Convince Me - S&W 686

N

Nick96

New member
I'm a Ruger revolver fan (as well as all their other offerings). But, the S&W 686 seems to keep popping up as just about the perfect .357 revolver around now. What brought this question about was an ad in the local newspaper from a regional sporting goods store advertizing a "SALE" on the Bersa .380 Thunder, Ruger P-95, Taurus P-111 and S&W 686. Crafty marketing people must think these are the hottest items appealing to the broadest population. And in my experience, professional marketing people aren't stupid. So there must be some data to back up this "pre-Christmas" push.

S&W's have always struct me as pretty, but marginally functional. Like a Dodge is solid transportation where a Pontiac is something prettier but less functional in the long run. My impression is that the M-686 is the 21st century equivilant of the M-10 / M-19 of the 20th century (both of which I consider to be the most popular all around mid caliber revolvers of the 20th century). Am I off base here?

I tend to focus on "functional". So why would the S&W 686, 6 round .357 be superior to a Ruger GP100? Less than $100 differance between the two. Why would the the S&W be worth the extra money? And why would I want to pick a S&W 686 over a Ruger GP100?

PS: I'm only interested in 6 round .357's - 4" barrel. More rounds & longer barrels gets into the realm of rifles - which are superior tools for hunting, long range "paper punching", fending off violent mobs, etc. in my opinion.
 
So why would the S&W 686, 6 round .357 be superior to a Ruger GP100?
Click to expand...
Short answer is that with the Smith you normally get a better action and a little more refined gun, Ruger *might* be stronger though. Basically while I've got no major issues with the GP-100, it is $100 less expensive but tends to feel it.

I don't care for the Rugers trigger at all, even if it's been smoothed out by a smith it seems it just can't hold a candle to the better S/W actions IMHO. Sloppy ejection rod wobbling around is not a design problem (it works) just feels cheap to most people, cylinder release is the same deal.

In regard to quality control it seems both companies currently have issues, but I'm seeing way more problems with Ruger than Smith during our qualifications... http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=130690

Frankly between a new Ruger and a new S/W I'd buy none of the above ;). Used like new S/W's can be found at very cheap prices and in many peoples opinions (including my humble one) are better made than the new models anyway :D
 
You need to convince yourself; go to a gun store and try them both. If the $100 is important, get the Ruger, it's a nice solid gun. If the $100 isn't your top priority, get the Smith. It's better looking and more accurate. And despite some of the reports on recent Smiths, I don't think anyone believes they're "marginally functional." They're still top quality revolvers. Actually, though, you could do well by checking out some of the used Smiths and maybe get more gun for less money.
 
Greeting's Guy's,

Nick96-

I've been shooting the .357 magnum for quite a number
of year's, in everything from Astra's to Colt Python's; and
most everything in between.:eek: Out of this, there
are two Smith & Wesson's that stand out; above the rest.
And they are, the Highway Patrolman model 28 and the
Distinguished Combat Magnum models 586/686. Currently,
I own and quite often shoot a 6" model 686-5. While the
DA is not near as smooth as that of my Smith & Wesson
629-5; its not all that bad either! This handgun is accurate
as all get out; with NO problems hitting small target's out
to 100 yards; even though I haven't been able to do so
recently, due to my ole' eye-sight!

My experience with the 4" barrel Ruger's was a positive
one; differing with my friend Blue Duck 357. The only thing
being, the Ruger's I owned and shot were the 4" Security-Six
model's in blue steel, and stainless steel. IMHO, this is the
weapon that Ruger should have stuck with! But, as I under
stand it the GP-100 was introduced to directly compete with
Smith & Wesson's model 686. I found that the trigger on the
stainless Security-Six was a bit better than that of the blued
model, or the GP-100.

So to sum up, if I were choosing a new DA .357 magnum
revolver; it would most definitely be the S&W 686!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I have both Ruger & S&W .357 revolvers. My Smith is a 686, and is one of may favorite handguns.

As mentioned, the Ruger feels more "chunky" - it looks & feels like it has been over-engineered & will take more abuse than standard .357MAG loads will dish out.

The S&W will be more streamlined, and if you buy an older 686 (with the firing pin mounted to the hammer), it will generally have a better trigger pull than the Ruger. My understanding is that the newer 686 revolvers are not as smooth.
 
The Smith 686 is superior in every respect. Smoother trigger and far more accurate. I shoot with Border Patrol friends and their Rugers can't touvh my Smith for accuracy. We switch and they are amazed at how well they can shoot. So its the gun not the shooter. Go with the Smith.
 
I owned both a Ruger Security Six and a KGP-161 before buying my first S&W -- a Model 29-3. Then a nickel Model 27-2 turned up and I was hooked. The trigger is better and in my opinion they shoot better. While I consider the KGP to be just about bulletproof, I prefer to shoot S&W revolvers. My latest is a S&W 586, I don't own any S&W that starts with a "6" ;)
 
Rugers are utilitarian, Smiths are refined. The Ruger will likely be just as accurate, just hampered by the trigger.
 
Go to any competition where double action revolvers are used, and look to see what guns the competitors use. You can count the Rugers, Colts, Dan Wessons, and "others" on one hand. Competition shooters look for accuracy, smoothness, reliability, and service.

Open up the Brownells catalog and see what aftermarket grips, sights, springs, and other goodies are available for what guns. The S&W revolver shooters have a 10:1 advantage in available options.

Check out holsters from top-of-the-line manufacturers and see which models are available for what guns. S&W will come out on top of this comparison too.

If you have to compromise on price, the Rugers are serviceable. I would prefer a used S&W to a new Ruger, but that is MY opinion only. Contrary to some of the other advice that you have received (you asked for it anyhow), I would have no problems buying a new 686. They will smooth out with the best of them after a thousand rounds.

