Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch – Superb Seven Shot Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch is The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch answers a question revolver shooters have argued about for years: can you have a short barrel, seven rounds and enough gun to shoot magnum ammunition comfortably.

The L-frame sits between the medium K-frame and the large N-frame, built with a heavier barrel shank and a beefier forcing cone specifically so it can digest a continuous diet of full-power 357 Magnum without complaint. The Plus designation means a seven round cylinder instead of six, and the two and a half inch barrel keeps the whole thing short enough to carry on a belt under a jacket.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch L Frame Strength And Seven Rounds

The L-frame exists because Smith Wesson needed a revolver that could take unlimited magnum shooting without the forcing cone issues that troubled the lighter K-frame. The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch inherits all of that: a thicker barrel shank, a stronger frame, and enough mass that you can shoot full-power ammunition as often as you can afford it. That is the practical difference between this and a medium frame magnum, and it matters most to people who actually practice.

Seven rounds is the other distinction. The Plus cylinder adds a chamber over the standard 686 without changing the frame size, which means an extra round for free in terms of bulk and weight. In a defensive revolver, going from six to seven is a meaningful proportional gain.

The two and a half inch barrel is short enough to conceal on a belt and long enough to be usable, though it does give up velocity and produces more muzzle blast than a four inch. The sights are fully adjustable with a red ramp front, which lets you zero for whatever load you settle on.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch Weight, Blast And Honest Trade Offs

The strength of the L-frame comes from steel, and steel weighs something. The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch is a heavy handgun for its length, and that is a genuine trade. It makes magnum recoil pleasant and it makes all-day belt carry a matter of buying a proper gun belt rather than an afterthought. Anyone expecting a pocket revolver will be surprised the first time they pick one up.

Short barrels and magnum ammunition produce a great deal of noise and muzzle flash. At two and a half inches you are not getting the velocity the cartridge is capable of, and indoors the blast is genuinely startling. Many owners carry 38 Special plus P or short-barrel specific magnum loads for exactly this reason, and the revolver fires 38 Special with no modification.

A seven shot revolver needs seven shot speedloaders, which are less common on the shelf than six shot units. Buy them when you see them.

The double action trigger is heavier than a target revolver and smooths out over several hundred rounds. The internal lock in the frame is a design element some revolver owners dislike, and it is fair to know that before buying rather than after.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 164192
• UPC: 022188641929
• Caliber: 357 Magnum, also fires 38 Special
• Capacity: 7 rounds
• Barrel: 2.5 inches
• Frame: stainless steel L-frame, round butt
• Sights: adjustable rear, red ramp front
• Grips: synthetic
• Action: double action and single action
• Finish: satin stainless

Shoppers weighing the Smith Wesson 686 Plus against medium-frame options are really buying durability and one extra round. As a 357 Magnum L Frame Revolver it was designed from the start for continuous full-power shooting rather than occasional magnum use, and as a Seven Shot Stainless Revolver it fits that extra chamber into the same envelope. The cost is weight, and whether that is a problem depends entirely on how you carry.

Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch

Buy the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch if you want a carry revolver that can also take unlimited practice with full-power ammunition. The L-frame is built for exactly that, and the seven round cylinder gives you an extra shot without an extra inch. Adjustable sights and a stainless finish make it as practical at the range as it is on a belt, and the short barrel keeps it concealable under a jacket.

Skip it if weight is a concern, because this is a heavy handgun and an alloy J-frame is less than half its weight. Skip it if you want maximum velocity from magnum ammunition, where a four or six inch barrel does considerably better. And skip it if pocket carry is your plan, since this revolver belongs on a belt.

Who Should Buy The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 2.5 Inch suits This revolver suits belt carriers who want capacity and durability, home defense buyers, revolver shooters who practice with magnum ammunition, and anyone who wants one gun that shoots inexpensive 38 Special for training and serious 357 Magnum when it counts. It is a poor fit for pocket carry, for weight-sensitive shooters, and for anyone unwilling to invest in a good belt and holster. All firearm sales ship to a licensed FFL dealer for transfer, and handgun, capacity and carry rules vary by state, so confirm your local law before ordering.

Learn more from Smith and Wesson, or browse the rest of our firearms selection.

Every firearm we list ships to your chosen FFL and is transferred there after a background check.