7-round revolver: I was impressed

V

vito

New member
I watched a video today about a S&W 686 3-5-7 Magnum, I assume an N frame, since it has a 7 round capacity of 357 magnum, with a 3 inch barrel. It made me think this would be like having one gun to do the job of both my Model 19 with a 4 inch barrel and my model 640 with a 2 inch barrel. The S&W website shows it as almost $859.00 for this model. I wonder what real world pricing is and how hard it would be to find. I also wondered how hard it would be to use this gun for concealed carry, being such a large heavy frame.
 
The 686 is actually based on the L-Frame, which is much closer in size to the K than the N Frame. Actually, K and L Frames accept the same grips (round butt to round and square to square). The L Frames are a bit taller than the K Frame, and the cylinder is a bit larger in diameter (1.562" vs 1.445" or so). Also, they are a little beefier around the barrel to frame interface. This allows them to have a stronger, larger, completely circular forcing cone such that they can withstand a steady diet of 125 grain and under Magnum loads better than their K Frame brethern. They shouldn't be much tougher to carry than a K Frame. The standard 686 is a 6 shot version, while the 686 Plus is the 7 shooter.

Used examples can be found for $500 to $650 in this market, depending on the barrel length (4", 2.5", 3" in order of least to most expensive).
 
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The 686 is an L framed revolver, same grip frame as the K but with a larger cylinder. Not as large as the N frame but definitely a full sized revolver. The "plus" models have the seven shot cylinder which is pretty neat. I can't help you evaluate price as I have not paid attention.
 
I have not shot one, but a friend who owns both says that due to the shorter distance the cylinder has to rotate (1/7 circumference instead of 1/6 circumference per trigger pull), the 7-shot 686+ has a smoother, lighter DA pull than the original 6-shot 686.
 
If you are a newbie this may be a nice gun, but, and there always is a but in life, after years and years, and years and years of police training and personal use I could not adapt to the timing of that seventh shot under stress I promise you.
 
^^^ Interesting, I've never noticed a difference in the length of pull between my 7 shot 686 and 6 shooters. For that matter, I've not noted much difference in the pull length of my 5 shooers either.
 
jad, he didn't say "length of pull." He indicated it was lighter and smoother, over the same distance - which makes sense, since it should have about a 15% leverage advantage.
 
I bought a sort of 686 hybrid in December of 2011. It was a 686SSR (6 shot) made with a 686+ (7 shot) cylinder blank. The chamber walls varied from 0.10” thick to 0.04” depending on how the chambers and flutes lined up. I considered it highly dangerous and sent it back. They fixed it.

The 686 is a terrific gun. No reason the 686+ shouldn’t be as good.
 
Don't forget the 8 round 357 N frames.

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The 686 is still on my wishlist, I shot it at the S&W Factory range and LOVED it, but have ended up buying 3 other guns instead.

One day, I want one. Maybe even a 586, I'd prefer a no-lock model.
 
Ahhh, I see what everyone was referring to. I read the posts to fast.

As for lightness/smoothness, I'd say my 686 Plus isn't the most representative of 7 shooters. Though the trigger isn't bad, relatively speaking, it is the least smooth of all the S&Ws I own.
 
That's nothing. I have a seven-shot revolver with a six-shot cylinder. And after a reload it's a 9-shot. Unless I stack the 9rd mag on top of five shots in the six-round cylinder, and then I've got 14 shots continuous.

:D

And I'm still plotting bigger mags yet.
 
Meet Maurice the FrankenRuger:

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Shown with the 2rd carry mag inserted - two in the mag plus five in the cylinder. Here's a video of this beastie in operation, using both mags:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4XtVldNbO4

The comments I posted on youtube are fairly long and detail a lot about how it was built. No other personal arm ever made uses the same feed cycle that I know of.

:D
 
Don't forget the 8 round 357 N frames.
Click to expand...
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Better photos of my TRR8 than I'm capable of making :D

The N-frames are even better when they're made of Aluminum--and better than that when they have 8 rounds of magnum on hand. I've got Biden's twin warning shots (:rolleyes:) in addition to the traditional six-shooter :cool:

Too bad you have to weld up a cylinder to own one in NY, now (;), though I still havent' heard a clear answer on whether that joke is for real or not)

TCB
 
The 686 plus is an excellent revolver - very accurate, robust, with a rather light double action trigger pull, and a single action pull like dry ice on glass.
 
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