Description
The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 4 in 357 Mag is the seven-shot stainless L-frame in the barrel length most shooters actually want, with adjustable sights, a full underlug and rubber grips that soak up the recoil of full-power Magnum loads.
Smith Wesson 686 Plus 4 in 357 Mag The All-Around 357
If you were going to own exactly one revolver, a strong case exists for this one. The 4 inch 686 Plus is short enough to carry in a belt holster, long enough to shoot accurately at distance, and heavy enough that 357 Magnum recoil stays civil.
The L-frame was created specifically to solve a problem: K-frame revolvers loosened up under a steady diet of full-power 357 Magnum. The L-frame added steel where it was needed without jumping all the way to the bulk of an N-frame, and the 686 has been proving that design since 1981.
The Plus designation means seven rounds instead of six. Smith and Wesson fit the extra chamber into the same cylinder by thinning the walls in the places where strength is not critical, and the result has held up in three decades of hard use.
Sights, Grips and Handling
Adjustable rear sights matter more on a 357 than on most handguns, because the gun shoots two very different cartridges. You can zero for the defensive Magnum load you carry, then drop back to 38 Special for practice knowing exactly where it prints.
The rubber grips are less attractive than wood but more practical. They spread recoil across the palm and stay put in a wet hand, which is the right priority on a gun you may shoot with heavy loads.
The full underlug beneath the barrel puts weight directly under the muzzle. That is what keeps the front sight from climbing, and it is why the 4 inch 686 recovers so quickly between shots compared to a lighter revolver.
Specifications
- Manufacturer part number: 164194
- Caliber: 357 Magnum (also accepts 38 Special)
- Frame: medium-large L-frame, stainless steel
- Barrel: 4 in. with full underlug
- Capacity: 7 rounds
- Action: single and double action
- Sights: adjustable rear sight, ramp front sight
- Grips: rubber
- Finish: satin stainless
- Warranty: Smith and Wesson Limited Lifetime Service Policy
- UPC: 022188641943
Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 686 Plus 4 in 357 Mag
A stainless 4 inch 357 is the most versatile handgun configuration there is. It works for home defense, belt carry, target shooting, small game and even light hunting without being ideal-but-useless at any of them.
Seven rounds instead of six gives you one more shot before a reload, which is a genuine advantage in competition and in defensive use.
Cheap 38 Special ammunition means you can actually practice. A revolver you shoot regularly is worth far more than a more powerful one you shoot twice a year.
Revolvers do not care what you feed them. Wadcutters, heavy cast bullets, low-recoil loads and full-power Magnums all cycle the same way, because the action is your hand rather than the cartridge.
Who Should Buy It
The Smith Wesson 686 Plus 4 in 357 Mag suits first-time revolver buyers who want one gun that does everything, home defenders who prefer a wheelgun manual of arms, and shooters stepping up from 38 Special who want room to grow into full 357 Magnum loads. Be aware that Magnum ammunition through a 4 inch barrel is loud and produces a large muzzle flash indoors.
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.
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