Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch – Superb Hunting Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch is The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch exists for people who want everything the 357 Magnum cartridge is capable of and are willing to carry a large handgun to get it. Seven inches of full underlug barrel is longer than almost anything else in the current Smith Wesson revolver lineup, and every inch of it does something: more velocity from magnum ammunition, a longer sight radius than any shorter model, and enough forward weight that the muzzle sits still through a careful shot.

The L-frame beneath it was built to absorb continuous full-power shooting, and the Plus cylinder holds seven rounds.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch Long Barrel Advantages

Velocity is the first thing the extra barrel buys. The 357 Magnum was developed around long barrels and it rewards them. Out of the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch a heavy bullet leaves considerably faster than it would from a three inch gun, which matters if you hunt with it and matters less if you shoot paper. Muzzle blast also drops noticeably, since more of the powder burns inside the barrel where it belongs.

Sight radius is the second and, for most shooters, the more useful gain. The longer the distance between the sights, the more visible your own wobble becomes, and visible errors are correctable errors. Groups tighten because you can see what you are doing wrong.

The third is weight and where it sits. A seven inch full underlug barrel puts a great deal of mass out front, which steadies an offhand hold and slows recoil rise. A cylinder of full-power magnums out of this revolver is a firm push rather than a snap, and the sights return quickly.

The rear sight adjusts fully for windage and elevation, letting you zero for a specific hunting load.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch Size, Handling And Honest Limits

There is no getting around it: the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch is a large handgun. It does not conceal, it needs a purpose-built field or chest holster, and it is awkward in a vehicle. Anyone who wants a revolver to carry daily should be looking at a three inch model instead, and should not talk themselves into this one on the strength of the ballistics.

The muzzle-heavy balance that steadies your hold also tires your arm. Long offhand strings get harder as the session goes on. Use a rest for accuracy work and accept that this is a deliberate revolver rather than a fast one.

Magnum ammunition is expensive and its availability comes and goes. This revolver fires 38 Special with no modification, and that is what most owners practice with. It costs a fraction as much and builds the same trigger control.

Seven shot speedloaders are harder to find than six shot units, so buy several when you see them. The internal lock in the frame is something a portion of revolver buyers actively dislike, and it is fair to know that before purchase.

Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 150855
• UPC: 022188145151
• Caliber: 357 Magnum, also fires 38 Special
• Capacity: 7 rounds
• Barrel: 7 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

Shoppers weighing the Smith Wesson 686 Plus in its longest barrel against the more common four and six inch guns are buying reach and steadiness. As a 357 Magnum L Frame Revolver it takes full-power ammunition indefinitely, and as a Seven Shot Stainless Revolver it carries an extra round in the standard frame. Seven inches is a commitment, and it only makes sense if shooting rather than carrying is the plan.

Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch

Buy the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch if you handgun hunt, shoot silhouette, or simply want the most accurate and highest performing 357 Magnum revolver you can get without moving to a large frame gun. The long barrel and long sight radius make careful shooting easier than any other configuration, and the L-frame will take unlimited full-power ammunition without complaint.

Skip it if you want anything you can carry concealed, because this revolver is long and heavy and makes no attempt to hide. Skip it if your range is limited to short distances where the extra barrel earns nothing. And skip it if arm fatigue during long offhand sessions would frustrate you.

Who Should Buy The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch

The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 357 Magnum 7 Inch suits This revolver suits handgun hunters, silhouette and target shooters, and revolver enthusiasts who want the maximum-performance version of a classic platform. It also serves as a very good teaching gun, since the weight tames recoil and the long sights show a new shooter exactly what their trigger finger is doing.

It is a poor fit for concealed carry, for anyone sensitive to handgun weight, and for shooters who want a fast-handling defensive revolver. 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.