Averius,
I guess it depends what you intend to do with your first revolver: range, home defense, concealed carry? The 686 is great for the range, but a bit heavy and bulky for concealed carry. I've always liked the 686's trigger (as compared to Ruger's GP100), the way that the gun handles during firing sessions, its accuracy; and the gun's overall quality. Quality that you can feel when you click the cylinder shut. Also, I prefer stainless steel over a blued revolver.
I'd recommend that you get an older, pre-lock 686. I don't know how the newer ones compare to the older 686s, but I'm not too fond of the lock and newer trigger system. About a year ago, I picked up a nice 686 with 8 3/8" barrel for $450 + tax, but the 8 3/8" are hard to come by and I think I did well price-wise.