Smith and Wesson 686 2 1/2 Inch Reviews

Specifications

Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: 686 Plus (Performance Center)
Frame Size: L-Frame
Caliber: .357 Magnum / .38 Special +P
Action: Double Action / Singe Action
Capacity: 7 Rounds
Butt Length: 2.5 inches
Front Sight: Red Ramp
Rear Sight: Adjustable
Overall Length: seven.5 inches
Grip: Forest
Weight: 35 ounces
Butt Material: Stainless Steel
Cylinder Material: Stainless Steel
Frame Material: Stainless Steel
Finish: Matte Drinking glass Bead Blast
M.S.R.P.: $one,089

In that location are many existing holster options for an 50-frame revolver.

Snubby revolvers have been a mainstay of concealed comport since the introduction of the original Smith & Wesson "Chief's Special" in 1950. Although immensely practical as a defensive handgun, the classic snubby revolver has always suffered from a few serious drawbacks–most notably, having a limited ammo chapters, and being difficult to shoot well. However, a little bit of modernistic applied science and a lot of meticulous attending from the talented gunsmiths in the Smith and Wesson Performance Center have elevated the classic snubby revolver to a new level.

The Performance Center snub is distinguished by a beautiful unfluted cylinder.

The Performance Center snub is distinguished past a beautiful unfluted cylinder.

This Performance Heart 686 Plus firmly straddles the line betwixt former school and modern blueprint. At its core, this revolver is a stainless-steel double-activeness revolver with wood grips and fe sights. But this 686 Plus has a chapters of seven rounds in the aforementioned diameter cylinder that used to only fit vi. Combine that increased capacity with the magic of some fine-tuning in the Functioning Centre, and you have a thoroughly modern defensive revolver.

Better Features

Of course, this PC 686 Plus is considerably larger than the classic 5-shot snubby revolver. At seven.5 inches long and near 35 ounces in weight, this gun is not suited for pocket bear. However, if y'all are willing to carry a larger revolver, the size increase pays huge dividends. The 686 Plus has good-sized wood stocks that will fit even big hands. And, the larger "L-frame" makes for a more comfortable grip and trigger attain than small-frame snubbies.

smith 1651

Seven rounds of .357 Magnum is quite a bit of firepower.

Since 1996, Smith & Wesson has offered L-frame .357 Magnum revolvers in half dozen or seven shot capacities. Although the cylinder bore is the same, modern advances in materials engineering science have allowed the cylinder walls to be thinned plenty to fit an extra round. While some traditionalists still prefer the traditional 6- circular L-frame, when it comes to a defensive revolver, the extra round is a huge benefit. By comparison, the 686 Plus has 40% more chapters than a typical minor-frame snub olfactory organ revolver. With seven rounds on tap, the 686 Plus is approaching the capacity of most single-stack semi-automobile pistols suitable for concealed bear. Of a sudden, carrying a revolver instead of a semi-auto doesn't seem like so much of a compromise in ammunition chapters.

Mayhap the most distinguishing characteristic of this detail 686 Plus is the actress attention from Smith & Wesson's talented Operation Center gunsmiths. Performance Center guns are Smith & Wesson'southward best products, designed for their most demanding customers. This translates into a high level of fit and finish, but more chiefly, a well-tuned action. This blazon of refinement is specially valuable in a double-activity revolver, which can have a long and heavy trigger. The Functioning Eye tuning produces a light and shine trigger pull. Together with the smaller required rotation of the vii-shot cylinder, this 686 Plus trigger is a please. I have experienced better revolver triggers on choosy target guns, merely the Functioning Heart guns strike a proper remainder between a light trigger and rock solid reliability.

The Performance Center snub is adorned with a few distinguishing cosmetic features, like the unfluted cylinder and the slab-side barrel. The gun also sports an engraved Performance Center logo on the left side-plate, and a laser carving on the barrel shroud. Both give the revolver a unique custom appearance.

smith 1645

The 2.5 inch butt a however produces cage velocities over 1,100 feet per 2nd.

Better Performance

Shooting a snubby revolver is usually a challenge. Shooting a .357 Magnum snubby revolver is ever a challenge. I have mostly given upward on shooting small-frame Magnums, unless I am required to do so. It tin be washed, only I am non a fan.

Shooting .357 Magnum rounds from an L-frame snubby revolver, however, is a far better experience. The additional weight, along with the larger frame and grips, make a big difference. Although shooting Magnums will notwithstanding definitely get your attention, the gun is manageable with a proper beat grip. Regardless, a snubby Magnum revolver is non well suited to anyone who is recoil sensitive. At least you lot always have the option of shooting .38 Special +P, if desired.

Even with the brusk barrel, this 686 Plus offers strong ballistic operation with Magnum loads. I tested four dissimilar brands of premium defensive ammo, and all produced average cage velocity in backlog of 1,100 feet per second. At these velocities, yous should be able to wait excellent performance from modern expanding jacketed hollow point bullets.

The 686 Plus is also exceptionally authentic for snubby. I had no problem with drilling out the x-ring of a standard NRA target at 7 yards. Similarly, a steel plate rack at 10 yards can be cleared with no problem. Even at 25 yards, head shots on a silhouette are like shooting fish in a barrel to come past. This is due in part to the revolver's fantabulous adjustable rear sight, and high visibility cherry ramp front end sight.

This revolver is also set upwardly for using moonclips, which concur all seven rounds as a single unit for ease of loading and unloading. A discussion of the pros and cons of moonclips is unfortunately beyond the scope of this article. The utility of moonclips in a defensive revolver is open to debate–but in that location is no drawback to having the cylinder cut to accept them. With this 686 Plus, y'all accept the option of using moonclips or not.

smith 1646

The Operation Center logo is tastefully applied to the left side.

Ameliorate Snubby

While non really fair to compare this gun to a traditional small-frame snubby revolver, that is a natural comparison. The PC 686 Plus snub is much easier to shoot, more accurate, and more than powerful. With seven rounds of .357 Magnum on tap, this gun compares favorably with the firepower of many semi-automatic handguns. If you lot are a "revolver guy," and desire to behave a wheel gun, you don't accept to feel under gunned with this 686 Plus.

Prices of quality revolvers have been creeping upwards in recent years. A standard 686 Plus snubby retails for $849. Operation Center guns, however, always command a premium cost. The PC version of the 686 Plus snub retails for $1,089. For the actress $240, y'all get wood grips, different sights, a cylinder cutting for moonclips, and a paw tuned action. In my opinion, the extra cash is very well spent. As with any Smith & Wesson firearm, the 686 Plus is covered with a lifetime service policy, and their customer service is some of the best in the business.

Carrying a snub nose revolver is ever a compromise of some kind. The Operation Center 686 Plus addresses some of these shortcomings with additional capacity and ease of use. Unfortunately, that additional capability comes in a package much larger than the traditional snubby revolver. If you can cope with the additional size and weight, this is a remarkable carry gun. A blend of old and new engineering science, with some custom craftsmanship thrown in, makes this 686 Plus a amend snubby, and a great choice for bear.

The author would like to give thanks Winchester (www.winchester.com), Federal (www.federal premium.com), and Hornady (www.hornady.com), for providing ammunition for testing. All shooting was washed at the Southern Exposure grooming facility in Lakeland, Florida (world wide web.southernexposuretraining.com).

smith 1654