S&W 686 plus 3"

D

Doc Holliday 1950

New member
Does anybody have any experience with Smith & Wesson's 686 plus 3" in 357 magnum 7 shot? Santa is sending me one & I want to be prepared. This is my first S&W revolver. Never owned one nor ever used one.

1-What does you use for the range?

2- What do you use for SD & Why?

As usual, all responses are appreciated & wanted
 
Have one, as well as the 2.25” and a 4” 681. The 3” is my favorite.

.38 bulk ammo for range (maybe a cylinder of .357 now and then just to remind me of the pain) and .38 +P for SD carry.

Enjoy your new gun!
 
Don't have one but it's certainly on my wish list. The only L-frame I ever owned was a 581 when they first came out. It was a decent gun, though I didn't keep it long because it wan't practical for me at the time (early 80s).

If I were to own one, I would practice on the range with .38 SPL most of the time, occasionally run a box of .38 +P through it, and carry .38 +P.

That's because I don't like the flash and noise of .357 and would only want the L-frame for the 7th round, not for the ability to shoot .357s. Especially for self defense, where I would not anticipate having hearing protection available.

You can find that out for yourself easily enough, by getting a box of .357s and giving them a whirl. That's one of the appeals of a .357 - you can shoot everything from mild .38 wadcutters, up through medium to hot .38 +Ps, and up to mild to full house .357s up to 180gr bullets, all from the same gun.

My suggestion to you is to try several options and dial in your preferences yourself, which my be completely different than mine.

I do suggest that whatever you decide to carry, you should also include enough of that round in your practice sessions to where you are familiar with the sound/feel/recoil of your service ammo. I.e., don't practice with low-power wadcutters and then carry 158gr .357s without having actually shot the .357s.
 
Personally feel the 3" 686+ is one of the best. I use 38spl wadcutters for general range and like the 140gr. Hornady FTX critical duty for defensive use. Lots of choices out there so try a bunch of 'em
 
I think the 3-inch 686+ is one of Smith's best offerings.

But then I like 3-inchers and have several Ruger GP-100s
beside the Smith.

On the 686+, if you don't like the rubber (or wood) round
butt grips, square conversions are available from Smith
and other sources.

Personally I don't like the feel of the round butt grips
nor do I shoot them as well. Hogue has a square butt
conversion in rubber that is not oversized and remains
thin in the cross section. Revolver speedster Miculek
offers a variety of grips for the K,L as well.

While I occasionally shoot .357s, I stick to mostly
"target" budget .38s or hollow point Plus P .38s.
 
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I have the 2.5" version. I pretty much shoot whatever is the cheapest, jacketed .38 and .357 fodder I can find. Usually WWB or Perfecta. I prefer shooting the lighter .357s from Perfecta instead of the .38s because I don't like having to clean the carbon rings in the cylinders all the time.

If outdoors, I usually keep 158gr Remington JHPs in the gun. When used for home defense, Buffalo Bore 158gr .38spl +Ps.
 
Don't have any experience with the 7 shot versions, they don't really do anything for me.
My 357s get reloads in 357 cases so I don't deal with carbon ring, usually a 38+p level with a 158gr plated or powder coated bullet or full tilt boogie loads with Hornady XTPs or I have some 172gr real Keith style SWC that I load to ~1300 fps.
For SD I have some good old 145gr silvertips, although I don't really use mid/full size revolvers for SD anymore.
 


I love my 686Plus. Range ammo is generally is just generic .38 special 158 grain FMJ they sell at the range. For nightstand duty, it is loaded with Remington 125 grain Golden Sabre HP. I load with these because they shoot tight little groups at 15 yards with them.
 
Doc, I had a 3" 686 CS-1. Shot like a dream with everything from standard 38 special ammo through Smoking Hot, Underwood brand, .357 Magnum ammo.

I found it to heavy to carry on anything less than a full sized duty belt.

Enjoy yours..
 
I bought a 686+ a few months ago. Stainless, unfluted cylinder, 7-shot .357 Mag (and strong enough to handle lots of full-power ammo), what’s not to like?