;)
 
I had an interesting chat with one of the gunsmiths at Clark Custom Guns recently (that's where I send all of my revolvers for action jobs, trigger work, etc. BTW - [gratuitous advertisement] - if anyone wants a really smooth trigger on a S&W or Ruger, this is the place to use! [/gratuitous advertisement].

He agrees with those who've posted above that the older S&W's are easier to "smooth out" than the newer models, and that they can be given a better trigger than the Rugers. However, he says that in recent production weapons (i.e. last couple of years or so), the Ruger triggers have been significantly improved, while the newer S&W's have been getting worse. With current production weapons, he reckons he can get just as good a trigger on the Rugers as on the S&W's. He is not at all happy with S&W, claiming that their new parts are just not up to the quality of the old ones. (He has lots of the old parts sitting around, and if one talks very nicely to him, and bribes him with a bottle of the brown stuff, he can sometimes be persuaded to replace newer MIM parts with the older forged stuff.)

The only new Ruger I've handled recently was a Redhawk in .44 Magnum. Factory-stock, on the dealer's shelf, it had the best double-action trigger I've ever felt on a Ruger, and was much, much smoother than any of the new-production S&W's there (i.e. those with that locking thingy above the cylinder latch). This would seem to indicate that he's onto something...

As for the GP100 vs. 686 question: I own one of each, and agree that my (older) 686 has a great, smooth action. However, the current-production 686's in that gun shop had horrible actions in comparison to earlier ones... Anyone else done this comparison? I'd like to hear from others.
 
"Used like new S/W's can be found at very cheap prices and in many peoples opinions (including my humble one) are better made than the new models anyway"

I wish this were true in my area! I rarely see any of the old Smiths at gun shops or gun shows. If I do see them they sure are not cheap!

As far as the 686 vs GP100. Owned both at the same time once - the Smith was far more refined. I thought the 686 had better fit and finish as well. I found both revolvers to be accurate.

All those that shoot revolver in the indoor target matches at my pistol club use some type of S&W with a few exceptions. A Colt Python was used by one member and once in a great while a Ruger shows up. The crisp-creep free trigger of the Smith is well appreciated when you are trying to hit a small target while holding a revolver with one hand.

My present 686 is 1994 vintage. It is capable of excellent accuracy - once mounted a scope and fired groups to test my reloads and was amazed at the results! I won't be parting with this 686!
 
If I do then you will probably find the great deal I have been looking for then I would be ticked.

I would rather have a 4" 586-2 or a 4" 19-2 P&R
 
I own both a 686-5 Smith and a 4" stainless GP-100. Both have been tuned by the best gunsmiths I could find (A. Tanaka for the Smith and TJ Custom for the Ruger). The Smith is somewhat lighter - 2.5 lb. sa and 7.25 lb. da compared to 2.5 lb. sa and 7.9 lb da) and the lock time is a bit less due to less hammer arc so the feel is definitely different. In some ways I prefer the Ruger's feel and the wider sight notch makes the front easier to pick up. Most others will differ with me on this. The 686 I have is a plus with the extra round which lessens the weight somewhat and has the mountain gun configuration so the weight is 35.5 oz vs. 41.5.

So, the 686 has something to recommend it and it is more durable with 125 gr JHP's than the 19/66's. As to the new models with MIM parts and frame mounted firing pin they can be tuned by those in the know. With a C&S extended firing pin one can get the double action slightly below 7 pounds and have it work reliably. I will try this out next week with mine to see. At 7.25 pounds with the standard firing pin it will fire magnums reliably. The next step would be to work on firing pin protrusion on the Ruger to allow a lighter trigger pull and see what could be obtained. I just bought a new Redhawk and can attest to the smoothness of the new action vs. the old Rugers.

Tom
 
629 Shooter,

Areas vary obviously but in my neck of the woods "gun shops" and gun shows are the LAST places I look for nice S/W revolvers at decent prices. First place I go in search of are little pawn shops. Found some great deals both as marked or sometimes with a silly price on the tag but wave a little cash and they often come WAY down ;)

Stopping at some of the rattiest looking little hole in the wall places in the worst parts of town has really paid off for me many times. Just an idea...
 
I recently traded a Taurus 627 for a vintage S&W 686-4. No contest: the S&W is far superior. The guy at the pawn shop probably didn't realize what he was getting (not bad; just not wonderful) or what I was taking (which many agree is one of the best---if not THE best---of the L-frame/686 series.)

Why bother go into detail? I love everything about it.
 
"Stopping at some of the rattiest looking little hole in the wall places in the worst parts of town has really paid off for me many times. Just an idea..."

Well BlueDuck , I guess I will stop by some pawn shops sometime and see what's out there! A gun buying option I had not considered. Thanks! :)
 
As I've said on another thread, my 681's trigger pull (DAO-polished and smoothed, but not lightned, by Bill Davis Gunsmithing) is the standard by which I compare all double-action triggers, revolver and auto alike. It's that great.

I own and carry a Ruger SP101 and a 649 off-duty. Both good revolvers, both coil mainsprings, both also duty-tuned. You'll never get the sort-of creamy, double action trigger stroke you get with a leaf mainspring Smith (particularly the L and N frames) with coil mainsprings. It's just a fact of life.

There's nothing wrong with the Rugers and Tauruses, but they'll never be a K, L or N-frame Smith.

I recommend the 686. Good luck with it.

Bob
 
My first .357 was a Security Six. My next one was a Python. Then latest of all, a 686.
Long story short, if I'd bought the 686 first, I'd only have ONE .357!
 
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