S&W 686 barrel length

J

JLK

New member
I have a 686 with a 4 in. barrel and I was thinking of haveing a 6 in. barrel put on it. I have shot both and it seems the 6 in. is easier to get a sight picture. What are your thoughts on barrel length ?
 
You'll find any handgun with a 6" barrel is easier to get accurate hits with than with a 4" barrel. Likewise a 4" barrel is easier to use than a 2".

The reason, of course, is called sight radius which is the distance between the front and rear sights. The longer this distance is, the easier it is to keep the sights aligned. A small error in alignment with the longer sight radius translates into a smaller percentage of error - e.g. if a 1/8" error in sight alignment is a 1" error on target with a 6" it'll be a 6" error with a 2" barrel.

If you elect to put a longer barrel on your 686, have S&W do the job. Their prices are reasonable AND they have the tooling and jigs to do it right.
 
BillCA has basically covered it - the longer sight radius of the 6". I have a 6" 686 and like it quite a bit. I used to own a 4" and a 2.5" as well.
 
I think I would learn to shoot what you have.Sure a shorter barrel is harder to shoot accurate but it can be done with a little practice.You going to buy guns with 6 inch barrels all the time:p :confused:For the cost of having a new barrel put on you would be better off selling it and finding one with the longer barrel???????
 
I have the 686 in 4" and am surprised at my groups at 10 yards. I know thats not much disatance, but I bought it for defensive reasons. Now I find it to be great fun at the range and outdoor plinking. Does the 6" have less muzzle flip?
 
It really depends on what the use of the gun is for. If its primarily for self defense, the 4" barrel would probably be better suited for the job. The longer sight radius is going to be more accurate in slow-fire target shooting but the shorter sight radius of the 4" barrel will line up faster in a stressful combat or self defense situation. The 6" barrel will be more accurate though and providing you go with a full-lug it will also have less muzzle flip and overall felt recoil. It also adds about 5oz. to the weight of the gun. Personally I really like the feel of the 4" 686 and find the 6" to be a little front heavy for combat shooting. The 6" 686would make a fine target and hunting handgun though. I would actually just buy a used 6" 686 for as much as its going to cost to professionally put on a new barrel. That way you have one heck of a self defense handgun as well as a target/hunting handgun. Put a red-dot or 2X scope on a 6" 686 and it is going to be extremely accurate. Nearly ragged hole groups @ 50yds.
 
Dumb Question..

However, I'm learning you guys are tolerant of the less-informed..and don't cringe as much when I ask one!

Did the S&W 686 replace the old Model 65 (which I have in a 3" and love)? Just curious..might go shopping!

Thanks,

John
 
The L frame was designed to be just big enough to handle a diet of nothing but magnums and not shoot itself loose.
The K frames were designed to practice with .38 specials, and carry .357 mag.
A steady diet of .357 in an older K frame would slowly wreck the gun.
 
What are you using the 686 for? The longer barrel does make aiming easier, but would not be allowed in some firearms competition should you decide to compete. The 4" barrel sure as heck moves quickly when going through an action pistol stage.

In general six inch for marksmanship type competition, general purpose and hunting, four inch for IDPA, maybe IPSC and carry.
 
Did the S&W 686 replace the old Model 65 (which I have in a 3" and love)?
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Not really. The 686 has a full lug and came out over 20 years ago. IMHO the models that S&W intended to phase out the .357 Mag K frames are the recently introduced 619 and 620, which like the 686 are also L frames, but have the half lug like the K frames.
 
Have you considered buying a 686 with the 6" barrel? I've seen used ones in good shape go between $350 and 400. I'm thinking it wouldn't be all that much more money then having a different barrel put onto your currently owned model. Personally I like the six inch model.
 
There are a couple of reasons for thinking of getting the barrel changed. The gun I have has had an action job by S%W and it is a great fealing action so if I get another in 6 inch I would want to have the action done and I'm not that confident in buying a used gun and knowing what to look for to know it is a good gun. And I don't want a new one because I don't want the stupid lock on it. So I am waying my options. Half the fun of a new gun is getting opinions and deciding what to get.
 
And I don't want a new one because I don't want the stupid lock on it.
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Easy answer: Do what I did and get a used one! Chances are, it'll already be broken in so you won't need the trigger job (mine didn't need one) and no lock, either. I saved a pretty tidy sum doing so, too.
 
Get a used

I agree, with gb in ga, used 686 revolvers are pretty common. I found a used 686 plus with a 6" red ramp barrel for $350 out the door just before Christmas.
 
Yep, I agree with BillCA and the rest... not only can you get a better sight picture, the 6" model has better shot to shot recovery. I got the 4" model, but only because I thought I *might* want to carry concealed. For target, hunting, and home defense, I think the 6" is superior.
 
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