Smith & Wesson 686

[mward58]

I prefer the 586 (Blue vs. Stainless) and have had 2 - 1 4" and 1 6" and am looking for another 4".  Love them.  Handle well, shoot great with the right loads but handles everything.

Go for it

Richard

Thanks Richard,

The one I am looking at  is a 4 inch and if I have read right it is pre 2001 since it does not have the internal lock. It looks lightly used and the price is right. Shop is willing to give me good money on my Uberti 357 single action as a trade. Have wanted to buy a good DA Revolver for a few years now, but did not really see one that I liked at the right price. This one tripped my trigger and the shop owner was willing to trade fairly.

[mward58]

One more thing. Have any of you 686 users bought new grips? Thinking of the exotic wood Hogues. Have you had any slippage with wood and if so does checkered grips solve the issue. Any help you knowledgeable wheelgunners can give me is appreciated!

[ericire12]

One more thing. Have any of you 686 users bought new grips? Thinking of the exotic wood Hogues. Have you had any slippage with wood and if so does checkered grips solve the issue. Any help you knowledgeable wheelgunners can give me is appreciated!

Never had any experience with Hogue's wood grips, but I have one of their soft rubber grips on my Colt .357 and I love it. I highly recommend it if you are looking to change out the grips.

[Dougdubya]

A 686 with .38 Specials is as good as a .22 revolver for training.

That's the joy of a revolver.  You can load it as light or as heavy as you want it.  A 686 with Cowboy-style .38's would be as gentle as possible for a new shooter.

And even for an experienced shooter, a fire-breating 125-grain SJHP is pure fun.

[m25operator]

The 686 is a true masterpiece, I've owned 3, and still have 1, a 6" bobbed hammer, trigger cocking only. It has over 60,000 rounds through it, I ringed the barrel just in front of the forcing cone , and it still shoots 1" at 25 yards with my match loads.  As to grips, I like the old Safariland plastic grips for competetion, it kind of squirts the gun into the right grip when drawing. I do use the Hogues, rubber and wood, the rubber ones I normally sand most of the finger grooves off and then round them for my hand, the factory spacing is too far apart for me. A lot of people favor the Miculek grip, but I've only found one pair that fit me, and they were on someone elses gun. If I could find another pair for sale, I would probably try them. I think you will truly enjoy your new L Frame.

[Sponsor]

[ellis4538]

Bought a set of Hogue wood grips long time ago and will put them on my 586/686 when I find one at the right price.  Haven't shot full power .357 with them but hot .38's are OK.

Richard

[Jkwas]

When I saw those Hogues on JayBethel's 686, I just had to pull my set out of storage and put them on my 64.

I like the pach grippers and my 64 came with the gripper pro's.  I found the pro's irritate my thumb shooting hot loads,

so it's back to the Hogues 

[mward58]

Has anyone replaced the front sight with Hi-Viz sights. I see some higher end production S & W's have them standard. Just wondering if you need a Smith to put them on or it is an easy job I can do.

[ellis4538]

If you have a pin on front site it shouldn't be too much of a problem if not you will need a smith. 

Richard

[gunman1911]

I carried the 586 as a LEO and I am damm glad I did as it saved my bacon quite a few times. Buy it you can not go wrong especially with 125 gr bullets, man is that thing accurate. But if it is used do like mnshooter advised and do a good look over on it.