S&W 686 Plus

[gmfitter]

Just started looking at this gun on youtube etc.
What are your opinions (if any) about it, and do
you think it is suitable for a EDC weapon?

[The Wall]

It's a beautiful gun for sure. I would love to have one myself. It may be a little heavy for some to EDC, but I would If I had one. I love my 586.

[SA_Steve]

My old 6 shot stainless steel 686 is my favorite firearm and the only handgun I shoot straight with.
It is heavy, beautifully made almost in the piece-of-art class.

[ShootDontTalk]

I tried to carry a 29 a long time back. The grip was large on mine and didn't conceal well. It would work carrying it OWB with a T-shirt tucked in and an untucked button down over it.

You would probably need to carry .44 Special for EDC. Most Magnum loads are a bit much - too much penetration even with good defense hollow points. Something along the lines of these:

https://www.underwoodammo.com/44-specia ... box-of-50/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

200 grain JHP at 1100 fps. These would feel like .38 Specials.

Or you could go full house with something like this:

https://www.underwoodammo.com/44-reming ... low-point/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

240 grain Gold Dot at 1500 fps. These WOULD NOT feel like .38's!

I kick myself every day for selling my 29.

[JSThane]

The 686 is a .357, not a .44.

I had a 686 6-shot. It shot quite well for me and recoil was quite manageable with all loads; I never carried it because I had the 6" tube, but I'd have no qualms at all about carrying a shorter version.

If you can, look for a "pre-lock" revolver. There aren't many 686+'s out there without the internal lock, but they -do- exist. While it's not common with the steel-framed guns, it's theoretically possible for the lock to engage during recoil, locking the gun up like a vault until you can find the key. However uncommon that may be (and I don't think it's common at all), I won't carry a gun with an internal lock, as it's one more thing to fail at the worst possible time.

[K.Mooneyham]

Just started looking at this gun on youtube etc.
What are your opinions (if any) about it, and do
you think it is suitable for a EDC weapon?

\

Those Smiths are fine guns, and that model and other similar ones in .357 Magnum were carried by many policemen and highway patrolmen "back in the day". However, Smiths are a bit pricey for my blood. I'm going to buy a Ruger GP100 and put the extra money toward a good holster and ammo.

[ShootDontTalk]

The 686 is a .357, not a .44.

Oh well....chalk another one up to getting older!

There's is a 44 for sale over in the firearms section. Confusion reigns. Sorry.

[karder]

The 686 looks like a fine gun and should certainly be up to the task of EDC if you don't mind the size and weight. I have always found big revolvers a bit more work to conceal due to their width, but once open carry becomes legal, concerns about printing and accidental exposure should go away which will make carrying a gun like that a lot easier in my opinion. I spent some time in Alaska a few years back and carried a 629 with a 6" barrel on my hip quite comfortably. Of course I also had a heavy coat on so concealment, though unnecessary, was not difficult! I personally don't have the 686, but I have several S&W revolvers and their quality is excellent.

[VMI77]

I love my S&W 327. It's an 8 shot .357 with a 2" barrel.

[AdioSS]

I've been carrying 4" 686's for work quite often over the past year. I have only had the chance to shoot them a couple times though. Unfortunately the work guns are often carried by people who don't give a flip about guns at all. They aren't treated with respect at all by some. I've seen the rear sights knocked out of alignment & even broken. These guns will even develop some rust despite being stainless.

[Gunner4640]

This is my 686 no dash, I don't shoot this gun but it is my favorite of all I own. It is in unfired condition.

686-0

[Excaliber]

I carried the 4 inch 686 for several years on and off duty as an LEO. It was the finest and most dependable of all the revolvers I had owned, and it had a trigger action that felt like it had been tuned by a custom 'smith, but it was straight from the factory.

Off duty I carried it IWB without issues, but I was carrying around about 40 fewer pounds back then. These days I'd have to go OWB to be really comfortable. I'd never feel under armed when wearing it.

[silverbear]

It's a beautiful gun for sure. I would love to have one myself. It may be a little heavy for some to EDC, but I would If I had one. I love my 586.

Love my 586 nickel, sweet and accurate shooter. Not so much EDC for me.

[10mmillie]

I have a 686 Talo 3" and carry it in a Desantis 001 OWB holster. Rides nice and comfortable.