Anyone on here have a S&W 686? I'm thinking about getting one of the longer barrel varieties for shooting 50+ yd targets. I think the barrel length was 8-3/8".

I'm guessing the 357 mag won't have much power for deer or hogs past that distance? My last hunting handgun was a 454 Casull and there wasn't much worry about "having enough gun"

Great 357 mine are very accurate if your capable they are easily a 100 plus yard gun.

Place a good heavy for caliber bullet into the boiler room of hogs or deer it well kill them.

But you are right it does not have the smack of the bigger bores.

A 300 plus gr wfn out of s 44 or 45 caliber hand gun over 1000fps has more smack.

I like the 586/686s a lot. There are quite a few variations over the years.

My opinion, which is just that, is that longer than 6 inch barrels on handguns are more difficult to shoot well unless using some type of rest, especially on moving or potentially moving targets. Yes, I am familiar with silhouettes. Not to mention, they are significantly more difficult to carry easily.

The .357 with half way decent bullets will easily kill a deer if the shooter does his part. IMO, if you really think you need the extra "uumph" (technical term) the extra barrel length gives you, then go to a .41 or .44 Mag. or a .45 Colt.

Not the same gun, but I somewhere have a Mod 27 in semi-rough shape that is a real tack driver. They used to be somewhat cheaper than other similar Smiths, but no longer. Still, if you run on one for a good price, don't pass it up, all of them I've shot have been very accurate.

I bought a 6 inch 686 the first year they came out; early 80s I think; it is a great revolver, but, the .357 mag is a bit small and weak, for me. So I never shoot it.
But for fun shooting, which is the title of this section, I suppose it would be fine, and for hunting very small pest type animals. The 357 used to have a reputation for being a powerful hand gun but that was before people now any better.

I own a 6" S&W 686 and love it! It is very accurate (I have a red dot sight on it). I am not sure why you need a long barrel unless you plan on using open sights.





Note the 180gr. JHP bullets!
Peter.

Great group!! Except for those two obviously defective bullets.

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Great group!! Except for those two obviously defective bullets.

Nope! "Called flyers"!!!
Peter.

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I am not sure why you need a long barrel unless you plan on using open sights.

More velocity.

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But for fun shooting, which is the title of this section, I suppose it would be fine, and for hunting very small pest type animals.

Elmer's spirit lives on.......

P dog, IMHO, the issue of needing longer barrels to obtain greater velocities has been made moot perhaps with the modern powders that we have available to us nowadays. I have, of course, no objective data to back this up, other than my own personal experience in being able to obtain the velocities I desire from the firearms that I have, by judicious powder selection. 2 1/2 inch barreled revolvers being the exception!
Peter.

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P dog, IMHO, the issue of needing longer barrels to obtain greater velocities has been made moot perhaps with the modern powders that we have available to us nowadays.

A lot depends of the particular fire arm also I have a 5.5 44 red hawk that is faster then the 3 7.5s with the same loads.

But normally a longer barrel well increase your velocity with most powders.

I like it. I am trying to find another one right now NIB. Ping me if you want to sell one.

Dogcat, message "Peter" on this forum. He is looking to sell his 686

I'm a late to the thread, but I'm a long time owner of a 2 1/2" 686 and think very highly of the revolver. Mine has had a trigger job and is mag-na-ported. It's a bit unusual in that low velocity 158 .38 Special ammo has more muzzle flip than high velocity .357 ammo due to the porting. I will also mention that one should choose his ammo carefully with the shorter barrel as the harmonics of some loads have the most evil, piercing pitch imaginable.

Just bought a pair...

Looking forward to shooting them.

I like a 6" revolver. I found the 8-3/4" a royal pain in the a$$..Too long to sit in a vehicle, too awkward in a should holster..I speak only for myself..I could never see any advantage to those long barrels...The only advantage to a 4" is for a police officer or daily wear..snubbys are for undercover work or office workers..