Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch – Superb Seven Shot Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch is The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch is arguably the best compromise in the entire Smith Wesson revolver catalog. Three inches of barrel is the length where a magnum revolver stops being a specialist tool and becomes something you can carry, shoot well, and use for almost anything.

The L-frame underneath was engineered specifically to withstand continuous full-power 357 Magnum shooting, the Plus cylinder holds seven rounds instead of six, and the whole thing is stainless steel so it takes weather and sweat without complaint. Adjustable sights let you zero it properly rather than living with whatever the factory chose.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch Barrel Length And Balance

Three inches is the length experienced revolver carriers keep coming back to. On the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch it gives you a sight radius long enough to shoot accurately at realistic distances, enough barrel to keep muzzle blast reasonable, and a package that still clears a holster quickly and does not dig into your ribs when you sit down. A two and a half inch gun conceals marginally better; a four inch shoots marginally better. This sits between them and gives up very little of either.

The full ejector rod shroud and underlug put weight forward, which steadies the muzzle and slows recoil rise. On a short-barreled magnum that forward weight matters more than it does on a long gun, because there is less barrel to provide it naturally.

Seven rounds is the other advantage. The Plus cylinder fits an extra chamber into the same frame, so you carry one more round with no increase in size or meaningful increase in weight. Going from six to seven is a larger proportional gain than it sounds.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch Weight, Ammunition And Honest Trade Offs

The L-frame gets its durability from steel, and the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch is a heavy handgun for its size. That is the price of being able to shoot full-power magnum ammunition indefinitely without worrying about the forcing cone. It also means you need a real gun belt and a well-made holster, not a strip of leather and a nylon pouch.

Short-barreled magnums are loud and produce visible flash, and three inches is short by magnum standards. Indoors, full-power loads are genuinely startling. The revolver fires 38 Special without modification, which is what most owners shoot for practice, and short-barrel specific defensive magnum loads are worth seeking out if you carry magnums.

Seven shot speedloaders are less common on store shelves than six shot units. Buy a few when you find them rather than assuming they will be there later.

The double action pull is heavier than a dedicated target revolver, as it should be on a carry gun, and it smooths out noticeably over the first several hundred rounds.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 150853
• UPC: 022188145175
• Caliber: 357 Magnum, also fires 38 Special
• Capacity: 7 rounds
• Barrel: 3 inches with full underlug
• Frame: stainless steel L-frame
• Sights: adjustable rear, red ramp front
• Action: double action and single action
• Grips: synthetic
• Finish: satin stainless

Buyers comparing the Smith Wesson 686 Plus across barrel lengths tend to settle here once they have handled all three. As a 357 Magnum L Frame Revolver it was built for continuous full-power use rather than occasional magnum shooting, and as a Seven Shot Stainless Revolver it fits an extra chamber into the standard frame. Three inches is the length that asks you to give up the least.

Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch

Buy the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch if you want one revolver that carries reasonably, shoots accurately, and will absorb as much magnum practice as you can pay for. The three inch barrel is the sweet spot between concealment and shootability, the L-frame handles full-power loads without wear concerns, and seven rounds is a real advantage over the six shot norm.

Skip it if you need a lightweight gun, because this one is solid steel and you will notice it on a belt. Skip it if you want maximum velocity from magnum loads, where four and six inch barrels do considerably better. And skip it if pocket carry is the plan, because this revolver belongs on a belt with a proper holster.

Who Should Buy The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 3 Inch suits This revolver suits belt carriers, home defense buyers, revolver shooters who practice seriously with magnum ammunition, and anyone who wants a single handgun that trains cheaply on 38 Special and works hard on 357 Magnum. It also makes a capable trail gun in country without large predators.

It is a poor fit for pocket carry, for weight-sensitive shooters, and for anyone unwilling to buy a decent 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.