I had a wonderful 686-4 with a 4 inch barrel several years ago. Although I was mostly a 1911 guy, I really loved that gun. Had to sell it because my dog needed hip surgery and just needed the money. A few years ago I finally got a new 686+ with a 2.5 inch barrel. As much as I liked the added velocity of the longer barrel, the snubby was just much easier for my to conceal carry.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I am still a 1911 guy, and carry them whenever I can (in between carrying firearms that I review). I consider the 1911 and a good .357 magnum revolver, working men's guns.
I stumbled onto a slightly used 686+ several years ago. I have thoroughly enjoyed every second of owning this handgun. I shoot 357 mags that I have reloaded myself (slightly hotter than factory 158 grain hollow points) and have not experienced any issues with the cylinder.
@@RangeRoninChronicles My 686+ is a 3 incher. I was a little apprehensive about its accuracy in the beginning, with a shorter barrel, but my concerns were unfounded. It is impressively accurate for any length barrel. 😊😊😊
That’s a beautiful combination you have there with those grips. I must say, after watching many of your helpful reviews, you have some of the best revolver content on this platform. Thank you for sharing 😊
Thanks for watching and commenting. Both mean a lot. I have to say that I am jealous of you having a 686+ with a 3-inch barrel. Enjoy it, as it is an excellent firearm.😁
I have my dad's duty 586. When I first got it she looked horrible but I sent it to Smith and Wesson to get redone with a high polished bluing now its one of my most beautiful weapons.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Both mean a lot. After carrying a 686 as a duty weapon, and competing with it, it became one, if not the most, favorite that I have.
Thanks for watching and your kind words. The 686 is my favorite revolver, and I would like to purchase one in a 3-inch version, if funds ever allow it.
Thank you. I appreciate your watching and commenting. I try to pace my presentations to make them enjoyable to watch but not too much to put folks to sleep.😁
Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed it. I purchased a 4 inch 686-6 back in February and (without firing it once) sent it to Performance Center for their master trigger and action job. It shoots like a dream. If a person can only get one revolver, it should be this one (IMHO).
The 686+ does not have a "weaker cylinder because it contains one more round." The cylinder is physically larger in order to accommodate the extra round. Smith and Wesson is very clear about this point and states that the cylinder on the 686+ is actually stronger than the one on the 686 six shot model, which makes perfect engineering and common sense.
I'll be 60 in January and have never owned but one gun in my life, which I bought about two years ago nearly. The 686 Plus, Talo edition, with the 5-inch barrel. It's a joy to shoot, to look at, and to open carry here in Alabama. However, I'm thinking of moving up to the 6-incher.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. The 686 Plus is a fine handgun. I once bought the Talo Ruger GP100 in a 5-inch version, just to have something different than 4" and 6" version - kinda unique in its own way. A 686 Plus in a 3" and 6" would be enticing.
Thank you for watching and commenting. I just believe that every firearm has a story behind it - even if it is a new firearm. I appreciate it when somebody understands that.
Regarding the cylinder strength of the 686 vs 686+, according to SW, the 686+ is actually stronger. The weakest, thinnest part of the cylinder is where the cut is made for the cylinder notch. On the 686+, the cut is in-between the chambers where the steel is thickest whereas with the 686, the notch is cut right next to each chamber, leaving a very thin amount of steel and creating a weak spot. Makes sense I suppose, but I haven't seen any issues with either.
Thanks for watching and your comment. I know about the offset cut with the 686+, as compared to the 686. And, like you, I have not read or heard of any issues with either.
I haven't heard of any issues either... I'm guessing because it's made out of forged steel. 💪 The little cylinder notches are too small to realistically affect anything, I'm thinking.
If you want to see examples of the bolt notch being the failure point, you have to look at colt single action army revolvers. That's where they figured out that the cylinder walls are not the weak point. The 686+ can take a steady diet of the hottest factory 357 mag and outlast the shooter doing it!!!
Brother I have the 686-6 3 inch barrel Talo edition unfluted cylinder black and silver wood grips. Brought it December 2022😊 it is sweet I CC ALL THE TIME keep on shooting 👍🏿🎯👍🏿
Great information I bought mine in December 2022 . 3INCH barrel unfluted cylinder Talo edition unfluted cylinder black and silver wood grips sweet!! Love it 👍🏿
@@RangeRoninChronicles My late wife also loved that gun. When we would talk about what she was going to do with my guns when I was gone she would always say she would sell them except for the 686, it was her gun! She passed away 11 years ago. When I shoot that gun today it is always in her memory.
@@larrymcclure3842 As with you, I have firearms in my safe that were left to me when my former wife passed away. When I touch them, memories of the days we had shooting them flood my mind. A Dan Wesson .357 magnum Model 15 is among them, and I remember that she was a better shot with it than I was. Cherished memories, for sure.
I think that if I could only have one gun it would be my Smith and Wesson 629 classic deluxe 44 mag. It has a 6.5 inch barrel, and while being large is still packable for me as a belt or chest rig gun, and it's very accurate and surprisingly shootable even with full power 44 mags
It was a hard choice though as I also have a 7.5 inch Ruger Redhawk 44 mag that's absolutely wonderful and the trigger and action are almost as nice as my smith, but not quite. Honestly I love both. Going to bear country I'd get a heavy hard cast north of 300gr and take my Ruger as it's a rugged tank of a beast, but most shooting I prefer the Smith as it's just smoother and more svelt!!!
Thanks for watching. Not sure if that is true. What S&W did do was to offset the flutes so that they were centered between chambers, thus providing more strength to the cylinder. If you look at the 686 plus, you will see that the flutes are inline with the cocking detent(s); whereas, on the standard 686, the flutes are offset to the locking detent(s). With that said, when you look at holsters for the 686 there are usually holsters for the 686 and there are holsters for the 686 Plus. I am going to assume (at this point) that the cylinder is probably a bit larger to accommodate that seventh round. I'll try to get a hold of a 686 Plus and measure the diameter of the cylinder.
@@johnsimms818 I have an answer for you. The cylinder diameter of the 686 Plus measured out at 1.5600-inches. The cylinder diameter of the 686 Plus measured out at 1.5615-inches. In other words, there is no discernible difference between cylinder diameters.
