I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but I have a 70’s era Python and a 2 year old 686+, and have shot them both a bunch. I don’t think I can really say that one is the favorite. I can say that after I had the 686 trigger smoothed out, they shoot equally well. The SA triggers are both light and about the same. The DA triggers are different. The Python DA is longer, stacks, and is predictable (to me). The 686 DA is shorter and more abrupt (for lack of a better word) and less predictable.
The grip comparison goes to the 686, which also has better (more modern) sights. Beauty easily goes to the Python.
A while back, we had visitors (guests of a SiL), and the guy was a member of a major city’s SWAT team. He shot every rifle and handgun I have, and he could really shoot. For the record, in rifles, he loved my Tikka 260 with the Brux barrel and Leupold VX5HD 3-15. As for the handguns, after shooting for a while, we held the usual ‘one shot challenge’, where you get one shot at a silhouette splatter target at 15 yards. You can use the handgun of your choice. He went with the Python. I went with the 686. He beat me by 1/4”, which made me feel good that I was that close. In another one shot challenge, I had an Army Ranger and his wife visiting. He chose the Beretta 9mm, and his tiny little wife beat him using the Python. He was justifiably embarrassed. He wasn’t a very good shot.
Everyone loves the Python.