Hey all, I bought my first pistol (glock 22 RTF2) back in April, waited FOREVER to get it, and waited another FOREVER to get the registration. Well after buying that and reloading gear, I'm having a blast with it so I decided to pull the trigger on another gun (pun intended) just ordered a S&W 686 (6 shot, not 7)with a 6 inch barrel, as well as reloading dies. super excited to get it! I tried one before and thought it was great, didn't so much like the Ruger gp100. Anyone else out there have a 686?how do you like it? I'd love to hear from everyone!
Just ordered my second pistol!
- Thread starter RTF2
- Start date
OldFrankHog
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Gatineau QC
If you didn't like the Ruger, what do you expect you will like of the 686?
I have a 4.2" Barrel 686. I love it. Feed it mostly .38 Special but a little bit of.357 Mag is a lot of fun. Just a few of those go a long way.
Have fun shooting that baby!
You should look into PPC Competition in your area. That 6" Barrel is Made for it!
Have fun shooting that baby!
You should look into PPC Competition in your area. That 6" Barrel is Made for it!
Turkinator
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Onterrible
The gp100 while an excellent revolver, looks like an unrefined brick when viewed next to a 686.
Congrats OP, you won't be disappointed.
In some ways a guy's second handgun is more fun than the first. Now you know that you like the sport and want something a little different, so the second one has just got to be better and more fun.
My second handgun was a S+W 686 6 inch but I bought mine in 1982. It was a fantastic gun and probably had 20,000 rounds through it when I sold it.
I'm not dissing the ruger, I've owned several, but the Smith looks better, has a better trigger and I think has better balance. It's a perfect gun to really learn how to shoot and to shoot cheaply with 38's. Make sure to load up some 357 rounds with 125 grain jacketed and a max load of H2400 or Blue Dot just to clear the cobwebs outta your brain once in a while.
Buy some nice wood grips from one of the Thai dealers on ebay and dress it up. Give it to your girlfriend with some light loads with just a hint of W231 or Bullseye. Load some with 148 gr HBWC and show your Glock buddies what a cloverleaf group looks like. And don't break your back picking up brass.
Oh God I'm tearing up a bit here........ I kinda miss my ole 686. Should never have sold it.
Brad
My second handgun was a S+W 686 6 inch but I bought mine in 1982. It was a fantastic gun and probably had 20,000 rounds through it when I sold it.
I'm not dissing the ruger, I've owned several, but the Smith looks better, has a better trigger and I think has better balance. It's a perfect gun to really learn how to shoot and to shoot cheaply with 38's. Make sure to load up some 357 rounds with 125 grain jacketed and a max load of H2400 or Blue Dot just to clear the cobwebs outta your brain once in a while.
Buy some nice wood grips from one of the Thai dealers on ebay and dress it up. Give it to your girlfriend with some light loads with just a hint of W231 or Bullseye. Load some with 148 gr HBWC and show your Glock buddies what a cloverleaf group looks like. And don't break your back picking up brass.
Oh God I'm tearing up a bit here........ I kinda miss my ole 686. Should never have sold it.
Brad
S&W revolvers are great, but I think your first gun - the Glock 22 RTF - was a great choice. I have one and it is my most often used handgun as I have a 9mm conversion barrel for it. Since you are reloading, you can download the .40 and make it quite pleasant to shoot.
Good choice, my 2nd was also a 6" 357 but a ruger for all the above reasons mentioned you wont regret it!
Wish my first would have been a center fire auto vs a .22 which i dont have anymore.
Reloading can be cheaper and more satifying to shoot than rimfire these days.
Wish my first would have been a center fire auto vs a .22 which i dont have anymore.
Reloading can be cheaper and more satifying to shoot than rimfire these days.
Last edited:
OP, I have bad news for you. You have a terminal bout of gunnuttitus, there is no known cure. I forsee 10mm Glocks and .44 Rem Mag Smiths in your future. 
OP, I have bad news for you. You have a terminal bout of gunnuttitus, there is no known cure. I forsee 10mm Glocks and .44 Rem Mag Smiths in your future.
Not to mention that Glock might get a little lonely at times, probably going to have to get it a nice friend in the form of an ar15 (which then you'll have to try out 3 gun). It's a vicious cycle you've gotten into, but sooooo worth it.
yea, shotguns are another animal altogether. (is it possible to own too many wingmasters?)
Chalk and chees! The 686 is a much smoother, better shooting revolver. The GP 100 feels like there is sand in the mechanism compared to the 686.
Really? My GP 100 has smoothed out quite nicely
. While it didn't come to me as "nice" as a Smith and Wesson trigger, it never felt as thought there were sand in the mechanism. Initially in DA the trigger had a weird "stacking" aspect (almost like a two stage trigger), this I felt distracting; but the trigger felt smooth enough.
I have had Rugers, and have worked on most of them, never as good as a smooth as a older 586.
Rugers are built like a tank, and have heavy springs in them.
I have a 19 -2or3? that is on par with colt python
I have a new S-W 6' 686 in stock that can't hold a candle to the older smiths.
Rugers are built like a tank, and have heavy springs in them.
I have a 19 -2or3? that is on par with colt python
I have a new S-W 6' 686 in stock that can't hold a candle to the older smiths.
