Smith & Wesson's Performance Center 686 357 Mag

My wife and I spent the weekend pushing the home perimeter tree/brush line back ten feet. The project may not sound like much but, in Maine, old growth trees line up twenty-five feet apart and saplings… anything three inches in diameter or less, stand shoulder to shoulder with heavily leaved branches blocking out the sun. After a few futile attempts at pruning, lopping and axe and machete chopping, it became obvious it was time to drag out “Chuck”.

Chuck, a Husqvarna forestry clearing saw, gets a work out only every other year, but it does a great job. Hanging from a shoulder harness, guided with its handlebars to swing side to side like a mine sweeper, it mowed down any small trees and brush that got in its way. My wife was tucked in behind me, one hand on my back, the other welding a machete to take down the stragglers. By the time we were halfway through the perimeter, the remaining trees saw us coming, pulled up roots and ran for the neighboring property.

What is my point? I could have purchased a 27cc brush cutter with an 8″ 4 tooth blade and limit my cuts to 1″ diameter brush and made clearing a week long project. Instead, a few years ago I purchased equipment commensurate with the magnitude and frequency of the task. A 45cc engine and 3 HP engine spinning a 22 tooth blade at 10,000+ RPMs made projects like this a half day effort and the high quality of the clearing saw will last for many years with minor routine maintenance. Good equipment at a higher price is still a value.

Buy a firearm as though your life depends on it…

S&W Performance Center Model 686-6
Manufactured	Springfield, MA
SKU Number	170346
Type Action	Double / Single
Caliber	357 Magnum / 38 Special +P
Capacity	7
Construction	Stainless Steel
Grips	Laminated Hardwood
Trigger Pull DA / SA	10 Lbs 12 Oz / 4 Lbs 10 Oz
Barrel Length	2.5″
Rifling	1:18.75″
Rear Sight	Adjustable W/E
Front Sight	Red Ramp
Type Safety	Hammer Lock
Overall Length	7.5″
Overall Height	5.8″
Width – Cylinder	1.560″
Weight	34.1 Oz.
MSRP	$1,089

My wife and I live self sufficiently in a rural setting. Subsequently, tools to maintain vehicles, house and grounds or tools for self defense all have to be rock solid reliable and up to the task assigned. Failure of equipment could place us in a life at risk circumstance; three feet of snow separating us from the road and necessities needs to be cleared, someone trying to enter the house at 2 AM needs to be engaged.

For the sake of self defense, why a 38 Special, when a 357 Magnum is available? Why carry a compact six shot revolver when a compact seven shot is available? Why carry a plastic fantastic autoloader with a rubber band trigger, when a durable stainless steel revolver with a slick trigger is available?

Introduced in 1980 as the the Smith & Wesson Model 686 .357 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless, it is hardly a new model. However, being in production and in popular demand for forty years suggests considerable utility and versatility that does not require the banner “new”.

In addition to customer endorsement signified by persistent purchase, the Model 686 has made cameo appearances in seventy-six movies, twenty TV shows at least seven popular video games, which gives the Smith & Wesson Model 686 near iconic status.

The first 2 1/2″ barrel version of the Model 686 was introduced in 1990. The “- 6″ engineering revision designation came in 2001, signifying the addition of the hammer and trigger key lock. S&W currently offers seventeen variations of the Model 686, six and seven shot, with barrel lengths between 2 1/2″ to 7”. The subject 2.5″ barrel version is California, Maryland and Massachusetts compliant.

But won’t it hurt my snow flaky, delicate hands?

Not a day goes by… an expression, as sometimes many days go by, without having a person within a comment section, textually cringe when they see a compact revolver. Then they go on to detail the suffering and accumulated anxiety they have personally experienced at the grip end of such a fire breathing dragon.

The snubby on the left in a S&W Model 37 38 Special, built on an aluminum J Frame. It weights approximately 15 ounces, has considerable muzzle blast and has never responded to my attempt at pointing it toward a target. Doesn’t hurt, doesn’t bite, not now, and not in ’66 or ’67 when I won it in a card game.from some guy assigned to KC135s. The first thing that is noticeable in picture above, is that the Model 686 has more mass and appears stout enough to be shot on a regular basis with full tilt 357 Mag ammunition. More than appearance, both observations are true.

The stainless Model 686 weighs a bit more than twice as much as the aluminum frame Model 37 and the Model 686 can be comfortably shot throughout a range session without a sore hand or wrist and be able to shoot the inside out a playing card at seven yards or so. The sights are good, the grip angle and reach are good the Performance Center has done an excellent job with both single and double action trigger pulls. I only shoot double action with revolvers where that is an option. Hell, I sometimes attempt the same where it is not. Good reason to drill with the gun you carry.

Where the original Model 686 was based on a square butt target L Frame, the round butt, seven shot was introduced in 1995 and the square butt frame was e;i,imated the following year. Current production is round butt frame, but grips can follow a round or square butt form. The grip is narrow, which is good for concealment and not bad at absorbing recoil from the 357 Mag. From a high grip, the trigger reach and angle is comfortable and the teardrop hammer is easy to thumb for those who are too lazy to practice double action. Kidding. Just kidding. No he isn’t.

The cylinder is cut for moon clips, supplied with the revolver, for those who wish to preload to facilitate faster reloading as situations demand. The trigger is fitted with an adjustable overtravel stop.

The barrel has a recessed target crown, the leading edge of the cylinder is chamfered to minimize hangup when holstering.

Even more meaningful with ammunition…

Four common types of 357 mag ammunition was run through the S&W 686 to check chronograph to rated velocity and to get a general feel for ease of shooting and accuracy… but I lost track of the mission objectives and ended up range shooting and then wandering around on the trails behind the house, shooting desperado pine cones, killer tree stumps and the occasional tree fall branch.

Velocity loss is specific ammo type dependent, running from 100 fps +/- to a slight gain. In no case is the velocity reduced to the degree of impairing full expansion at short range or significantly reduce penetration. Slightly lower velocity may delay expansion, which will permit further penetration as it is easier to push a dime size cross section through ballistic gel than a half dollar.

For self defense in the world of humans, I would probably select Remington Golden Saber, because it will penetrate, expand and hold together at the recorded velocity. Yes, I realize it has been discontinued, but I have a case of loaded ammunition and approximately 10,000 component bullets. When I get near the end, I will have a considered replacement. For trail gun duty in Maine, Remington HTP 180 grain is a good penetrating round that holds together through animal tough bone and muscle.

Overall…

The Smith & Wesson Performance Center turned Model 686 is an exceptional short barrel revolver. Refined function, reliable and good looking in a package that instills pride of ownership and encourages recreational use when not standing personal guard. A truly nice firearm.