Pictures by the writer
Smith and Wesson invented the .357 Magnum revolver… and the .41 and .44 Magnums, too … everyone knows that. Pure truth. These weapons got here out, respectively, in 1935, 1964, and 1955. They have been, by and enormous, the brain-children of Elmer Keith, the nice revolver guru who was many years forward of his time. I feel, earlier than we delve into this particular revolver, we should take a fast look again on the .357’s origins… it’s an attention-grabbing story.
The .357 Backstory
The .357 Magnum was devised to be one thing stronger than the (at the moment )the anemic .38 Particular. Elmer had been experimenting with heavy .38 hundreds in stout S&W 38-44 revolvers… the 38/44 Heavy Responsibility, particularly. These .38 Particular weapons have been constructed utilizing the heavier .44 body. He caught the eye of Phil Sharpe and D. B. Wesson, who have been each experimenting alongside comparable strains. Reducing to the chase, they obtained with Smith and Wesson, and in 1935, the “Registered Magnum” revolver chambered within the new .357 Magnum cartridge was launched. Lastly, cops had a technique to shoot via automotive doorways to cease dangerous guys. I discovered an attention-grabbing article concerning the origins of the “unique magnum” in an American Handgunner article… it makes attention-grabbing studying for followers.
That gun grew to become the Mannequin 27, and a fairly factor it was, too. Extremely polished with a serrated prime rib and fancy picket grips, the gun bought properly, even at its excessive value. That led to the Mannequin 28, a plainer, less-polished model of the 27 – I had one, and need I had it again. These weapons have been made on the massive N-frame, they usually have been pretty substantial.
All was good, however some regulation enforcement officers needed one thing a bit lighter, much less cumbersome, however that also shot the .357. Enter Invoice Jordan, an ex-Border Patrol officer who badgered Smith and Wesson into producing the Mannequin 19. This was a .357 constructed on the mid-sized Ok-frame. It got here out within the mid-Nineteen Fifties and was extraordinarily in style. I keep in mind, again round 1979, seeing one in a neighborhood gun store with a price ticket of $150. On my meager band director’s wage, it might need had two zeroes added on… no approach may I personal it. I simply drooled on the glass counter…
The L-Body
Smith and Wesson had a few good issues going for the corporate… the Ok-frame and the N-frame. However neither of these was an ideal match for the .357 Magnum. So, in 1981, they launched the L-frame. Consider the previous Goldilocks story, the place she selected the center mattress, the center bowl of porridge, and so forth. This grew to become S&W’s Goldilocks .357. The L-frame is giant and beefy sufficient to face up to continuous pounding by the 35,000 psi-pressure .357, however not so giant as to put on a policeman out carrying it. The Mannequin 19 had some points if it was shot with sufficient stout .357 hundreds. Cracked forcing cones and barrels, stretching, and timing issues introduced themselves. The L-frame took care of these.
Initially in blue because the Mannequin 586, the stainless 686 was not far behind. In the present day, you may get a 686 in lots of barrel lengths and variations, and that features capability. The one we now have here’s a 4-inch 686 Plus, with a 7-round cylinder.
This Revolver
Let’s check out some images, then we’ll checklist specs.
It’s nonetheless soiled from firing, nevertheless it cleans up properly.
The Hogue grip changed the Goncalo Alves picket panels within the Nineteen Nineties.
The basic S&W red-front-insert-white-rear-outline sights work properly for searching, goal taking pictures, or simply about some other use. They’ve been round a very long time.
The barrel is one-piece, in contrast to many different present SW revolvers.
Sadly, this mannequin retains the (nearly) universally despised lock. I ignored it.
Sprecifications
Width: 1.55 in
Size: 9.56 in
Peak: 6 in
Weight: 39.2 oz
Caliber: 357 Magnum/.38 Particular
Dimension: Medium
Capability: 7
Motion: Single/Double Motion
Barrel Size: 4.13”
Grip: Artificial, Hogue
Sights: Pink Ramp, adjustable rear
Optic Prepared: No
Security: None
Shade/End: Silver
Development: Stainless Metal
MSRP: $1039
Observations
I admit it… I’m a kind of shooteropterix dinosaurs who likes wheelguns. I personal (and have owned) many, over the many years. As I stated above, I positive want I had that 4-inch Mannequin 28 again. That Freeway Patrolman wasn’t fancy, nevertheless it shot very properly.
