686 Plus in 2.5" for carry

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BarkSlayer

New member
I'm getting close to buying a workhorse for carry and have pretty well narrowed it down to a 686+ with 2.5" barrel. I like the 7 round capacity and the heft of the full stainless frame and cylinder. The fact that I already own a holster or two for this one makes that choice even simpler. However, I want to be sure it's the right choice, and here are my two main concerns:

1. Noise. If I ever need to discharge a full house .357 from a snubbie while indoors, my hearing will pay a dear price.
2. Recoil/flash. Again, the .357 just doesn't lend itself well to acquiring a target for a second shot, and the muzzle flash can be blinding in near darkness.

Is there a SD round made specifically for the .357 that mitigates the noise/recoil/flash issues, or is it just a beast that's really better suited for something other than CCW? My other thought was to find a Model 315 Night Guard and use +P SD rounds, as Federal and others make a few nice choices in .38 Special.
 
I'm getting close to buying a workhorse for carry and have pretty well narrowed it down to a 686+ with 2.5" barrel. I like the 7 round capacity and the heft of the full stainless frame and cylinder. The fact that I already own a holster or two for this one makes that choice even simpler. However, I want to be sure it's the right choice, and here are my two main concerns:

1. Noise. If I ever need to discharge a full house .357 from a snubbie while indoors, my hearing will pay a dear price.
2. Recoil/flash. Again, the .357 just doesn't lend itself well to acquiring a target for a second shot, and the muzzle flash can be blinding in near darkness.

Is there a SD round made specifically for the .357 that mitigates the noise/recoil/flash issues, or is it just a beast that's really better suited for something other than CCW? My other thought was to find a Model 315 Night Guard and use +P SD rounds, as Federal and others make a few nice choices in .38 Special.
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1) Place hearing protection next to the gun. If you don't have time to put them on, then which is better? Losing hearing or getting shot?

I refer you to the charts listed here:

http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml

.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB
.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB
.38 Spl 156.3 dB
.45 ACP 157.0 dB
9mm 159.8 dB
12 gauge with 18" barrel 161.50dB
.357 Magnum 164.3 dB

I don't see enough difference to matter.

2) Many men have gotten into gun fights at night using 357 Magnum. Have you tested it in a night shoot?
 
357 Revolvers......consider the 66

Mine is a 3" barrel so ejecting empties isn't an issue like 2" snubbies..... The 66 is a K frame and lends it itself to easier concealment due to its smaller size. I do alot of club level shooting IDPA shooting using 158 gr. lead reloads (3.5 gr. Bullseye)....When you shoot +P's its noticable.....357 no fun. If it is a conceal carry only gun I would suggest the 66 or a 5 shot S&W with a 3" adj. sights model. Carry a speedloader or Speed Strip (rubber strip holds 6 rounds making it flat and easier to conceal in your pocket) Everything is a compromise. If its easy to shoot its too big so you will be less apt to carry it. Small = easy carry. Just learn to shoot it.These S&W revolvers are very accurate. Mine shoot groups smaller than my service type autos.....just less ammo capacity.Your choice....afish4570:rolleyes:
 
This will be for 100% carry. My LGS has a very nice Model 66 in the display case right now alongside a new Model 686 Plus 2.5. It's a tough call.
 
I have a Model 19 and the 2.5" 686. I really like the 686 snubbie but strictly for carry? I'd go K-frame.

Any number of dedicated .357 SD loadings dampen the flash (at least compared to more generic loads). Speer's 135 grain short-barrel Gold Dot is great if you can find it. Buffalo Bore makes a "tac-lite" in 158 grains (their 158 grain .38 +P is a good choice too). Save the 125 grain loads for the 686-only.

3-inch K frames are great too, but not as easy to find (at least in my neck of the woods). Consider the 3-inch Ruger GP100--beefier than the K-frame, but it's one of those guns that just seems "right."
 
+1 65 -- esp 3" if you can find one. For concealed carry/SD, adj sights are not needed, and arguably not as optimal--again for the purpose stated. That said, between the 686+ and 66, get the 66. Indoors/SD, just shoot warm .38s anyway--regardless of your choice. Ruger Speed Six is another one. As you may know, prolonged shooting of hot 125 gr .357s in a K frame can lead to forcing cone problems. Just shoot 158s, or .38s of any grainage. The Rugers don't have the limitation, but neither are they as compact/light.
 
