The 686
- Thread starter g5reality
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glassman
Member
Before And After
I bought this 686 a few months ago but found the hogue grips too thin for my hand. Naturally, I came here to get advice. Hexidismal (sp?) said he had the same problem and recommended Badger grips. A few other of you guys offered other suggestion. Thanks to all of you for the input. After much thought and web searching, I decided on the classic grip and found them at www.eaglegrips.com. I like the look of the hogue but these grips make it look and feel a whole lot better. Thanks again to all of you who gave me advice.
BEFORE
AFTER
I bought this 686 a few months ago but found the hogue grips too thin for my hand. Naturally, I came here to get advice. Hexidismal (sp?) said he had the same problem and recommended Badger grips. A few other of you guys offered other suggestion. Thanks to all of you for the input. After much thought and web searching, I decided on the classic grip and found them at www.eaglegrips.com. I like the look of the hogue but these grips make it look and feel a whole lot better. Thanks again to all of you who gave me advice.
BEFORE
AFTER
glockman19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,700
dadof6,
Nice Grips
Great Choice.
Nice Grips
Stainz
Member
Dadof6,
Great choice for a 686(+)! I bought one new 'off the shelf' locally - I think it was three years back. It was a 'Stocking Dealer Exclusive' - and, oddly, was cheaper than the standard 4" 686". I use it - and my wimpy .357M's, mainly a Zero 125gr JHP I found a 'deal' on them!) over 4.2gr Titegroup in .357M cases - for 'Steel Plate Challenge'. It makes a comfortable all-day plate pinger at 850 fps. I bury the orange dot in the rear sight's vee for near plates - at the top for distance. A great trigger - and my replacing the the springs with lighter effort Wolffs made it a true joy to shoot.
My only other .357M is a 6" 66 I bought new 9/03 - and promptly added the squared Ahrends, HiViz front sight, and Wolff springs. Buying the later 5" h-l 686+ was a no-brainer. I want a 4" 686+ half lugger, too... but that would be a 620, I suppose!
Congratulations on a great 686+.
Stainz
PS Nearly forgot - other than some Remington & GA Arms 158gr +P LSWC(HP) personal defense loads, neither has ever seen a commercial load - and that was the hottest - no 'real' .357Ms, either.
Great choice for a 686(+)! I bought one new 'off the shelf' locally - I think it was three years back. It was a 'Stocking Dealer Exclusive' - and, oddly, was cheaper than the standard 4" 686". I use it - and my wimpy .357M's, mainly a Zero 125gr JHP I found a 'deal' on them!) over 4.2gr Titegroup in .357M cases - for 'Steel Plate Challenge'. It makes a comfortable all-day plate pinger at 850 fps. I bury the orange dot in the rear sight's vee for near plates - at the top for distance. A great trigger - and my replacing the the springs with lighter effort Wolffs made it a true joy to shoot.
My only other .357M is a 6" 66 I bought new 9/03 - and promptly added the squared Ahrends, HiViz front sight, and Wolff springs. Buying the later 5" h-l 686+ was a no-brainer. I want a 4" 686+ half lugger, too... but that would be a 620, I suppose!
Congratulations on a great 686+.
Stainz
PS Nearly forgot - other than some Remington & GA Arms 158gr +P LSWC(HP) personal defense loads, neither has ever seen a commercial load - and that was the hottest - no 'real' .357Ms, either.
warriorsociologist
Member
I love those new stocks/grips, Glassman!
glassman
Member
Thanks warrior. They're a lot beefier and fill my large hands better than the stock monogrips. I must have looked at hundreds of grips on the net in all shapes, sizes and finishes before deciding on these. The folks at eagle grips are great to deal with and they sent them out quickly. Ordered them by phone on a tuesday and they arrived in friday's mail.
jtrsr
Member
Nice, Glassman. You beat me to punch on the comparison pics. Well, here's my Bessie. She's a 686-6 with a 6" barrel, sportin' Eagle Grip's Heritage Series rosewood grips. I've only had her to the range once so far with the original Hogue Monogrips. I can't wait to try her with the new Eagle grips. She's definitely a keeper.
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frenchbushmaster
Member
I love this gun.
It is my first modern handgun.
As soon I'm 21 old (age limit for buy a modern handgun in France), I bought it.
Old today, but I dont want sell him.
It is my first modern handgun.
As soon I'm 21 old (age limit for buy a modern handgun in France), I bought it.
Old today, but I dont want sell him.
