Smith Wesson 686 Plus Deluxe 357 Mag – Superb 6 in. Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus Deluxe 357 Mag is the seven-shot L-frame that has been the benchmark 357 Magnum revolver for decades, here in the Deluxe trim with textured wood grips, a full 6 inch barrel and a satin stainless finish.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus Deluxe 357 Mag The L-Frame Advantage

Elegant and functional, the Model 686 Plus Deluxe pairs the highly popular Smith and Wesson L-frame with a seven-round cylinder and dress wood grips. The L-frame sits between the compact K-frame and the large N-frame, which is exactly the point: it is heavy enough to handle a steady diet of full-power 357 Magnum without the bulk of an N-frame.

That extra seventh round is not a gimmick. The 686 Plus fits seven chambers into the same cylinder diameter as a six-shot gun by thinning the walls where the strength is not needed, and it has been doing so reliably since the 1990s.

The 6 inch barrel gives this version its character. It wrings the most velocity out of a 357 Magnum cartridge, stretches the sight radius for precise shooting, and puts enough weight forward that the muzzle barely rises.

357 Magnum and 38 Special

A 357 Magnum revolver is really two guns. Loaded with Magnum ammunition it is a serious hunting and defensive handgun with real penetration and considerable blast. Loaded with 38 Special it becomes a mild, cheap, pleasant target revolver that anyone can shoot well.

Being honest about the Magnum side: out of a 6 inch barrel it is loud enough that doubling up on hearing protection is genuinely a good idea, and the flash at dusk is significant. That is the cost of the performance.

The adjustable rear sight lets you zero for whichever load you settle on, which matters more with a revolver that shoots two very different cartridges than it does with most handguns.

Fit, Finish and Handling

Weight is what makes a full-size 357 revolver comfortable, and the L-frame carries enough steel to soak up recoil without becoming a chore to hold up. The full underlug beneath the barrel puts that mass exactly where it does the most good, directly under the muzzle, which is why the sights settle so quickly between shots.

The double-action pull on a current-production Smith and Wesson revolver is smooth out of the box and gets noticeably better over the first few hundred rounds as the parts wear in. The single-action let-off is short and clean, which is what you want for deliberate shots at distance.

Loading and unloading is straightforward with the cylinder release, and speedloaders and moon-clip conversions for the seven-shot 686 Plus are widely available if you intend to shoot the gun competitively.

Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 150712
• Caliber: 357 Magnum (also accepts 38 Special)
• Frame: medium-large L-frame, stainless steel
• Barrel: 6 in., stainless steel
• Capacity: 7 rounds
• Action: single and double action
• Grips: textured wood
• Finish: satin stainless
• Sights: adjustable rear sight, ramp front sight
• Warranty: Smith and Wesson Limited Lifetime Service Policy
• UPC: 022188141580

Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 686 Plus Deluxe 357 Mag

The 686 has one of the strongest reputations of any modern revolver. It is the gun that solved the K-frame durability problem with hot 357 loads, and forty years of use have confirmed the design.

Seven rounds instead of six is a meaningful advantage for competition, for defense and for anyone who has ever wanted one more shot before a reload.

Textured wood grips give the Deluxe a presentation-grade look while still filling the hand properly, and they suit the satin stainless finish far better than rubber does.

The ability to shoot inexpensive 38 Special makes this a revolver you can practice with seriously rather than one you shoot twice a year because ammunition costs too much.

Who Should Buy It

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus Deluxe 357 Mag suits revolver shooters who want one gun for target work, defense and light hunting, competitors in revolver divisions where seven rounds is an advantage, and anyone who values the reliability of a wheelgun with the polish of a wood-gripped stainless finish.

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