The factory woods are pretty , but just to big at the bottom for my hand .

 

[StrawHat]

I am glad you like them! I had a 6”, no dash and a 4”, -1. Used them both in competition and they were great. On duty, the 4” was a brick. Many of my N frames weighed less and the issued Model 19 certainly weighed less. Once I stopped competing, I sold both.


Kevin

 

[defjon]

I have a 686 plus 2.5.

It's a very handy big snub, its probably the fastest of any gun to "point ".

The weight with short barrel goes quickly on target. Sights always spot on. Good for point shooting. Weighty enough to tame any magnum rounds.

It's my night stand gun for those reasons. I could quickly bring it to bear and know where my sights are, where my rounds are going without finding the sites.


It has the lock and it has the hole. It's very smooth and has given me no issue.

 

[Rock185]

The L-frames are long time favorites of mine. I started carrying a 586 soon after they were introduced 40+ years ago. A succession of 686s followed, i.e., no-dash guns, -3,-4,-5s,a -6 SSR, a Mountain Gun, etc. Down to two now. A no-dash and -5 that I intend to hang on to..

 

[Jonesy814]

I am a big fan of the 686. Could not decide which barrel length I like best so I accumulated a variety. 4 & 6 inch are no dash and other 2 are dash 6’s

 

[jlmwrite]

My very first revolver was a 686-3 . It is still my favorite .

Mine too! I shot it in a ton of bullseye contests til I lost it in an ugly divorce. It was one of the first handguns I bought post-divorce too, but it was never quite the same.