Don’t,know about that,but they sure are nice.I am generally,sensitive to recoil in general,but,Inthink,the .357 magnum,is very comfortable,to shoot,in a Smith,L frame. Thank you for the video lwell done!
Thanks for watching and for commenting. I agree that the 686 is accurate...much more accurate than I can make it be these days. I need a lot more trigger time than I am able to give this one, before I can get my confidence back when shooting it. It is a great handling hand gun.
Thank you. By the way, I see that you are from Michigan. What Part? I was born in Alpena and raised in Onaway, Bay City, and Detroit. I left home at 16 without any shoes, was employed by the U. S. of Army at 17, and stayed in the South after that employment ended 11 years later. I still miss Northern Michigan, especially the UP, but only in the summer and fall. Detroit...I don't miss at all.
Thanks for watching and your comment. They go a long way in keeping this channel alive and well, and are greatly appreciated. While the rubber grips are fine for utility use, those wood grips just add a bit of class, don' you think?
@@RangeRoninChronicles Absolutely ! Don't want to mess them up at the range. I have the Smith and a GP100 and try to keep them nice. Great shooting by the way !
@@lens7859 Thanks for the compliment. My eyes are getting old and my hands a bit shaky. Have you checked out my review on the GP100? If not, please do. Ruger GP100 - A Massive Handgun for the Masses! (REMIX): th-cam.com/video/T7y8pbmFq1g/w-d-xo.html
@@RangeRoninChronicles I did, I was the one mentioning that my reloads fit in the 686 but are tight in the Ruger. My wife said that you are easy to listen to, great voice!
Thanks for watching and commenting. They make a difference. I am a one-man, no-budget operation that enjoys developing quality gun and gear reviews. Every now and then I may get a loaner, or spend time at my range with a rental, but that is the extent of it.
I like your program and just subscribed. I am considering a 686 4” or…. same in 44mag. Last revolver I had was a Ruger Bisley 7.5” barrel in 41 mag. and I liked that one. Any pros or cons regarding the Smiths ?
Thank you very much for watching, subscribing, and for your question. Having run a 686 in competition, carried for duty use, and shot for pleasure, I have high praises for the 686 (or 686+ for that matter). Some folks do not like the key-lock feature on the left side of the gun just above the cylinder latch. I can't say that it helps the aesthetics any, but I have had no issues with it being there and it is never used. As I mentioned in the review, the grip on mine had been replaced with something more my liking but the rubber grip that come with the gun are just fine. The 686 is well-balanced with the 4-inch barrel and handles well at the range (or for other purposes). For .44 magnum, the Model 29/629 or Model 69 would be the revolver. The Model 57, chambered in .41 magnum might suit your fancy of a more classic look is desired. The 585/686 is only chambered for the .38 Special/.357 magnum cartridges. Some folks have questioned the quality of Smith & Wesson handguns of late, but I have had no issues with any S&W that I own, including the Bodyguard 380, or 1911 E Series or Performance Center 9mm that I own. If you have a local gun shop and/or range that has a 586/686 as a rental, try one out. That would be the best indicator if the 586/686 would be worthy of falling into your hands.
The advantage of using the .357 125 grain HP Magnum is that, if hit in the right spot, one only needs to shoot one bullet per bad guy as compared to the 6-8 bullets needed from the 9mm to do the same thing.
Thanks for watching and your comment. I used to have a saying that, "It takes 9 rounds of 9mm to equal 5 rounds of .45 ACP" (using my convoluted math [5 x 9 = 45]). With that said, and with some experience in the field and viewing a couple of gunshot bad guys, I have to agree with Masad Ayoob when he said that it is not what you shoot, but the mindset of the person being shot. After viewing an autopsy of a person high on PCP, and shot with 27-rounds of 9mm 124-grain JHP, and the ME's statement that the only reason the person died was due to loss of blood pressure due to "bleeding out," that statement from Mr. Ayoob has a lot of truth in it.
@@RangeRoninChronicles All Handgun bullets are inferior to the shotgun and rifle bullets, therefore, as has been said before, one must use the handgun to be able to get to the shotgun or rifle to stop the threat. When the Mossberg Shockwave came out I thought that all Police would now carry it attached to their belts as it could bring enormous firepower into play rapidly.
@@RangeRoninChronicles Please do continue. Please don't be offended because I'm 62 myself but, I felt like I was listening to grandpa telling stories. It's relaxing and informative.
@@PileofBrass No offense taken. I feel that from aside of the technical aspects of a given firearm, I yearn for a different way of presenting reviews of selected firearms. My approach is somewhat different from other folks who review firearms. I just hope that viewers appreciate my different approach to taking a relatively boring subject and trying to make it as informative and entertaining as I can.
Look for police trade ins. The vast majority of LE officers do not take care of their sidearms and tend to only shoot them when forced to qualify. Some cleaning or send off to the factory and you usually get a workable gun and cheap.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree, a Smith & Wesson 627 Pro, 4", 8rd, .357 Magnum would be hard to beat, the cost of which not withstanding. I would find it a bit more difficult to conceal vs. the 686, though. But 8-rounds of .357 magnum is enticing.
I would and take the 7 shot 686+ over the 6 shot any day!!! You not only gain another round of butt kicking 357 magnum, but the 7 shot has a better trigger from the factory because the cylinder had a shorter distance to be turned.
Thanks for watching and for your question. All grips shown are available through Hogue Grips (www.hogueinc.com/grips/smith-wesson/k-l-frame-revolvers/hardwood-grips).
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree that it is a great gun. In fact, I would recommend one for a person's first defensive revolver, which would seem to be a controversial recommendation by some.
I always recommend a revolvers to people there so simple to operate and clean. I have had some issues with semi autos in the past and that doesn't instill confidence with me. 🤠
You know I have heard about the Colt Python have a weak action myself. But I have never seen any actual proof of it. I currently own a vintage Colt Python and it has yet to give me any problems at all whatsoever. I have spoken with many many other Colt Python enthusiasts and owners. Literally not one of them have reported any issues with their specific models. I feel the claims of the Python having a weak action is exactly just that claims. Made by weird brand loyalists that have some strange affliction to defend their purchase. Simply to make themselves feel better about their choice of firearm. Personally I enjoy them all and I plan on picking up a 586 to add to my collection. I think between the 3 main revolvers of the time Ruger, Smith&Wesson, Colt a person cannot go wrong with any one of them.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree with you. I know three folks with Pythons and they are all great shooters with no issues. The S&W 586 would make a fie addition to the collection.
