S&W 686, the Best?

[xtut]

Hi. I'm new here and no expert. After doing a lot of reading on forums like this one, I bought a S&W 686, 4". So far, I have only shot 1 box of .38 Spl. thru this beast, but I've got to say, I LIKE it! When people ask what's the "best" .357 Mag. the opinions seem to come down to 3: Ruger, S&W or Colt Python. The Colt is no longer made and is becoming "collectable" driving up the price for a used Python. Ruger fans always say it is "built like a tank", and I'm sure it is. But the S&W can hardly be described as "flimsy"? It too seems to be built like a tank, it is a big, heavy chunk of stainless steel. I can't imagine this beast failing under heavy use? What do I like about the S&W? 1.) Accuracy. The gun is more accurate than I am. 2.) Trigger pull. Double action is absolutely smooth, and single action is almost hair trigger, but exactly what you want in single action. 3.) Fit, finish etc. I have smallish hands, but the factory rubber grips are very nice and a good fit for me. I like the brushed stainless finish, not too bright, not too dull.
My Smith does have the key trigger lock, which probably could be defeated with a file pretty easily? Some people hate this feature, but I neither like nor dislike it? It is pretty much irrelevant.
I hear good things about the Tauraus .357 too. S&W costs a bit more than Ruger, but I don't feel cheated by paying extra for the S&W. From what I have READ, the 4 guns I mentioned here are ALL good .357 Mags. and I doubt anyone would be displeased with these choices.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Another vote here for the Ruger SP101.
Got a DAO/spurless version for the wife/accountant and she loves it. It has a decent heft to it, and you know its there when you carry it, but its not cumbersome. My wife liked that because she is a little bit recoil shy, and the weight helps to mitigate that.
Not saying its a womans gun!
My hands are kinda long and lanky, and i thought the grips were a bit on the slender side.
Put some Hogue grips on it and its much better for me, and the likes them better, too.
But im biased, ive been a ruger fan for as long as i can remember

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've detached the two prior post from a three year old thread http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9903823 to this new thread.

I'm pretty sure the OP of that thread has gathered the information He requested and there is no sense making folks read through a bunch of old post to reach the new stuff.

Ruger fans always say it is "built like a tank", and I'm sure it is. But the S&W can hardly be described as "flimsy"?

Welcome to the forum.

Back when the GP-100 was first introduced, the reason for it's existence was that it's competitors (M-19/66) were beating themselves to death on .357Mag duty ammo

 

[Hammer059]

Another vote for the 3" SP101 for the best all-around .357mag revolver. Nothing wrong with the others though. Just don't buy a Taurus...

 

[bannockburn]

xtut

If I had to rank the .357 revolvers that I felt were the best built in terms of overall build quality, strength, and durability I would probably go with:
1) S&W Model 27
2) S&W Model 686
3) Ruger GP100
4) Ruger Security Six
5) Colt Mk.V Trooper

 

[CajunBass]

I doubt it makes much difference. Not many of us will ever shoot one individual gun enough to really form an opinion about which is "best." Even if we do, we're probably not shooting the other brand that much. They're all more than "good enough."

Now you might like one better than the other, but that only means it's "best" for you, which as far as you're concerned, is all you're worried about.

When I was a young man, I convinced myself the Model 19 was "best" and nothing I've come up on over the years has changed my mind. I thought the Ruger Security-Six was a really close second.

I've never been interested enough in a 686 or a GP100/SP 100 to even look at them seriously.

I never really saw anything wrong with the Taurus 357's I've owned either. The only Colt 357 I ever owned was a Python, and it was "pretty good" too.

 

[StrawHat]

I'll take a S&W revolver every time. I used two Model 686 (one 4" and one 6") for PPC competition. Never saw any other makes in the winners circles on any level of competition. Some of the guys used other makes for a while but the winners always shot some model of S&W. Lot's of us had them reworked but enough of us shot them stock that the design proved itself.

Kevin

 

[cfullgraf]

With the major manufacturers, i feel the best 357 Magnum is a Ford/Chevy/Mopar debate.

Of the different models and manufacturers, each has its own advantages and disadvantages that the owner must decide which is best for him.

I am a fan of S&W revolvers, no lock, lock, short barrel, long barrel, all the frames, and 22 to 45 caliber.

The Ruger revolvers look frumpy to me but they are excellent revolvers and would not hesitate relying on one if I had to. Colt revolvers are also excellent but have always been expensive to me, which is one reason they stopped producing them.

I cannot comment on Taurus.

 

[rswartsell]

This;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMhThUAl88w

 

[W.E.G.]

The 686 is a fine gun.

As are many other .357 revolvers.

 

[John C]

I'm a big fan of all quality .357 revolvers. I own 3 GP100s and 3 S&Ws. While I personally think the 686 is a finer revolver, the GP100 is more bang for the buck. It's 97% of the pistol a 686 is for 80% of the money.

I also prefer the GP100 for shooting full house .357 loads. It's my observation that S&Ws develop end shake quicker than GP100s.

GP100 triggers are rougher out of the box, but smooth up almost as nice as S&Ws.

 

[John C]

And yeah, a Manurhin is on the list, if I ever win the lottery, or sell my car. I've shot one, and they're worth every penny.

 

[Schwing]

I love the 686. All of my shooting buddies own them. I love it so much that, when I finally broke down and bought a .357 revolver, I bought... a GP100.

I love it too. My shooting buddies always want to use it. I always want to shoot their 686's for a spell.

They are totally different guns. They have different balance, different triggers and different weight. Both are superb firearms. I would be very hard pressed to call one better than the other overall.

 

[Black Knight]

I have both a 686 and 2 Colt Pythons. My 6" Python was my first duty weapon as a private armed security officer after I borrowed a gun from my dad. The 686 was also a duty weapon later on while still doing armed security. Of the 2 I would still choose the 686 as my duty weapon. Don't get me wrong the Colt Python is an excellent duty weapon but with few capable gunsmiths who are qualified to work on them around now a days the 686 is logistically better. BTW both of my Pythons and my 686 shoot equally well. As for Taurus I understand they are hit or miss. You might get one that is great then again you might get one that should be used for a boat anchor.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have a bunch of Colts, including Pythons, King Cobras, and MK III guns. I also have a couple of 686's. I love my Colts and shoot them regularly. However, the 686's are great guns. My 8 3/8" 686 probably falls in the top 3 most accurate shooting .357's I have shot.