Smith & Wesson's Performance Center® 586 L-Comp

I was attempting to decide if I was going to replace a muffler on the thrasher Ford Escape, or get back to my tree line thinning. Noting the temperature was 87°, I checked the weather forecast and found temperatures were going to hit 93° with humidity just short of rain. So I compromised and stayed indoors to finish this article.

Visiting family headed back to Texas last week. I love those guys, enjoy the hell out of them when they are here, miss them the minute they leave.  However, I’d be lying if I said I am not enjoying finding things where I left them. Yes, that is old age pettiness. Thank you for noticing. Yes, they are the most considerate people you’d ever want to meet.

They tell me they want to live here in Maine when their daughter, my youngest granddaughter, heads off to college. I won’t hold my breath, but it would be terrific if that came to pass.

Looking for a near future challenge to keep me busy and out of trouble. Motorcycle run from Maine to Texas? Put together a hot rod? I’m thinking, maybe fix the muffler on the Escape because winter is only a handful of months away. Or… maybe pick up where I left off with Murdoch Mysteries.

Smith & Wesson’s Model 586… The L frame with the extra round? Shortish barrel?

 

Smith & Wesson Model 586 L-Comp
Company	Smith & Wesson
Point of Origin	Springfield MA
SKU #	170170
Type of Action	DA/SA Revolver
Caliber	357 Magnum
Capacity	7
Barrel Length	3″
Hardware	Carbon Steel
Finish	Matte Black
Rifling Twist Rate	1:18.75″
Grips	Wood + Synthetic
Front Sight	Ramped – Pinned Blade
Rear Sight	Adjustable
Weight	36.4 Oz.
Overall Length	8.0″
Overall Height	5.5″
Width	1.56″
Key Lock	Yes
CA Certified	Yes
MA Certified	Yes
MSRP	$1288

Smith & Wesson produces two Model 586 configurations and three Model 686 configurations, the stainless equivalent of the Model 586.

One Model 586 is the Classic with a 6″ barrel and a 6 shot cylinder. The other is the subject revolver with a 3″ barrel and 7 shot cylinder.

Both Model 586 and Model 686 products were introduced as the .357 Distinguished Combat Magnum in 1980. There have been a multitude of configurations phased in and out ever since. The Model 586 L-Comp was introduced in the year 2000.

Little has changed with the Model 586 L-Comp since its introduction, which is to be read as a good thing: full lug ported barrel, Tritium insert front sight, micrometer click rear sight, 7 shot, cylinder recessed for moon clips, black finish, rosewood grips remain.

The current version is 1 ounce lighter, a set of synthetic grips are included and a stout polymer case substitutes for an aluminum.

What applications might the Performance Center Model 586 L-Comp serve? Certainly, for people who like to concealed carry a 357 Mag revolver.

The revolver’s 1.56″ wide cylinder is not an increase over the six shot cylinder. The 1.62″ cylinder length easily accommodates any SAAMI compliant 357 Magnum ammunition which is a maximum length of 1.590″, which includes a 0.060″ thick rim that resides aft of the cylinder.

The 3″ barrel and truncated grip further reduce the overall size of the revolver in comparison to one with a longer barrel and full length grip. The 3″ barrel does little to diminish the 357 Mag’s exterior ballistic performance and the grip is sufficient to provide more than enough purchase for control.

For the person with large hands who finds it difficult to get a solid grip with the standard short grip, any L frame, round butt replacement grip fits the Model 586, including full length and larger.

The adjustable, black blade rear sight, with Tritium front sight combination worked well for me. I honestly can’t remember sighting a revolver in low enough light to present a Tritium glow, just as I can’t remember feeling strongly about a white outlined rear sight blade.  I do, however, know if I wanted a front fire sight or white outlined or V notched rear sight, they are available and low cost.

I did shoot the Model 586 L-Comp with both wood and synthetic grips, but quickly elected to stay with synthetic for the duration. They are just a bit more resilient an offer a bit more traction. Either was, regardless the type of ammunition, it is an easy shooting revolver.

The L-Comp works well as a home security firearm. Although the more compact package may not be necessary at home, that does allow it to serve for more than one purpose. Yes, the Model 586 L-Comp is a good range gun. Between the revolver’s heft, barrel compensator and soft synthetic grips, ir is an easy shooting gun, even with max loads. For light loading, 38 Special ammo is also approved for use, both standard pressure and +P.

The seventh round. Why not?

It is nice to have a 7th round and the extra capacity comes without a tradeoff. I have never had an issue shooting any 357 Mag ammo that might suggest a substandard strength when compared to a 6 shot cylinder. Weak cylinder walls sometimes show up as hard to eject empties.

Pressure can balloon chambers and the brass; the steel snaps back quickly and grabs the brass that doesn’t rebound to the same degree. That phenomena occurs with some frequency on 6 shot double action revolvers chambered for the 454 Casull.

I would submit that the L-Comp cylinder wall thickness provides more than enough strength,  where a standard 6 round cylinder of the same outside diameter may be a bit of an overkill. If you would like to draw some dimensional comparisons with the 6 shot Model 586, we covered the Classic version a while back.

The noisy part…

The Smith & Wesson Model 586 may have been designed by Buddy Holly!..!!

Buddy Holly’s 1957 song “Not Fade Away” is simple, unadorned and a public pronouncement that would probably get Holly arrested today as a masher within our kinder gentler days of male and female feminism. In 1957, he would have made the assertions and lived a life without female companionship.

This is the same song, over performed by a group of serious musicians, aid by not so serious celebrities, each adding more of their own embellishments until you have to ask yourself, “Huh?”. As a minimum, Jeff Bridges should be arrested for holding a guitar he obviously can’t play. Earth to Joe, come back Joe. Sorry.

My point is the Smith & Wesson Model 586 L-Comp is a clean, proven revolver design. It does not sport a scope, a laser, a shoulder brace, or a silencer, or a compartment to stow car keys. However, nicely finished, excellent quality, but it is still double action simplicity; aim, pull the trigger and a bullet with a lot of hustle leaves the barrel.

I like the new RealGuns.Com look. Perhaps another Buddy Holly influence? The larger format allows for a better set of font sizes and larger area for photography. We shall see.