You had me until the unfounded trash talk about the 686+. Unless a 7 shot 686 has blown up in your hand, you're just passing erroneous gossip. I have over 2k rounds through my 686+ and even more through my 627 8 shot. Although it's an N Frame, the cylinder tolerances are quite small in order to fit 8 cartridges. I'm only saying this because in war, I've carried and used the 9mm's. The only thing a 9mm has going fir it in the civillian world is capacity. I prefer the 357 cartridge hands down.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I only said it to get a rise out of some😁. I also have the seven shot 686, Taurus 627 and M66. All are fine guns.The .357 Magnum is one of the best all around cartridges out there.
Thanks for watching and for your question. Check out beta.altamontco.com/pistol-grips/smith-and-wesson/k-round. I have also put a link in the Description section.
Thanks for watching and commenting. It's not the gun but the ammunition being fired through it. In some cases, there was key-holing but most did not. I don't worry too much about key-holing with range ammunition. Key-holing with defensive ammunition can have its benefits, but I can't get into that here.
Thanks for watching and your question. I believe the 586 to be just as good as the 686. While there is nothing more beautiful than polished blued-steel, I just prefer polished stainless steel - from a maintenance standpoint. I don't worry about harming the blueing when I am removing all the carbon from a stainless-steel firearm.
@@RangeRoninChronicles, the burn marks on the stainless steel cylinder don’t bug you ? I’ve found that mag wheel polish takes them right off, but it’s a nuisance to have another step at cleaning time
@moreme40 Actually, they bug the hell out of me. That may have been a picture of when I brought the 686 home from the range the first time after purchasing it. It was cleaned up, of course, and thoroughly checked over. I use both Mother's Mag Wheel Polish and Flitz to clean things up.
@@RangeRoninChronicles Mother's is a great product. Very light application needed for the most stubborn wheel burn stains, & good as new 👍 I use it on my 4" stainless Ruger GP100
@@JudahMaccabee_ Same here - and on my S&W Model 617, Ruger SP101 - anything shiny stainless. A couple of my stainless-steel 1911s have been "Mothered" as well.
The internet sure shortens distance, doesn't it? Thanks for watching and commenting. Civil War flap holster? Try here - www.theleatherholstershop.com/product/american-civil-war-holster-with-flap. There are also other resources if you search the internet for them.
NO!!! The unneeded lawyer lock and stupidly ugly reshaped cylinder release thumbpiece have chased me away from any new model S&W revolver. I will buy only older Smiths now, and they are far superior to the new ones. If you feel the need to smooth up the trigger any, just spend less than $20 on a Wolff spring kit (mainspring and rebound spring, and you are done. All of my S&W revolvers are 80's or earlier models, and I also have two Colt Police Positives from the 1920's that are excellent shooters. There WAS a time when handgun craftsmen were really good, AND their products were affordable. No longer. Not to mention, a revolver doesn't depend on not finding any defective ammo or magazines. There was ONE great semiauto that S&W made, and I still have mine from the 80's ----- an original Model 645. That damn gun could feed empty cases from the magazine into the chamber, and it replaced the Colt Combat Commander in .45ACP that I had been carrying on duty just previously.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree with you on all counts. THE S&W 645 is a fine firearm and I regret selling mine. The oldies are still the best.
@@RangeRoninChronicles From a legal stand point it is not good if it comes out in court. Opposing attorney will say if you had the time to stage the trigger then there was not that much of a threat.if you had the time to take to stage the trigger. I know more than one lawyer and most are Democrats and I tend to know their tricks to convince juries to find you at fault. Luckily in my medium sized midwest town the County Attorney talks to you before anything going to trial. Most of the time he finds that most shootings are done in legal self defense, so your case likely does not go before a court and jury. The case is over right there if it is justified.
@@Rob-xj3xh Thanks for your thoughts. Staging a trigger is not a common practice; many do not know what it is. I consider "staging" as a pause in order to (1.) Determine if I need to take the shot, (2.) Allow me a window of opportunity to back off the trigger if need be, and (3.) If I must take the shot, the revolver is still in double-action mode and (hopefully) a more accurate shot can be taken, thus lessening possible collateral damage. An absolute no-no is placing a double-action revolver in single-action mode for defensive purposes; that screams premeditation. In most defensive uses involving a revolver, there is no time to stage a trigger and sometimes not even enough time to use the sights. It has been a fact of study that an untrained user of a handgun, revolver or pistol, will not squeeze the trigger - it is a jerking of the trigger in a panicked flash of time. I do agree with you on tricks used by a prosecuting attorney. Having representation and expert testimony, by those who are both well-versed in firearm's usage and aware of prosecutor's tactics, on one's side is critical for one's defense. Being a former LEO, I am not an expert but am somewhat knowledgeable regarding the criminal justice system. What is best is not getting into a situation that will result in being involved in that system; it is a nightmare.
How loud is the 4” barrel shooting the 357 magnum?, without hearing protection? Meaning, yes I know all bullets are loud, but what’s it like shooting them in real life, as opposed to 9mm or 45 acp? And of course outdoors as opposed to indoors. I’m guessing one wouldn’t want to shoot indoors at all without hearing protection? I wonder how police back in the day handled things, and should a citizen carry 357 magnum and be prepared to shoot indoors, or even outdoors without expecting serious hearing damage. Everyone has a different opinion on Internet forums so I thought to ask here.
