I went shopping for a revolver today, I’ve been wanting one of the new Colt King Cobras. Every Colt I looked at today had a gap between the frame and the barrel. So instead, I brought home the S&W 686 Plus 3” (non fluted cylinder). The Colt had a better trigger but I could not spend that kind of money on a revolver that had a noticeable gap like they did. I would post a picture of my new wheel gun but I’ve forgotten how to do it. I’m thinking about getting a Simply Rugged holster to carry her in.

Nice pick up! I have the same revolver albeit with a fluted cylinder. ( I wish mine was unfluted).
Put in a Wilson spring kit & you'll be amazed at how it transforms the trigger pull.

quote:

Originally posted by Delta-3:
Nice pick up! I have the same revolver albeit with a fluted cylinder. ( I wish mine was unfluted).
Put in a Wilson spring kit & you'll be amazed at how it transforms the trigger pull.

Great looking piece. I’ll try the spring kit, thanks for letting me know. Are those VZ grips?

Nice score...I don't think you'll be disappointed in that Smith. The Colts are nice guns, but the 686 is a classic and should serve you well. I'm a sucker for a 3" barrel...IMO it's the perfect length for a carry gun. I have a couple of 3" J-Frames, a 2 3/4" 69, and Speed-Six...but no 686 or King Cobra yet.

I don't need another 3" revolver...I don't need another 3" revolver...I don't need another 3" revolver !

The 686 trigger can break in throw some snap caps in and dry fire the heck out of it.

quote:

Originally posted by CD228:
The 686 trigger can break in throw some snap caps in and dry fire the heck out of it.

I’ve got some snap caps on the way.

Yes those are from VZ.

you have a Grail Gun for a lot of serious S&W shooters out there. One big giant plus for the S&W revolvers is that they are so tuneable. My 7 shooter is a model 620, a tensioned barrel variant of the 686. Spent about 20 minutes smoothing out some machining marks and adjusting the mainspring tension and I now have an 8 lbs. DA trigger that is smooth as leather on wet ice without even a hint of staging. As for the single action trigger, only use that for 50 yards and more but it's wonderfully crisp with a 3.0 lbs. break.

Really something in 3”. A friend has a 2.75” one, which is shoot very well.

I bought a 66, thinking to get something a little easier to carry.

Not the same.

[IMG:left] 604869B7-7451-4EE5-BB4F-99C7467ECD38 by David King, on Flickr[/IMG]

The 3” 686 is an awesome revolver that balance quite nicely. I had a fourth CS-1 that I sold to a retired Customs agent who was issued one as his first sidearm when he became a Special Agent. It felt like the gun was supposed to be with him. I haven’t shot or even pulled the trigger on the 7 shooter, but can attest a Wilson spring change makes a world of difference. Enjoy your new revolver you made a wise choice.

[IMG:left] IMG_1063 by David King, on Flickr[/IMG]

My 686 family before I let one move away.

I really want a pre-lock 2.5” 686 Plus (they’re out there). I love the snubby .357.

There is a 3” Ruger Wiley Clap GP100 that holds seven rounds at my lgs, but it’s close to $1,000!

Unreal how expensive things have become.

I picked up a 686 Plus 3” last November. With the holidays I didn’t have time to shoot it till February this year. It shot low and I couldn’t adjust the rear sight as the adjustment screw was jammed. S&W sent me a label and it came back with a new rear sight. I put a 15# rebound spring in it. I also put S&W round to square rubber grips on it as as I didn’t like the rubber combat style grips it came with.

I have 300 rounds of lead SWCs through it and it’s a laser. The action is really smoothing out.

I’ve owned dozens of S&W revolvers since 1973 (a Model 28, 4” being my first) and I began my LE career using a Model 66, 4”, that I still own. This 686 Plus is every bit as well built as the older pre-locks I have or have had. Additionally, I’m going to start the registration process (silly CA one in 30 days rules) on a 686 SSR on the 13th.

Nice gun. I have a 3" CS-1 and it's a keeper:

You can't beat a 3" 686 as an all around wheel gun. I have a + version, and also have one of the new 3" King Cobras. The KC needed some work to get the timing right, but Colt stepped up and did it all on their dime. It's tits! Great little carry gun. Doesn't soak up heavy magnum recoil as well as the Smith, but way better than an SP101.

If you send your Smith back for their Master Revolver Action Package, it's an absolute bargain, lifetime warranty applies. The tuning is out of this world. Probably the last handgun I would ever part with.