S & W Revolver advice please

Bearlegs

Bearlegs

Joined
Oct 1, 1999
Messages
166
I am in the market for a revolver but am torn between a couple of choices, and I'm hoping someone can help me with my decision. I used to own a S&W model 686 .357 with 6" barrel, but I sold it. The length of the barrel was just too much, though I did enjoy the full underlug. I was very happy with the accuracy and feel of the gun, though. So one pistol I'm considering is a model 686 with 4" barrel. I went to all the pawn shops in town (there are no gun dealers or sporting goods stores here) but was unable to find one. I did, however, find a very nice S&W model 629 .44 with 4" barrel (regular not heavy barrel) and nice wooden grips with finger grooves. The price for this pistol and a new 686 like I want, at least from the pawn shop, is roughly the same at $525 + tax. One thing I'd like to know is if this is a reasonable price. I've done some looking on the web, but haven't been able to find much on current market values for handguns. I believe I paid $4-500 for my 6" model when I bought it back in 1997, but I know prices may be inflated now since the pesky gun laws have changed. :mad:

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me on this.
 
I used to own a S&W model 686 .357 with 6" barrel, but I sold it.
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Doh! I have a 6" S&W M686P (7-shot). It is a good gun that became excellent after it took a trip back to S&W and had that silly red-plastic inserted ramp sight milled off, a slot cut, and a Patridge (target) sight installed. Much better and it only cost a few dollars. S&W was even nice enough also fit a ramp sight at no extra change (would be handy should I ever want to carry the pistol in a holster).

Anyway, a good used 4" S&W686 should be very easy to find at a gun dealer or pawn shop. I suggest you look on the internet for gun dealers and call gun dealers and pawn shops in nearby towns. Once you locate one it is simple to have it transferred to an FFL holder near you (i.e. the pawn shop). You don't want to deal with a shop that tells you they can't transfer a gun or makes it seem complicated (or wants to charge you more than $30-$50).

That .44Mag 629 is a nice gun but with a 4" plain barrel and wood grips there is going to be some brutal recoil will all but light target ammo. If any gun needs a full-lug barrel it is the S&W 629. It is mainly intended for hunting (which makes me wonder what S&W was thinking with the 4" version of it). As a house gun it could be a bit much unless you have very thick walls! Anyway, it could be just the thing for you so see if you can shoot it before you buy. The price seems reasonable if the gun is very good shape.

Personally, I'd hold out for the 4" 686. Let the shop know that you are set on that gun. Ask them if they do FFL transfers and they may suddenly find your gun. Otherwise keep looking, it is a popular gun.
 
Hey, thanks for the very quick reply! I was sort of leaning towards holding out for the 686, so I think your advice is right on. I'll just do some looking around. I figured it was probably a popular gun. In some ways, I wish I'd have kept my 6" version, but I bought a Nikon FM2N manual camera with the proceeds and have shot it much more than I shot the gun. Amateur photography has become a big hobby of mine. The 4" seems like it would be just right, and I actually prefer the 6-shooter, which should be more prevalent. Do you think I might be able to find one in the $400 range?
 
Do you think I might be able to find one in the $400 range?
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I'm a few years out of touch with handgun prices. I pretty much finished collecting handguns and now concentrate on rifles and knives. For a 686 $400 seems reasonable for used, they are very popular guns and these are tough times. I tried all the S&W686 lengths at a range/gun shop when I lived in Texas. The 4" strikes a good balance between size and accuracy. Used revolvers can be an excellent deal. The typical owner hardly ever shoots it. Another place to look is a gun show. Even if the dealers don't have your 686, you could find one that will work with you.

I've recently gotten back into photography. I just bought a nice digital camera, a Sony DSC-F707 and some software, PhotoShop 7.0. I am having a lot of fun with that, mostly taking pictures of my knives and guns.
 
I have a 29 4"bbl that I carry for hunting. It is an exceptional gun and I am large enough that the recoil isn't too bad an issue. Frankly, I have had some .357 loads that were worse.
Mine has the unfluted cylander. I beleive that I paid around 45o for mine.
I have also owned a 686 6" bbl. An outstanding pistol for sure, but it did not meet the legal requirements to carry as a backup in the feild hunting.
Tough choice. Good Luck.
Ed
 
That 500 dollar price range for a Smith seems high, unless your area is the 'high rent' district for most items. I wouldn't pay five bills for any L-frame, but that's me.

In the Madison, Wisconsin area I paid 300 dollars for a NEW 629 Magna Classic with a six inch barrel and a round butt wooden grip with finger grooves; it was maybe six years ago. It shoots like a DX, with proper handloads. I was at one of those little out of the way shops, and bought it.

For the record, I shot metallic silhouette for two years with a four inch Model 29. I used +20 grains of 296 or H-110 and a 240 grain jacketed hollow cavity. And it was nickel plated! I sold it when the stainless models came out in +/-1979, and I could have kicked myself. I had two of those early lemons, and gladly sold them both for a four inch 624.

Don't get me wrong, I fired plenty of cast 358356 (or is it 356358) bullets through various Smith .357's, but I just never cared for the cartridge or the accuracy. I did enjoy a two inch Model 66, and a three inch Model 65.
 
S&W 586 (38/357) - round butt, 4 inch barrel, Hogue grips, target sights, over travel stop and action job. :)
 
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