First of all, thanks for watching and your question, as it is an important question and I will try to answer it without getting all technical, which I am not qualified to do anyway. But, from experience when I was a LEO and had to light off a 12-gauge indoors without hearing protection, I can attest to extreme loss of hearing after that happened. I can still hear fine, between tinnitus and the voices in my head, but the level at which I hear, and the tones that I hear, have been severely impacted. Auditory Exclusion is a subject that you need to research. It is real, is a body's response to stress, and is beneficial to survival in the short run. The long-term impact is not beneficial, however. I keep a set of digital headphones with my house-gun. If the gun is grabbed - so are the headphones. The volume can be adjusted so that I can hear things, but the moment a gun is fired, they lessen the impact of the noise. While out and about among the English, however, wearing headphones might bring some strange glances. If you are ever faced with a self-defense situation, the body will try to protect itself, but you must wade through the myriad of things that are about to take place to live through it. As much as I hate to admit it, one of the best pieces of advice I ever heard coming from a movie was from "The Outlaw Josie Wales" when this was said, " Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you’re not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. ‘Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That’s just the way it is." This is the only way I know to prepare for a close encounter of the worse kind. The repercussion of being involved in a self-defense shooting is just not legal and civil. There is also the PTSD that follows. That is a topic for a different day. Now, here is something weird. My second wife's parents were both deaf and mute, but when we went to a range, they wore hearing protection. While the sound of gunfire they could not hear but a muffle, they could feel a pressure shift in the air because of muzzle blast and the hearing protection reduced the pressure. I was amazed at this when they told me about it (ASL). I hope I helped, but probably not. On a lighter ending note, my current wife tells me that I don't hear what she is saying to me - that's voluntary and selective auditory exclusion😁.
@@RangeRoninChronicles thank you so much for your response. So yes I definitely will need to assure I have earpro or something similar for home defense. And indeed not too many people in gun videos really emphasize that enough. And as for outdoors, just do what needs to be done and have the fortitude to do so. Also I liked your Amish reference to being amongst the English. I am a long haul truck driver living in northern Idaho for now and I go to northern Wisconsin a lot, and in both places there are many mennonites and Amish (mennonites in northern Idaho and both in Wisconsin). I love being around them, and I admire them greatly. But yes with revolvers I've always gone back and forth between 38sp and 357 magnum because of this reason, always wondering how the state troopers and deputies of the last generation had to deal with the noise issues from both. Anyway thank you for your kind response.
You are more than welcome. I hope that I could help in a small way. I have been to the indoor range when, at times, someone brings in a .500 or .460 to shoot. I hate it when they do that. There I be, feeling calm while firing my little 9mm, .45 ACP, whatever while humming some "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" and something akin to a sonic boom from a F22 fills the air. It can really harsh the calm! Although I have lost quite a bit of my hearing, I am hyper-sensitive to sharp, loud noises. I have been told that my eardrum is not as flexible as it was when I was young and does not bend to the "waves" as well as it should. Several times a day, I have to pop my eardrums (hold the nose and blow) to restore some of the hearing, which does not always work because of a perforated eardrum in one ear; instead of a pop I get a squeal. Someone once told me that if I had to fire a gun in or outdoors without hearing protection to keep my mouth open while doing so. I'll pass on that one. Keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down. My Half-Brother pulled a reefer from Green Bay to Chicago and back-haul for twenty-odd years and then finally retired. Too many years in the saddle took its toll on him - died a year into retirement. As a close - if you obtain a copy of "Stressfire, Vol. 1 (Gunfighting for Police: Advanced Tactics and Techniques) Paperback - June 1, 1986" by Massad Ayoob (www.amazon.com/Stressfire-Vol-Gunfighting-Police-Techniques/dp/0936279036) do so.
Well, thank you for your kind remark. For someone who's channel is lacking content, you are quick to jump on the criticism bandwagon. Before you "advise" me on something, perhaps you should trod in my moccasins for a bit and create some content of your own. At least earn the credentials to criticize before you do. I would appreciate that. 😁
I had a wonderful 686-4 with a 4 inch barrel several years ago. Although I was mostly a 1911 guy, I really loved that gun. Had to sell it because my dog needed hip surgery and just needed the money. A few years ago I finally got a new 686+ with a 2.5 inch barrel. As much as I liked the added velocity of the longer barrel, the snubby was just much easier for my to conceal carry.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I am still a 1911 guy, and carry them whenever I can (in between carrying firearms that I review). I consider the 1911 and a good .357 magnum revolver, working men's guns.
How does it shoot?... I've got the big ole 6", lol.
Cuz the dog needed surgery?😂😂😂😂 screw that.
I stumbled onto a slightly used 686+ several years ago. I have thoroughly enjoyed every second of owning this handgun.
I shoot 357 mags that I have reloaded myself (slightly hotter than factory 158 grain hollow points) and have not experienced any issues with the cylinder.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I would like to find, and also afford one when one is found, a 3-inch version. No luck, as yet.
@@RangeRoninChronicles
My 686+ is a 3 incher.
I was a little apprehensive about its accuracy in the beginning, with a shorter barrel, but my concerns were unfounded. It is impressively accurate for any length barrel.
😊😊😊
Okay, now I am envious 😁.
This is the best gun I've ever owned.
That’s a beautiful combination you have there with those grips. I must say, after watching many of your helpful reviews, you have some of the best revolver content on this platform. Thank you for sharing 😊
I thank you for watching and for your kind words.
I recently bought the 686 Plus deluxe 3" as my first .357 ever. Can't be happier with both the looks and the performance of this beast!
Thanks for watching and commenting. Both mean a lot. I have to say that I am jealous of you having a 686+ with a 3-inch barrel. Enjoy it, as it is an excellent firearm.😁
I have my dad's duty 586. When I first got it she looked horrible but I sent it to Smith and Wesson to get redone with a high polished bluing now its one of my most beautiful weapons.
Shes not a weapon... shes a lovely date! Dont be so crude young man! Hold her tight and keep her steady on her dressy heels!
I love my 686+ so much that I went out and bought the performance center. 686 as well Smith and Wesson makes quality revolvers.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Both mean a lot. After carrying a 686 as a duty weapon, and competing with it, it became one, if not the most, favorite that I have.
I have the SW 686+ seven shot and a SW model 66 six shooter. Both of them are excellent and reliable revolvers.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree - both are excellent revolvers.
I appreciate, your full in-depth understanding of the 686.. I think my mind's made up! Thanx!
Thank you, sir. I appreciate your watching. The 686 (standard six-round or + seven-round) would serve you well.
@@RangeRoninChronicles there Are not many Ronin left, and I see you have found the master that lives within!
