I put a HiViz front sight, Ahrends square conversion f.g. cocobolo stocks, and reduced effort Wolff springs in my new 6" 66-6 the day it arrived from CDNN ($350 - what a deal!), along with a new 2" 10-11 ($280 - another deal!). Before that day, in 9/03, I hadn't touched, much less shot, either a .38 or a .357M. My life was happy - between .44 and .454. That revolver just felt great. The full lugs of the 6" 686+ just made it muzzle-heavy to me - and I don't like Hogue rubber grips (That changed when the .500 Magnum grips became available!). Within a few months, the 5" half lug Stocking Dealer Exclusive 686+ was available - and I knew I'd have to have one.
I delayed acquiring one until the next fall. I just couldn't see such a close duplicate of what I had. The 5" 686-6+ had the nice partial lug, taking some of that weight off the muzzle, and already had the HiViz and the same Ahrends stocks I initially put on my 6" 66. I wasn't too sure about the near-duplication, they both even have the Lock, but S&W gluttony prevailed. Ultimately, I waved good-bye to my old friend - my first DA revolver - a 7.5" .454 Ruger SRH... my shooting hand regained some feeling as the local pusher took the SRH on trade. Not much moola changed hands - for some reason, the 5"-er was $489 vs the 4" standard 686+ a few inches away in the case being ticketed at $519. Oddly, it handles very similarly to the 6" 66 - weight and 'pointability'-wise. I had another set of reduced effort Wolff's, so, after 'break-in', it got a spring change. Their triggers are similar, yet different. I feel quite fortunate to have such fine revolvers.
Now the bad news... I shoot .38's and wimpy-.357M's. I have never bought a .357M round for either revolver. In fact, today found me loading the hottest rounds thus far for them - a 125gr Zero JHP over 5.5gr Titegroup in mixed .357M brass - should be 1050-1100 fps - watch out! Up until the time I try these, the hottest rounds I have had through either .357 is the Rem R38S12 +P rated 158gr LHPSWC .38's - the so-called 'FBI loads' - which made 990-997 fps. As .38 launchers, these guys are super. In fact, as wimpy 125gr Berry's FP @ 665 fps .38 launchers, for 'pinging' steel plates, they just cannot be beat - no recoil - accurate - and 'ping'. I hate to think which one would go first... like that 5" 686+. I do keep an HKS 587A or two loaded with those FBI loads, and a trio of 10's for both the 66 and the 10. I keep SD loads ready in speedloaders/moonclips for all of my revolvers in a strategic - and unlocked - spot, while the revolvers are locked up.
I don't see another 686/+ in my future - that full lug dislike. I do see a 620, the 4" 66's replacement built on an L-frame and 686+ style 7-shot cylinder - but with a partial lug. It'd have to have some nice Ahrends, of course...
Stainz