I did a full action job, installed a set Pachmayr grips and got an Azula pancake holster. Been carrying it loaded with Remington 125gr JHP and I’m very happy with it,.
The gun’s plenty accurate. I haven’t fired it single-action – it’s a self-defense gun, after all – but DA groups are very nice. It’s heavier than the XDs .45 I usually carry, but not enough to be a problem and I like the idea of having 7 .357 rounds available. Very comfortable to shoot with any load.

I do wish someone would make a Kydex paddle holster for it.
 
I've got a similar 3" S&W L-frame revolver called the 586 L-Comp.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/performance-center-586-l-comp

1. At the range, I'll usually shoot either reloaded .38 Special ammo from a reliable reloading factory, or new JHP ammo. I've tried various bullet weights and brands and it's usually what was the best price the day I order it from an online supplier. I've tried lead bullets but handling it gets my hands pretty dirty. Try 158 grain if you don't know which bullet weight to try first.

2. For self-defense, I'll choose a brand-name JHP ammo probably in .38 Special with a bullet weight from 125 grains to 158 grains. I currently have some old-school 125 grain .38 Special +P Winchester "Silver Tip" ammo loaded in the subject gun. I do have some Winchester "Silver Tip" 145 grain .357 Mag ammo preloaded into moon clips and speed-loaders, too, but seldom shoot it.

In the old days, it was thought to carry .357 Mag for the most part, but I'm no longer one to plan to shoot through vehicles or be trying to penetrate large North American mammals. Now for self-defense against bad guys or maybe smaller 4 legged mammals, I'm now looking at faster follow-up shots with a good .38 Special or .38 Special +P round.

I've also got Winchester Ranger 130 grain .38 Special +P which I might carry instead and probably other makes/models of ammo laying around ready to go.
 
My First S&W

Picked up my NIB 687 plus 3" in 37 magnum today.Everyone at the GS/range
came oiver and even though I did not buy from them, they all semed pretty pleased that I picked this model. After doing the paperwork, I went into their range to take it out for a spin.

Shot 75 rounds of 38 sp.+P 130 gr. FMJ Winchester ammo then 75 rounds of Hornady125 gr. 357 mag ammo.

What an incrediable gun. That extra 1/2 "to 1/4 " made a huge difference qnd I had absolutely no problem carrying it concealed. The DA, after Ruger, was a breeze.
 
Doc Holliday 1950 said:
Picked up my NIB 687 plus 3" in 37 magnum today.Everyone at the GS/range
came oiver and even though I did not buy from them, they all semed pretty pleased that I picked this model. After doing the paperwork, I went into their range to take it out for a spin.

Shot 75 rounds of 38 sp.+P 130 gr. FMJ Winchester ammo then 75 rounds of Hornady125 gr. 357 mag ammo.

What an incrediable gun. That extra 1/2 "to 1/4 " made a huge difference qnd I had absolutely no problem carrying it concealed. The DA, after Ruger, was a breeze.
Click to expand...
The L-frame revolver was a great idea by S&W.
 
If I recall correctly, the cylinder rotates CCW.
Click to expand...

From almost the beginning of time, most, if not all, Smith & Wesson da revolvers had/have cylinders that turn counter-clockwise.

Regarding barrel length on any revolver, it's my opinion that a slightly shorter than 3" length (i.e., 2.5") makes slightly more sense if the gun is going to be carried concealed for self-defense use. However, when it comes to barrel length for most other reasons, even when it comes to edc concealed, I prefer the 4" long barrel when compared to the 3" length.
 
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I also have the TALO 3-5-7 unfluted, and really like it.
At the range, its 125gr plated flat point over HP-38, between 5 and 6 gr, in MGN cases. Easy on my old hands. Keep it loaded with Federal 130gr HST plus P. Sometimes carry in Lobo Original Pancake holster. And, a speed strip of Buffalo Bore 158gr "Outdoorsman" for a reload.

Best,
Rick
 
FYI,

Got the SpeedBeez & HKS 7shot speed loaders & they both work just fine.

Thanks everyone for the info & now I have to find a decent left handed holster.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

The Hollidays
 
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