Your welcome Be safe and well..
👍 Great video about a great revolver! S&W really got it right with the 686/586 357. I have 686+ 3” barrel that is excellent in all respects.
Thanks for watching and your kind words. The 686 is my favorite revolver, and I would like to purchase one in a 3-inch version, if funds ever allow it.
I appreciate this, sir. It's refreshing to have a slower pace. With that said, this video was entertaining and informative, so it flew by.
Thank you. I appreciate your watching and commenting. I try to pace my presentations to make them enjoyable to watch but not too much to put folks to sleep.😁
Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed it. I purchased a 4 inch 686-6 back in February and (without firing it once) sent it to Performance Center for their master trigger and action job. It shoots like a dream. If a person can only get one revolver, it should be this one (IMHO).
Thank you for watching and your comment. It is my favorite.
The 686+ does not have a "weaker cylinder because it contains one more round." The cylinder is physically larger in order to accommodate the extra round. Smith and Wesson is very clear about this point and states that the cylinder on the 686+ is actually stronger than the one on the 686 six shot model, which makes perfect engineering and common sense.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree with you. I apologize if I led anyone astray.
❤❤
I'll be 60 in January and have never owned but one gun in my life, which I bought about two years ago nearly. The 686 Plus, Talo edition, with the 5-inch barrel. It's a joy to shoot, to look at, and to open carry here in Alabama. However, I'm thinking of moving up to the 6-incher.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. The 686 Plus is a fine handgun. I once bought the Talo Ruger GP100 in a 5-inch version, just to have something different than 4" and 6" version - kinda unique in its own way. A 686 Plus in a 3" and 6" would be enticing.
Why go from 5” to 6” ? I don’t get it. If anything go to 3” for easier carry. ✌️
I enjoyed your format of telling a story as you talk about your firearm.
Best Wishes from Montana! M.H.
Thank you for watching and commenting. I just believe that every firearm has a story behind it - even if it is a new firearm. I appreciate it when somebody understands that.
Regarding the cylinder strength of the 686 vs 686+, according to SW, the 686+ is actually stronger. The weakest, thinnest part of the cylinder is where the cut is made for the cylinder notch. On the 686+, the cut is in-between the chambers where the steel is thickest whereas with the 686, the notch is cut right next to each chamber, leaving a very thin amount of steel and creating a weak spot. Makes sense I suppose, but I haven't seen any issues with either.
Thanks for watching and your comment. I know about the offset cut with the 686+, as compared to the 686. And, like you, I have not read or heard of any issues with either.
I haven't heard of any issues either... I'm guessing because it's made out of forged steel. 💪 The little cylinder notches are too small to realistically affect anything, I'm thinking.
If you want to see examples of the bolt notch being the failure point, you have to look at colt single action army revolvers. That's where they figured out that the cylinder walls are not the weak point. The 686+ can take a steady diet of the hottest factory 357 mag and outlast the shooter doing it!!!
Have one, love it.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Both keep the channel going and growing.
Brother I have the 686-6 3 inch barrel Talo edition unfluted cylinder black and silver wood grips. Brought it December 2022😊 it is sweet I CC ALL THE TIME keep on shooting 👍🏿🎯👍🏿
Thanks for watching and commenting. I am envious😁!
Great information I bought mine in December 2022 . 3INCH barrel unfluted cylinder Talo edition unfluted cylinder black and silver wood grips sweet!! Love it 👍🏿
Thanks for watching and commenting. That sounds like a sweet 686, alright.
I have often said that if I could only have one gun it would be the 686.
Thanks for watching. I have leaned to the 686 many times. Although I like the 586, stainless-steel will always win out for me.
@@RangeRoninChronicles My late wife also loved that gun. When we would talk about what she was going to do with my guns when I was gone she would always say she would sell them except for the 686, it was her gun! She passed away 11 years ago. When I shoot that gun today it is always in her memory.
@@larrymcclure3842 As with you, I have firearms in my safe that were left to me when my former wife passed away. When I touch them, memories of the days we had shooting them flood my mind. A Dan Wesson .357 magnum Model 15 is among them, and I remember that she was a better shot with it than I was. Cherished memories, for sure.
I think that if I could only have one gun it would be my Smith and Wesson 629 classic deluxe 44 mag. It has a 6.5 inch barrel, and while being large is still packable for me as a belt or chest rig gun, and it's very accurate and surprisingly shootable even with full power 44 mags
It was a hard choice though as I also have a 7.5 inch Ruger Redhawk 44 mag that's absolutely wonderful and the trigger and action are almost as nice as my smith, but not quite. Honestly I love both. Going to bear country I'd get a heavy hard cast north of 300gr and take my Ruger as it's a rugged tank of a beast, but most shooting I prefer the Smith as it's just smoother and more svelt!!!
It is my understanding that the seven shot model has a slightly larger cylinder to accommodate the seven shot ,might be worth it to check with Smith.
Thanks for watching. Not sure if that is true. What S&W did do was to offset the flutes so that they were centered between chambers, thus providing more strength to the cylinder. If you look at the 686 plus, you will see that the flutes are inline with the cocking detent(s); whereas, on the standard 686, the flutes are offset to the locking detent(s). With that said, when you look at holsters for the 686 there are usually holsters for the 686 and there are holsters for the 686 Plus. I am going to assume (at this point) that the cylinder is probably a bit larger to accommodate that seventh round. I'll try to get a hold of a 686 Plus and measure the diameter of the cylinder.
Great because I would really like to know for sure as I am going to purchase a 686 only decision left is 6 or 7 rounds and thanks for checking.
@@johnsimms818 I'll be at the range today. I believe that they have a 7-shot 686 for rent. If so, I'll see if they can mic out the cylinder.
Thanks !that would greatly appreciated. Always good too check out such information.
@@johnsimms818 I have an answer for you. The cylinder diameter of the 686 Plus measured out at 1.5600-inches. The cylinder diameter of the 686 Plus measured out at 1.5615-inches. In other words, there is no discernible difference between cylinder diameters.
ABSOLUTELY GREAT JOB SIR! 👍
Thank you. I appreciate your support!
i Just bought a 686-6 with a 3.5 inch barrel, have not seen another.
