Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch – Superb Target Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch is The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch is the configuration that made this revolver a fixture at every range and on every silhouette line in the country. Six inches of full underlug barrel gives you the longest sight radius in the family, the most velocity from magnum ammunition, and enough forward weight that the muzzle simply does not move when you break a shot. The L-frame was engineered specifically to take unlimited full-power 357 Magnum, and the Plus cylinder holds seven rounds instead of six.

This is not a carry gun and it does not pretend to be. It is a revolver you shoot.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch Sight Radius And Barrel Weight

Sight radius is the quiet reason the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch shoots better than its shorter siblings. Stretching the distance between front and rear sight makes small aiming errors visible on the sights before they become large errors on the target. Shooters who cannot hold a decent group with a three inch magnum often shoot respectable ones with this, and the gun has not changed, only the feedback it gives you.

The full underlug is the other half. Six inches of barrel with a solid lug beneath it puts a great deal of weight forward, which damps the tremor in an offhand hold and slows recoil rise so the front sight drops back into the notch quickly. On a magnum that is the difference between a comfortable string of fire and a fight.

Velocity matters if you hunt with it. A six inch barrel gives 357 Magnum room to burn its powder, and the difference over a three inch gun is substantial with heavier bullets. For deer inside sensible distances or for hogs, this is the barrel length to have.

The rear sight adjusts fully for windage and elevation, so you can zero for the exact load you use.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch Weight, Carry And Honest Limits

This revolver is heavy and long, and that is the trade. The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch is not something you conceal under a jacket. A chest rig or a purpose-built field holster works for the woods, and a range bag works for everything else, but anyone hoping to carry this daily should look at a three inch model instead.

The weight that makes it pleasant to shoot also makes it tiring to hold offhand for long strings. That is not a defect, it is physics, and it is why serious shooters use a rest or a two-handed hold and take their time.

Magnum ammunition is expensive and inconsistently stocked. The revolver fires 38 Special without modification, which is what most owners use for practice, and doing so costs a fraction as much and teaches trigger control just as well.

Seven shot speedloaders are less common than six shot units. Buy a few when you find them. The internal lock in the frame is a feature some revolver owners dislike, which is worth knowing about before you buy.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 164198
• UPC: 022188641981
• Caliber: 357 Magnum, also fires 38 Special
• Capacity: 7 rounds
• Barrel: 6 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 land here when accuracy outranks portability. As a 357 Magnum L Frame Revolver it was designed for continuous full-power use, and as a Seven Shot Stainless Revolver it adds a round without adding frame size. Six inches simply gives the cartridge and the sights the most room to work with, and everything about how it shoots follows from that.

Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch

Buy the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch if accuracy is what you want from a revolver. The long sight radius and heavy barrel make it the easiest gun in the line to shoot well, and the L-frame will take as much full-power magnum ammunition as you can afford to feed it. It doubles as a capable handgun hunting revolver at sensible distances, and seven rounds beats the six shot standard.

Skip it if you want something to carry, because this is a long, heavy handgun that does not conceal. Skip it if range space limits you to short distances where the extra barrel earns nothing. And skip it if you want a light gun, since the whole design philosophy here is mass in the right places.

Who Should Buy The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 6 Inch suits This revolver suits target and silhouette shooters, handgun hunters, home defense buyers who want a nightstand gun rather than a carry gun, and revolver enthusiasts who want the classic 686 configuration. It also makes an excellent teaching gun, since the weight tames recoil and the sights show a new shooter exactly what their trigger finger is doing.

It is a poor fit for concealed carry and for anyone bothered by weight. All firearm sales ship to a licensed FFL dealer for transfer, and handgun and capacity 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.