Reviews For Smith And Wesson Model 686 Plus Revolver, 164194, Satin Stainless, .357 Magnum/ .38 S&W Spec +P, 7Rd, 4"

By ben357
Review Date: 06/23/2008
Rating:

Great, accurate revolver that will last a lifetime. Seven rounds of .38 0r 357. Unlike a pistol with a magazine - revolvers go BANG every time. Seven rounds is fine if you know how to shoot a gun. If my life is on the line, I want a revolver like this.

By JacobW
Review Date: 03/23/2011
Rating:
Reviewer Experience: Weekend Shooter
Reviewer Location: NJ

I bought my 686 with the 6 barrel in 1982 and have long ago lost track of how many rounds I have fired through it. It is a heavy piece and that helps a shooter handle .357 mags with ease. I was surprised to find the all of the women I have trained to shoot, preferred this revolver firing .38 specials. At first they complain about the weight but after shooing lighter weight weapons they all prefer shooting this one. When shooting .38 specials it is as gentle as a lamb. But what they like the most is that they can actually hit the bulls-eye with it. It is accurate, the sights are great ]red ramp rear notch[ and the mass keeps the barrel from jumping. I know many think it is expensive but when you realize that I paid under $275 for it in 1982 and could easily sell it for that today, it was actually free!

By Dirigo
Review Date: 05/04/2009
Rating:

This is my third S&W 686 Plus, my first was duty size with a 4 inch barrel and the next two including the one I have now were 2.5 inch pre-frame lock models. They were all smooth, reliable and fun to shoot. I have taken this last one through several Sig Arms Academy courses and will go head to head with a single stack 9mm, .40, or .45 ACP on any day. As far as capacity, if you need more than seven rounds in a fight, you need a SWAT Team not a high-cap mag. For a carry weapon, I have a Bianchi #5 belt slide holster and a #3S inside the waist band holster and carry almost every day. I will admit it is a bit heavier than my Para-Ord Carry Companion C-7.45 but I know that it will never, ever jam no matter what it has been fed. I spend a lot of time outdoors on horseback, hiking and on snowshoes and having that warm stainless steel reliable weapon high on my hip is a true comfort in any condition. My wife also carries her 685 Plus “stubby’’ in her purse and likes the recoil absorption of the heavier gun. She had two “Lady Smith’s” and found them too light and too small to hold on to.

By Buckeye
Review Date: 08/05/2008
Rating:

The .357 is ideal for both home defense when loaded with hollow points and shooting practice with regular .38 specials. I would not recommend this as a concealed carry weapon however due to its size and weight.

By Smithman
Review Date: 10/10/2008
Rating:

I have owned a 6" 586 (Blued version no longer made) for over 20 years and have fired 5000 plus rounds through it without a hitch. If you are looking for the perfect 100% reliable home defense handgun this is it. I do not agree with Socal. You will not need more than 7 rounds of 357 mag. The fight will be over in two hits center mass. Enough said. Sell the Glock and get one of these.

By Revolver
Review Date: 08/12/2009
Rating:

I currently own a 6 model in stainless. I did not give it five stars because I like the Pachmayr grips on my Model 19 a bit better than the standard Hogue, it is slightly nose heavy with the full under barrel lug ]I think it is more of a grip issue than a gun issue[, and I had difficulty opening the cylinder after shooting through a few hundred rounds. It took some figuring to realize that the ejector rod backed out - easily fixed. I would give it 4.8 stars out of five if I could. Anyhow, the mass of the gun is nice - shooting full power 357 loads is A LOT softer than shooting .38 +P from my 638 snubnose. While my wife hasn''t shot this one, she has no problem shooting .38s out of the Model 19 – very similar in weight. It also has very little muzzle jump, which I can''t say about my Glock in 357 Sig. Regarding Glocks - great guns but I have read about kabooms in the .40 S&W caliber. Besides, if you want .357 magnum power get a .357 Sig ]close[ or a 10 mm. I open carry this gun when walking my property and ]recently[ when checking my bear bait site. It will also serve as my backup gun when bear hunting ]backup to a .30-06[. These are 200 - 300 pound black bears, mind you. I think it is a bit too big to conceal carry ]especially during warm weather[ though I''m sure more than a few do with the shorter barrels. With that said though, .38s or possibly .38 +P should be very soft shooting so it wouldn''t be bad as a personal defense gun for a someone of slighter build. The 638 I carry can only take up to .38 +P and I feel that is more than sufficient for personal defense.

By chuck
Review Date: 06/05/2010
Rating:
Reviewer Experience: CC Holder
Reviewer Location: MO

This is a serious weapon, but I grin every time I fire off 7 rounds into a plastic jug or other target. I have shot it a few times with a good support, and find it is extremely accurate out to 30 yds. [as far as I felt like walking to check the target] I have the 4 barrel but do not use it as a nightstand gun because it has no rail for light attachment [a must in my book ], and because I worry about overpenetration. The lack of a magazine or manual safety makes a revolver an excellent choice for someone who is not always fussing with their gun, and both my wife and daughter carry .38 snubbies.

By socal
Review Date: 04/09/2008
Rating:

The S&W 686 plus is a very reliable hand gun. With a little smithing of the trigger for a smooth performance, this gun can deliver a punch with the .357 mag ammo. I do not recommand this gun as a carry weapon for women because of its size and weight. Also, you are limited in the number of rounds (7) that this revolver can handle. Combine this with the price, you can easly buy a Glock in .40 cal with a higher capacity of 10 round in the mag and it is lighter in weight. That is why I rated this gun at only 4 stars.

By kb coach
Review Date: 05/02/2012
Rating:
Reviewer Experience: CC Holder
Reviewer Location: TX

great gun . i use it for hiking and hunting. if you get one you will never regret it.