Thanks for watching. A 3.5-inch version is, indeed, an odd bird.
686+ 4" best handgun ever made
Thanks for watching and commenting. Hopefully one day I will have one.
Don’t,know about that,but they sure are nice.I am generally,sensitive to recoil in general,but,Inthink,the .357 magnum,is very comfortable,to shoot,in a Smith,L frame.
Thank you for the video lwell done!
Thanks for the great video! I enjoyed the stories.
Thanks for watching and for your comment. Both are greatly appreciated.
686 is the best ever❤
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. I agree. It is a workhorse and not a show horse.
Inherited my grandfather's 686-3, things a tack driver.
Thanks for watching and for commenting. I agree that the 686 is accurate...much more accurate than I can make it be these days. I need a lot more trigger time than I am able to give this one, before I can get my confidence back when shooting it. It is a great handling hand gun.
GREAT GUN
Dammit. "A few words from my sponsors..." 🤣 Started the video out with a laugh and enjoyed the rest all the way through. Well done.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Yes sir, this channel is void of being monetized or sponsored.
I love my 686+. I have the Thompson wood grips and its super sexy.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree; the 686+ is a fine handgun.
Great vid!
Thank you. By the way, I see that you are from Michigan. What Part? I was born in Alpena and raised in Onaway, Bay City, and Detroit. I left home at 16 without any shoes, was employed by the U. S. of Army at 17, and stayed in the South after that employment ended 11 years later. I still miss Northern Michigan, especially the UP, but only in the summer and fall. Detroit...I don't miss at all.
Have a 686 plus deluxe, and I love it ! Use a set of rubber grips for range use and keep the wood grips for looking pretty.
Thanks for watching and your comment. They go a long way in keeping this channel alive and well, and are greatly appreciated. While the rubber grips are fine for utility use, those wood grips just add a bit of class, don' you think?
@@RangeRoninChronicles Absolutely ! Don't want to mess them up at the range. I have the Smith and a GP100 and try to keep them nice. Great shooting by the way !
@@lens7859 Thanks for the compliment. My eyes are getting old and my hands a bit shaky. Have you checked out my review on the GP100? If not, please do. Ruger GP100 - A Massive Handgun for the Masses! (REMIX): th-cam.com/video/T7y8pbmFq1g/w-d-xo.html
@@RangeRoninChronicles I did, I was the one mentioning that my reloads fit in the 686 but are tight in the Ruger.
My wife said that you are easy to listen to, great voice!
@@lens7859 I thank you and your wife for joining me in this journey of mine. Your kind words are what keep me going.
Love the sponsor bit
Thanks for watching and commenting. They make a difference. I am a one-man, no-budget operation that enjoys developing quality gun and gear reviews. Every now and then I may get a loaner, or spend time at my range with a rental, but that is the extent of it.
I like your program and just subscribed. I am considering a 686 4” or…. same in 44mag.
Last revolver I had was a Ruger Bisley 7.5” barrel in 41 mag. and I liked that one. Any pros or cons regarding the Smiths ?
Thank you very much for watching, subscribing, and for your question. Having run a 686 in competition, carried for duty use, and shot for pleasure, I have high praises for the 686 (or 686+ for that matter). Some folks do not like the key-lock feature on the left side of the gun just above the cylinder latch. I can't say that it helps the aesthetics any, but I have had no issues with it being there and it is never used. As I mentioned in the review, the grip on mine had been replaced with something more my liking but the rubber grip that come with the gun are just fine. The 686 is well-balanced with the 4-inch barrel and handles well at the range (or for other purposes).
For .44 magnum, the Model 29/629 or Model 69 would be the revolver. The Model 57, chambered in .41 magnum might suit your fancy of a more classic look is desired. The 585/686 is only chambered for the .38 Special/.357 magnum cartridges.
Some folks have questioned the quality of Smith & Wesson handguns of late, but I have had no issues with any S&W that I own, including the Bodyguard 380, or 1911 E Series or Performance Center 9mm that I own.
If you have a local gun shop and/or range that has a 586/686 as a rental, try one out. That would be the best indicator if the 586/686 would be worthy of falling into your hands.
I have 2 686 a 3 inch and a 4 inch both are amazing
The advantage of using the .357 125 grain HP Magnum is that, if hit in the right spot, one only needs to shoot one bullet per bad guy as compared to the 6-8 bullets needed from the 9mm to do the same thing.
Thanks for watching and your comment. I used to have a saying that, "It takes 9 rounds of 9mm to equal 5 rounds of .45 ACP" (using my convoluted math [5 x 9 = 45]). With that said, and with some experience in the field and viewing a couple of gunshot bad guys, I have to agree with Masad Ayoob when he said that it is not what you shoot, but the mindset of the person being shot. After viewing an autopsy of a person high on PCP, and shot with 27-rounds of 9mm 124-grain JHP, and the ME's statement that the only reason the person died was due to loss of blood pressure due to "bleeding out," that statement from Mr. Ayoob has a lot of truth in it.
@@RangeRoninChronicles All Handgun bullets are inferior to the shotgun and rifle bullets, therefore, as has been said before, one must use the handgun to be able to get to the shotgun or rifle to stop the threat. When the Mossberg Shockwave came out I thought that all Police would now carry it attached to their belts as it could bring enormous firepower into play rapidly.
@@northshores7319 Agreed. However, with all of the equipment that LEOs carry, they would need an assistant to carry the weight.😁
@@RangeRoninChronicles Good One!
Really good video. Thank you.
Thanks for watching and your kind words. Both mean quite a bit in my continuing the channel.
@@RangeRoninChronicles Please do continue. Please don't be offended because I'm 62 myself but, I felt like I was listening to grandpa telling stories. It's relaxing and informative.
@@PileofBrass No offense taken. I feel that from aside of the technical aspects of a given firearm, I yearn for a different way of presenting reviews of selected firearms. My approach is somewhat different from other folks who review firearms. I just hope that viewers appreciate my different approach to taking a relatively boring subject and trying to make it as informative and entertaining as I can.
Look for police trade ins. The vast majority of LE officers do not take care of their sidearms and tend to only shoot them when forced to qualify. Some cleaning or send off to the factory and you usually get a workable gun and cheap.
