Looking for advice on a 357 Mag revolver purchase

[Colnago]

All -- I wanted to ask for some advice from the forum. I fondly remember shooting my S&W 686 stainless 357 Mag with a six inch barrel in the late 80s and sold it 10+ years ago. I was thinking of getting a another 357 with 6" barrel and I am trying to figure out if it is better to buy a new one or search for a good condition older model. Does anyone have experience with the newer models and do they have any compelling benefits compared to the older ones? This will be a fun range toy -- not to be carried our used for home defence. Look forward to your advice.

[Coal Dragger]

The only advantage a newer 686 has is a 7 shot cylinder.

Aside from that most consider the older revolvers to be more desirable due to no MIM parts, no lock, and supposedly better fit and finish.

I'm not personally sure how bad MIM parts are, and the lock is a non issue to me personally.

[CDR_Glock]

If you're looking for a range toy, then anything goes.

The advantage of the newer one is the plus one capacity. The negative is the lock but I don't even mess with it, and I've never had issues. The older Prelock will sell at a premium so it's not worth that to me. I'm happy with newer S&W revolvers.

I have a Performance Center 627 5" 8 shot and a 586 L-Comp 7 shot. They're a bit big for EDC but I've carried them when hunting.




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[davidz71]

We still have a few older model 64's in our armory and a bunch of the 64's with lock, MIM hammer/trigger, firing pin in the frame and I can tell you the newer ones give us more light firing pin falls/failure to fire than the older 64's. I wouldn't waste my money on a new one but look for an older model Smith at a gun show. I am seeing more model 19's, 66's and 686's from personal collections at gun shows lately. I've had all three in different barrel lengths and prefer the 686's.

[Pappabear]

I have both old and new and like both. The new stainless 7 shot is nice, the M&P 8 shot is real nice.

If you get an older one, the desirable features are :
Firing pin on hammer
Recessed cylinder
Pinned barrel.

Hard to go wrong buying a nice Smith , old or new. Good luck.

PB

[Colnago]

Thanks guys -- really appreciate the input. Very helpful.

[Big A]

The only advantage a newer 686 has is a 7 shot cylinder.

Aside from that most consider the older revolvers to be more desirable due to no MIM parts, no lock, and supposedly better fit and finish.

I'm not personally sure how bad MIM parts are, and the lock is a non issue to me personally.

The 686 is still a 6 shot, the 686+ is the 7 shot. Both are L frames.

[Coal Dragger]

Is the regular 686 still offered?

[titsonritz]

I have both old and new and like both. The new stainless 7 shot is nice, the M&P 8 shot is real nice.

If you get an older one, the desirable features are :
Firing pin on hammer
Recessed cylinder
Pinned barrel.

Hard to go wrong buying a nice Smith , old or new. Good luck.

PB

I do not believe you will find a 686 with recessed cylinders and pinned as the "L" frame was introduced right about the time S&W was phasing out those options. Here is a list of engineering changes to the 686.

686 no dash, introduced model
686-1, 1986, radius stud package, floating hand
686-2, 1987, changed hammer nose, bushing and associated parts
686-3, 1988, new yoke retention system
686-4, 1993, change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, change extractor, Hogue grips
686-5, 1997, change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud, eliminate serrated tangs, change to metal injection molded (MIM) hammer with floating firing pin, change to MIM trigger, change internal lockwork
686-6, 2001, internal lock

Also keep in mind there was a recall on 581, 586, 681, 686, or 581-1, 586-1, 681-1, 686-1, 686CS-1 due to cylinder binding. Any on these models w/o an "M" stamped above the model number has not been modified.

[Coal Dragger]

I'll admit I'd love to find a 686 CS-1 but I'm not willing to pay the premium for one when all I want is a shooter.