I've got a 2.5" 66. It's an outstanding CC revolver. I like the 686, but not being a big guy, I think I'd have trouble concealing it.
 
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These are mine above and yes they would do well as CCW guns.

I'd use +p .38s like Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWHPs at over 1000 fps in the M66, and DPX .357s in the 686 (it's heaver and can take alot more .357s.)

Deaf
 
Yea the Ruger speed six will work great to. About the same weight as the 2 1/2 686.

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While this is a Security Six, it shows you the size compared to a S&W 66 (both mine to!)

Deaf
 
I don't care what you load it with, shooting a 357 indoors will be very painful. You also need to understand the 357 will shoot through 2 or 3 or 4 walls. It could easily end up in someone else's house. It is not a round I like for a bedside gun, for the bedside go with the 38 spl's in it.

I like the 357's but it's sole purpose was for penetration over the 38 spl. In doors I like low pressure rounds like the 38 spl or 45 acp. I'm not trying to talk you out of the S&W686 just something to think about.
 
No way on the whole. Yes it could penetrate some interior walls but will be losing most of it's punch. Where as the 357 is capable of penetrating an exterior wall and enter another exterior wall with some left over velocity.

There's always an exception in almost everything, but overall performance between 38 spl and 357 magnum is night and day.
 
I had a 6-shot 2.5" 686-5 a few years back. It suffered from unreliable ignition so I dumped it. As it had the ugly MIM parts and I was in it right, I didn't miss it.

I have searched for several years for a nice 2.5" 686-4+. I finally located one at a nice price and put it on layaway. I'm in the process of locating leather, grips and speed loader holders for it.

Holsters are harder to find than the LH K-frame holsters I'm usually looking for. ;)

I finally went the custom route and ordered one from Murphs Holsters in China Grove NC. Open top fast draw type. Having carried and shot my 4" 686-4+ quite a bit this year, I'm looking forward to still having the increased capacity while shaving off a little of the weight. Regards 18DAI.
 
I have a 2.5" Model 19 that I carry on occasion and which is one of my primary defensive guns. I find it very comfortable to carry using a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holster, OWB. Although the 686 is bigger, it's not all that much bigger and it would probably make a nice carry piece.

Now, as to ammo. I've thought long and hard about whether to charge my 19 with .357s and I've decided against it. The muzzle flash and noise that even 158 gr. .357s make is overpowering, particularly in a confined space. Also, I'm not certain that some of the benefits of .357 -- mainly increased velocity vis a vis .38s -- aren't lost with a snub barrel. My choice of a defensive round is Buffalo Bore 150 gr. Standard Pressure Short Barrel Heavy .38 special wadcutters. This is a round that produces moderate recoil, low flash, much less noise than a .357, and still packs a helluva wallop. I have complete confidence in the protective capacity of this round.
 
BarkSlayer:

I don't carry concealed but for severa years I carried exposed. I carred a four inch Smith & Wesson 625 .45 auto rim. I don't remember the holster model but the trigger and barrel were exposed and the revolver slanted forward. I carried for eight hours a day with no discomfort. Although your 686 is larger than a J frame smith and smaller than my N frame you should not have a problem carrying it. Concealing it is another matter.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
No way on the whole. Yes it could penetrate some interior walls but will be losing most of it's punch. Where as the 357 is capable of penetrating an exterior wall and enter another exterior wall with some left over velocity.

There's always an exception in almost everything, but overall performance between 38 spl and 357 magnum is night and day.
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Just look for frangible bullets that are made for the .357 magnum. Cor-Bon as Gasler, and there are others.

You need to check out the 'Box 'O Truth' website and see just what the various .357 and .38 loads will actually penetrate.

That and in any house were you live you need to determine just what your chosen weapons will do and what they will shoot through. We have certain 'free fire' zones in our house where we know the brick fireplace or brick walls will stop just about anything we fire at it.

Deaf

Deaf
 
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