Great video.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment.
Ruger GP100 is the best all around revolver today.
I won't argue with that. The GP is a little bulkier and heavier than the 686. Both are excellent revolvers.
i like model 627.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree, a Smith & Wesson 627 Pro, 4", 8rd, .357 Magnum would be hard to beat, the cost of which not withstanding. I would find it a bit more difficult to conceal vs. the 686, though. But 8-rounds of .357 magnum is enticing.
I have a retired N.M.S.P. 686 & its not for sale!
I would and take the 7 shot 686+ over the 6 shot any day!!! You not only gain another round of butt kicking 357 magnum, but the 7 shot has a better trigger from the factory because the cylinder had a shorter distance to be turned.
Thanks for watching and commenting. If I were to buy a 686 today, it would be a 7-round version.
of the three grips shown, who makes the one on the far right? thanks
Thanks for watching and for your question. All grips shown are available through Hogue Grips (www.hogueinc.com/grips/smith-wesson/k-l-frame-revolvers/hardwood-grips).
@@RangeRoninChronicles Thanks so much !!!
I still loves my 686+.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Indeed, the 686+ is a fine piece of work!
Great gun 👍
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree that it is a great gun. In fact, I would recommend one for a person's first defensive revolver, which would seem to be a controversial recommendation by some.
I always recommend a revolvers to people there so simple to operate and clean. I have had some issues with semi autos in the past and that doesn't instill confidence with me. 🤠
If rick grimes in the walking dead had used a S&W, their prices wouldve sky rocketed too.
Thanks for watching. I agree.
You know I have heard about the Colt Python have a weak action myself. But I have never seen any actual proof of it. I currently own a vintage Colt Python and it has yet to give me any problems at all whatsoever. I have spoken with many many other Colt Python enthusiasts and owners. Literally not one of them have reported any issues with their specific models. I feel the claims of the Python having a weak action is exactly just that claims. Made by weird brand loyalists that have some strange affliction to defend their purchase. Simply to make themselves feel better about their choice of firearm. Personally I enjoy them all and I plan on picking up a 586 to add to my collection. I think between the 3 main revolvers of the time Ruger, Smith&Wesson, Colt a person cannot go wrong with any one of them.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree with you. I know three folks with Pythons and they are all great shooters with no issues. The S&W 586 would make a fie addition to the collection.
You had me until the unfounded trash talk about the 686+. Unless a 7 shot 686 has blown up in your hand, you're just passing erroneous gossip. I have over 2k rounds through my 686+ and even more through my 627 8 shot. Although it's an N Frame, the cylinder tolerances are quite small in order to fit 8 cartridges.
I'm only saying this because in war, I've carried and used the 9mm's. The only thing a 9mm has going fir it in the civillian world is capacity. I prefer the 357 cartridge hands down.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I only said it to get a rise out of some😁. I also have the seven shot 686, Taurus 627 and M66. All are fine guns.The .357 Magnum is one of the best all around cartridges out there.
@RangeRoninChronicals
Lol...mission accomplished. You know your audience!
what's the link for your wood grips you got?
Thanks for watching and for your question. Check out beta.altamontco.com/pistol-grips/smith-and-wesson/k-round. I have also put a link in the Description section.
Some of those rounds look like theyre key holeing on the target
Thanks for watching and commenting. It's not the gun but the ammunition being fired through it. In some cases, there was key-holing but most did not. I don't worry too much about key-holing with range ammunition. Key-holing with defensive ammunition can have its benefits, but I can't get into that here.
I have a 586 no - dash. Is it also as good as the 686?
Thanks for watching and your question. I believe the 586 to be just as good as the 686. While there is nothing more beautiful than polished blued-steel, I just prefer polished stainless steel - from a maintenance standpoint. I don't worry about harming the blueing when I am removing all the carbon from a stainless-steel firearm.
@@RangeRoninChronicles, the burn marks on the stainless steel cylinder don’t bug you ? I’ve found that mag wheel polish takes them right off, but it’s a nuisance to have another step at cleaning time
@moreme40 Actually, they bug the hell out of me. That may have been a picture of when I brought the 686 home from the range the first time after purchasing it. It was cleaned up, of course, and thoroughly checked over. I use both Mother's Mag Wheel Polish and Flitz to clean things up.
@@RangeRoninChronicles Mother's is a great product. Very light application needed for the most stubborn wheel burn stains, & good as new 👍
I use it on my 4" stainless Ruger GP100
@@JudahMaccabee_ Same here - and on my S&W Model 617, Ruger SP101 - anything shiny stainless. A couple of my stainless-steel 1911s have been "Mothered" as well.
Hello from Norway here, owned my 686-4 for nearly 30 years, anybody know about a leather flap holster ? ( think US civil war type)
The internet sure shortens distance, doesn't it? Thanks for watching and commenting. Civil War flap holster? Try here - www.theleatherholstershop.com/product/american-civil-war-holster-with-flap. There are also other resources if you search the internet for them.
NO!!! The unneeded lawyer lock and stupidly ugly reshaped cylinder release thumbpiece have chased me away from any new model S&W revolver.
I will buy only older Smiths now, and they are far superior to the new ones.
If you feel the need to smooth up the trigger any, just spend less than $20 on a Wolff spring kit (mainspring and rebound spring, and you are done.
All of my S&W revolvers are 80's or earlier models, and I also have two Colt Police Positives from the 1920's that are excellent shooters. There WAS a time when handgun craftsmen were really good, AND their products were affordable. No longer.
Not to mention, a revolver doesn't depend on not finding any defective ammo or magazines.
There was ONE great semiauto that S&W made, and I still have mine from the 80's ----- an original Model 645. That damn gun could feed empty cases from the magazine into the chamber, and it replaced the Colt Combat Commander in .45ACP that I had been carrying on duty just previously.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree with you on all counts. THE S&W 645 is a fine firearm and I regret selling mine. The oldies are still the best.
You get caught staging a gun on KCMO police range and you get kicked of the range. Put simple, its cheating.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Maybe so at KCMO. Still, it is a good method to practice for other than qualification day.
