The 686

[DougDubya]

What a lovely thread. Gorgeous pictures of awesome revolvers.

I seriously need to join this club.

 

[Evocatii]

I would like to hear how much such an operation would run as well.

 

[Snagglepuss]

An excellent, high quality handgun. Here's mine.

 

[Evocatii]

I must say, that 686+ looks sharp! What stocks do you have on it and where did you get it?

 

[Snagglepuss]

They are made by Hogue. Got them off of their outlet/auction site. I got them a few years ago and they were $50 or so. Looks like prices have gone up.

http://www.hogueauction.com/

Thanks for the kind words. It is a shooter.

 

[rollcage]

all this 686 porn!!! i love it. i actually purchased mine in dec. its a 686+ 6 inch. i absolutely loved my father-in-laws model 27 and i had to have something similiar but different, and the 686 fit the bill. for me anyways its SO easy to be accurate with that it really makes it a joy to shoot.

anyways heres my crappy pic, the flash made it look all jacked up but oh well

 

[Floppy_D]

I just got my 686-3, 6" barrel. Will post pics when I take 'em!

 

[Evocatii]

Can we get a list together of upgrades for the 686 that improve both looks and functions. Any favorites?

 

[Stainz]

Hmmm, how about starting with a 5" partially lugged 686+ - and adding a HiViz front sight - and an Ahrends square conversion fg cocobolo grip? Wait - that's how this thing was made - what a bargain that 'Stocking Dealer Exclusive' was! Oh - and a V-notch rear sight - not as important. Of course, as a plinker, mine also sports the lighter Wolff hammer and trigger return springs. Fun firearm, even if it only sees my .38s and wimpy .357s. Seriously, the grip is a great dress-up - and quite functional. Those Goodyears have got to go! The HiViz front sight has to be drilled to fit -then pinned.



Make that:

Ahrends square conversion fg cocobolo grips
Wolff springs
HiViz front sight
HKS #587 7 rd Speedloaders

Stainz

 

[Seven For Sure]

Stainz - That is the ultimate 686 for me. I've got a 2.5, 3, 4 and 6 inch - all +'s. I need that half lug 5"! Beautiful gun.

 

[LA Rondo]

Hi there!

Brand new member here. Just ran into this thread a couple of days ago.
Purchased my first firearm ever just a month ago.

Ofcourse it was clear to me, it had to be a Smith & Wesson revolver model 686 6" BBL.

Les Jones has a post on the web:

"If I had to make a choice for one gun only ... "

I'm glad to be in such fine company.

 

[Evocatii]

Welcome to the club. The 686 is a quality revolver.

 

[AStone]

I miss a 686.

The 4" didn't work for me.
Too front-end heavy.

So, I sold it,
and bought a 3" 65.

Nice revolver. It'll do.

But I want a 3" 686.

 

[Catherine]

Nice thread. I have one too! I don't know if I ever answered on THIS thread before and if I did... forgive me please.

Catherine

 

[Catherine]

Quote:

I miss a 686.

The 4" didn't work for me.
Too front-end heavy.

So, I sold it,
and bought a 3" 65.

Nice revolver. It'll do.

But I want a 3" 686.
~~~~~

Buy one! An early birthday or fill in the blanks present!

Catherine

 

[Oro]

Can we get a list together of upgrades for the 686 that improve both looks and functions. Any favorites?

None. The desirability starts with the 686 "no dash" of 1980 and goes down from there as production features were cheapened. However, there was little difference from the "no dash,", -1 and -2. Those were about equally desirable. The recall on the "no dash," and -1 on the firing pin bushing was nonsense - just politics the factory had to do to keep LE buyers happy after they abused a few guns with a legitimate problem (small batch of bad bushings). No-dash versions are desirable for their superb triggers and internal work quality.

If you can, buy a no dash, or -1 or -2. At -3, they deleted the nice wooden grips and started to alter the top strap to the newer rounded style. After that, it really went down hill with MIM parts, cheapened CNC finishing, and then finally the ILS system in 2000. Basically, it was the best when introduced then went gradually down from there.

 

[xring44]

I own or have owned several 686s, from the early no dash to the -6s, all were fine revolvers, I believe there are two currently in my safe, one a pre-lock 6" that is a joy to shoot, the other a 8 3/8" -5. The wood grips are pretty but if your buying it to shoot full house .357s in, the rubber grips are much more comfortable for extended periods of shooting. I use the 8 3/8 -5 shooting hunter silhouette, it has thousands of full power rounds through it and the hated lock has never failed, in fact the only failure of any kind took place after many thousand rounds, the ejector rod backed out slightly, was a easy fix and its accuracy is astounding. After all the use its seen, it still locks up tight and if the accuracy has degraded, its so slight that I can't detect it.

That said, it has to rate as one of the finest production .357s ever built.

 

[Evocatii]

I have a -6 in a 4" and it is a beauty. No complaints here. I have noticed the difference in trigger function when it is compared to my 19-3. The trigger has a different feel but is just as accurate and even smoother as I have put many more rounds through the 686. The one thing I don't like is the rubber stocks. I would rather have a nice set of wooden stocks which just happen to be in the mail. Ahrends Goncalo Alves Square Butt Smooth.

 

[vermilion]

Argh! Just went thru all 18 pages and not one pic of the new 686 SSR

 

[Confederate]

I have the no-dash version and I have to say I've never felt such a fine trigger on any revolver, even those slicked up Pythons. In fact, I have a 629 that has an almost identical trigger. Ice smooth and as light as a spring morn. Plus, today's production runs make the stainless finish look as though it were finished by gorillas with sandpaper (see Stainz's gun above). How can Taurus and Rossi put such nice finishes on their guns while today's stainless Smiths look so crappy?

 

[nambu1]

I have a 4" and 2". They are sweet to shot. I bought the 4" for the wife and a friend that I worked with sold me the 2", need the money. I think they are the best S&W ever made.

 

[Catherine]

Sweet firearm pictures and thanks for posting them!

Catherine

 

[kframe357]

Here is my entry.... 686 8 3/8"

 

[Oro]

From Confederate:

I have the no-dash version and I have to say I've never felt such a fine trigger on any revolver, even those slicked up Pythons. In fact, I have a 629 that has an almost identical trigger. Ice smooth and as light as a spring morn. Plus, today's production runs make the stainless finish look as though it were finished by gorillas with sandpaper

It's not as eloquent as I wish my prose would always be, but this, kids, is it. Listen to Confederate. I've had maybe 30 S&W revolvers over the years, from 1916 to 1986. I swear the finest factory trigger came on the 686 "no dash" and the only one that was nearly equal was a 1986 limited edition "Lew Horton" Special 629. And I totally agree about the finish. There's this weird cult about "bead blast" finish. Let's just call it what it is - "cheap." Put a fine finish on it and polish it or just admit you are cheaping out, OK? High polish blue, nickel, or polished stainless? Fine. Otherwise, sell it as a "Ruger," or a "Taurus," but don't foist this crap on us and call it "S&W."

If you want the finest work S&W did, you have two periods to go to - 1950 to 1969 (until Bangor Punta screwed it up), or 1980 to 1993 (when CNC and the last of the "old breed" machinists) recovered. When S&W put a lot effort into the 586/686 in 1980, they really invested all the best they had. Get one made from 1980 to 1990 while they are still affordable.

 

[frankt]

I am just updating my post from March of last year with upgrades and hopefully a picture.

I have added Ahrends grips, Millett rear sight and SDM Fiber Optic front. I have shot it a good bit in IDPA competition and it has worked perfectly for me w ith Safariland Comp III Speedloaders and a Talon Tactical Kydex holster.