Magnum.35744
Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2007
- Messages
- 149
frenchbushmaster...
Very nice revolver and great photo taking skills you have there. Thanks for sharing!
-Tre
Very nice revolver and great photo taking skills you have there
. Thanks for sharing!-Tre
frenchbushmaster
Member
Thank's a lot Magnum.35744
I love my guns and since I know OLEG and friends of this forum photos quality, I try to be a better potographe me to.
Bye
I love my guns and since I know OLEG and friends of this forum photos quality, I try to be a better potographe me to.
Bye
glassman
Member
JTRSR..How's that for coincidence. They look real nice on your pistol and you'll definately notice the difference in performance. Good lookin gun.
DC3-CVN-72
Member
It's about time I joined this club. I have two model 686's, the 1st. is a 686-4 six shot with a 4 in. bbl. that I bought new to use as my duty gun when I worked for an armored transport co. after I got out of the NAVY, & the 2nd. is a 686-5 PP. six shot with a 6 in. bbl. no lock that I bought about 2 yrs ago used with the box & papers. they are both grate guns.
icy
Member
Visiting my friend and gun dealer last august we were naturally talking about handguns. He showed me a Glock, HS200 (Springfield Armory XD) but I just can't swallow plastic. When I told him this he went back to his safe and showed me with a tiny smile THE S&W 686-3! As I wanted this revolver since it was in production I exclaimed in the revolver time (new time unit less than one second when you see a new loved gun) "I'll take it!"
It takes a few months to obtain the necessary papers to purchase a gun here in Slovenia but here it is:
It takes a few months to obtain the necessary papers to purchase a gun here in Slovenia but here it is:
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prisoner6
Member
686-3 Classic Hunter
DAdams
Member
CS-1
Earlier pics I had taken were lame, with poor lighting and just didn't do this beauty justice. Some day I need some BBQ grips though.
Mid 80s vintage Customs Service. Three inch.
Earlier pics I had taken were lame, with poor lighting and just didn't do this beauty justice. Some day I need some BBQ grips though.
Mid 80s vintage Customs Service. Three inch.
jtrsr
Member
Glassman, Thank you for the compliment and for the note on performance. That should tease me enough to get me to the range even sooner.
Frenchbushmaster, that 2nd photo is a work of art and that revolver is gorgeous!
Frenchbushmaster, that 2nd photo is a work of art and that revolver is gorgeous!
jtrsr
Member
Here is another shot. I'll have to take one with better lighting and background next time...
rbgunning
Member
Holster Advice
I'm looking for a holster for a 686+. I'm thinking I want a belt holster, although it would be nice to have a holster that could be used with a backpack. I know nematocyst posted a similar question (post #174) but I don't see any responses.
I like the Galco D.A.O. They list a model for the "L frame 686". I assume this model will also fit the 686+? Is it safe to assume that any holster designed for the 686 will fit the 686+?
I'm looking for a holster for a 686+. I'm thinking I want a belt holster, although it would be nice to have a holster that could be used with a backpack. I know nematocyst posted a similar question (post #174) but I don't see any responses.
I like the Galco D.A.O. They list a model for the "L frame 686". I assume this model will also fit the 686+? Is it safe to assume that any holster designed for the 686 will fit the 686+?
warriorsociologist
Member
Yes.
The only difference is there is "one more hole" in the cylinder...well, that's the simplest way to characterize it, anyway.
prisoner6
Member
Updated: New Grips on the Classic Hunter
First post, might as well join a club! Here are some not so great pictures of my totally awesome 686-4, 6" ported barrel:
Of everything I own, it's my favorite.
What do the '-X' numbers mean? Why is my gun a -4 with a 6" barrel? Shouldn't it be a -6?
Of everything I own, it's my favorite.
What do the '-X' numbers mean? Why is my gun a -4 with a 6" barrel? Shouldn't it be a -6?
hexidismal
Member
Nope, the dash numbers on s&w guns are the manufacturing revisions. Look at post #325 of this thread for a more detailed explanation.
warriorsociologist
Member
"-4" refers to the design revision number. I think the current ones are "-6" and the first 686's had no "dash" (sometimes these are called "686-0 or "no dash" models...though, the stamping on these will say just 686). Your -4 was the last to have the hammer-mounted firing pin, and I believe it was also the first model where all were round-butt frames and the top straps were all drilled & tapped. FWIW, The 6" 686-4 7-shooters are my favorites.
briansp82593
Member
bump... hopefully i will be picking one up today
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