@@RangeRoninChronicles From a legal stand point it is not good if it comes out in court. Opposing attorney will say if you had the time to stage the trigger then there was not that much of a threat.if you had the time to take to stage the trigger. I know more than one lawyer and most are Democrats and I tend to know their tricks to convince juries to find you at fault. Luckily in my medium sized midwest town the County Attorney talks to you before anything going to trial. Most of the time he finds that most shootings are done in legal self defense, so your case likely does not go before a court and jury. The case is over right there if it is justified.
@@Rob-xj3xh Thanks for your thoughts. Staging a trigger is not a common practice; many do not know what it is. I consider "staging" as a pause in order to (1.) Determine if I need to take the shot, (2.) Allow me a window of opportunity to back off the trigger if need be, and (3.) If I must take the shot, the revolver is still in double-action mode and (hopefully) a more accurate shot can be taken, thus lessening possible collateral damage.
An absolute no-no is placing a double-action revolver in single-action mode for defensive purposes; that screams premeditation.
In most defensive uses involving a revolver, there is no time to stage a trigger and sometimes not even enough time to use the sights. It has been a fact of study that an untrained user of a handgun, revolver or pistol, will not squeeze the trigger - it is a jerking of the trigger in a panicked flash of time.
I do agree with you on tricks used by a prosecuting attorney. Having representation and expert testimony, by those who are both well-versed in firearm's usage and aware of prosecutor's tactics, on one's side is critical for one's defense. Being a former LEO, I am not an expert but am somewhat knowledgeable regarding the criminal justice system. What is best is not getting into a situation that will result in being involved in that system; it is a nightmare.
How loud is the 4” barrel shooting the 357 magnum?, without hearing protection? Meaning, yes I know all bullets are loud, but what’s it like shooting them in real life, as opposed to 9mm or 45 acp?
And of course outdoors as opposed to indoors. I’m guessing one wouldn’t want to shoot indoors at all without hearing protection?
I wonder how police back in the day handled things, and should a citizen carry 357 magnum and be prepared to shoot indoors, or even outdoors without expecting serious hearing damage. Everyone has a different opinion on Internet forums so I thought to ask here.
First of all, thanks for watching and your question, as it is an important question and I will try to answer it without getting all technical, which I am not qualified to do anyway. But, from experience when I was a LEO and had to light off a 12-gauge indoors without hearing protection, I can attest to extreme loss of hearing after that happened. I can still hear fine, between tinnitus and the voices in my head, but the level at which I hear, and the tones that I hear, have been severely impacted.
Auditory Exclusion is a subject that you need to research. It is real, is a body's response to stress, and is beneficial to survival in the short run. The long-term impact is not beneficial, however.
I keep a set of digital headphones with my house-gun. If the gun is grabbed - so are the headphones. The volume can be adjusted so that I can hear things, but the moment a gun is fired, they lessen the impact of the noise. While out and about among the English, however, wearing headphones might bring some strange glances. If you are ever faced with a self-defense situation, the body will try to protect itself, but you must wade through the myriad of things that are about to take place to live through it. As much as I hate to admit it, one of the best pieces of advice I ever heard coming from a movie was from "The Outlaw Josie Wales" when this was said, " Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you’re not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. ‘Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That’s just the way it is." This is the only way I know to prepare for a close encounter of the worse kind.
The repercussion of being involved in a self-defense shooting is just not legal and civil. There is also the PTSD that follows. That is a topic for a different day.
Now, here is something weird. My second wife's parents were both deaf and mute, but when we went to a range, they wore hearing protection. While the sound of gunfire they could not hear but a muffle, they could feel a pressure shift in the air because of muzzle blast and the hearing protection reduced the pressure. I was amazed at this when they told me about it (ASL).
I hope I helped, but probably not. On a lighter ending note, my current wife tells me that I don't hear what she is saying to me - that's voluntary and selective auditory exclusion😁.
@@RangeRoninChronicles thank you so much for your response. So yes I definitely will need to assure I have earpro or something similar for home defense. And indeed not too many people in gun videos really emphasize that enough. And as for outdoors, just do what needs to be done and have the fortitude to do so.
Also I liked your Amish reference to being amongst the English. I am a long haul truck driver living in northern Idaho for now and I go to northern Wisconsin a lot, and in both places there are many mennonites and Amish (mennonites in northern Idaho and both in Wisconsin). I love being around them, and I admire them greatly.
But yes with revolvers I've always gone back and forth between 38sp and 357 magnum because of this reason, always wondering how the state troopers and deputies of the last generation had to deal with the noise issues from both.
Anyway thank you for your kind response.
You are more than welcome. I hope that I could help in a small way. I have been to the indoor range when, at times, someone brings in a .500 or .460 to shoot. I hate it when they do that. There I be, feeling calm while firing my little 9mm, .45 ACP, whatever while humming some "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" and something akin to a sonic boom from a F22 fills the air. It can really harsh the calm!
Although I have lost quite a bit of my hearing, I am hyper-sensitive to sharp, loud noises. I have been told that my eardrum is not as flexible as it was when I was young and does not bend to the "waves" as well as it should. Several times a day, I have to pop my eardrums (hold the nose and blow) to restore some of the hearing, which does not always work because of a perforated eardrum in one ear; instead of a pop I get a squeal.
Someone once told me that if I had to fire a gun in or outdoors without hearing protection to keep my mouth open while doing so. I'll pass on that one.
Keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down. My Half-Brother pulled a reefer from Green Bay to Chicago and back-haul for twenty-odd years and then finally retired. Too many years in the saddle took its toll on him - died a year into retirement.
As a close - if you obtain a copy of "Stressfire, Vol. 1 (Gunfighting for Police: Advanced Tactics and Techniques) Paperback - June 1, 1986" by Massad Ayoob (www.amazon.com/Stressfire-Vol-Gunfighting-Police-Techniques/dp/0936279036) do so.
@@RangeRoninChronicles thank you, I will!
that “sponsor” bit lasted far too long to be funny. learn how to cut a video length first and maybe ill watch👍
Well, thank you for your kind remark. For someone who's channel is lacking content, you are quick to jump on the criticism bandwagon. Before you "advise" me on something, perhaps you should trod in my moccasins for a bit and create some content of your own. At least earn the credentials to criticize before you do. I would appreciate that. 😁