After I picked up this 686, the very first thing I observed was the Hogue grip. I like the look of walnut or Goncalo alves (no matter that’s… I don’t have a kind of bushes on my property) grip panels, however for sheer utilitarianism, rubber can’t be crushed the place heavy recoil is anxious. I personal a 1981-vintage 629 .44 Magnum with the howitzer-length barrel. It got here with a finger-grooved picket set of grip panels, however the earlier proprietor noticed match so as to add a rubber Pachmyer grip. That made sense. If I ever consider it, I’ll improve the grip with a Hogue after I’m within the retailer… the Pachs are about achieved. I like revolvers, however I don’t like recoil.
One other legacy characteristic is the sight state of affairs. For many years, I obtained used to seeing that red-in-white-outline image. These sights have, through the years, been liable for many deer within the freezer. I’m not the one one who has discovered them helpful. Would I like them on my carry gun (I’ve a Diamondback SDR 6-shot .357 that goes with me at occasions)? Nope. That gun simply had a set of XS Minimalist sights put in, and you may examine it right here. That massive, tritium dot simply pops in dim gentle. However, on your common, on a regular basis vary session or journey to the woods, the old-school S&W sights are tremendous.
I haven’t but talked about the truth that you get 16% extra capability with this Plus mannequin. The “regular” variety of holes in a revolver cylinder is 6 … though we have to keep in mind that “regular” is a setting in your garments dryer. Capacities differ. However, for a hard-charger just like the 357, seven is a welcome addition. They didn’t, to the very best of my information, want to extend the cylinder diameter to accommodate the additional cartridge… the cylinder diameter of each the 5/686 and 686 Plus fashions is 1.55”. They merely reworked the geometry.
One remaining thought… There are a lot of shooters who consider a 4-inch .357 as “the” gun to personal. This revolver can put on many hats, if it may put on a hat… First, it makes an excellent vary gun. Take alongside each .357 and .38 hundreds for a enjoyable time. You’ll be able to observe with each full-tilt and lower-recoiling cartridges and acquire ability with each. One other use is as a carry weapon. Youthful shooters who could not have a lot expertise with revolvers could not know that, not so a few years in the past, there weren’t as many semi-auto pistols accessible as there are at the moment. Again within the ‘70s and the early-to-mid ‘80s, revolvers have been nonetheless king in each a policeman’s holster and in civilian arms. A four-inch .357 was routinely carried by many.
One more use for this explicit gun has to do with filling your freezer. Right here within the Hoosier state, together with many others, a 4-inch .357 is deer-legal. Many deer have fallen due to the “unique magnum”. I’m an oddball, I do know, however typically the reloader aspect of my mind takes over, and I’ve been recognized to take squirrels out of tall hickory bushes with a hard-cast .357 bullet at middling velocity. They only punch a gap straight via. Anyway, that’s me, however I’m not the one one.
All this brings me to the subsequent part… taking pictures. How’d it do?
Vary Time
Our oldest son, who has all the time had a factor for 4-inch .357s, got here by and we did some shootin’. We burned via a few .357 hundreds and added a .38 Particular load for enjoyable.
These three hundreds have been from Black Hills, which helps my evaluations by offering ammo. They included:
125-grain .357 JHP;
127-grain HoneyBadger (nope, no typo – that’s how they spell it);
125-grain +P .38 Particular
We blew via lots of ammo and had a blast (actually).
Listed here are three consultant 25-yard targets, from the hundreds within the order listed above…
125-grain .357 JHP. 1214 fps, 20.2 customary deviation
127-grain HoneyBadger. 1363 fps, 19.8 customary deviation
125-grain .38 Particular +P. 971 fps, 10.5 customary deviation
I’m all the time impressed that the HoneyBadger hundreds I shoot in no matter caliber are probably the most correct of no matter I used to be taking pictures that day, most of the time. These hundreds use a machined, copper monolithic bullet that’s gentle for caliber. They’re pushed to some ridiculous velocities and hit with authority. Being a reloader, as I discussed above, I’m conscious that typically a lighter bullet pushed very quick will strike low on the goal, because the barrel doesn’t have time to rise in recoil earlier than the bullet exits. That doesn’t occur with the HB hundreds. I actually like them, and have reviewed them earlier than on this web site. They’re an excellent possibility on your carry gun, no matter its caliber.
In Conclusion
This was not the primary time I’ve reviewed a 686. They’re very fashionable revolvers, even towards good competitors just like the Ruger GP100. The L-frame is stronger than the Ok, however not as cumbersome because the N, and lets you shoot full-bore magnum hundreds with out worry of bending something. This gun’s set off was nice – roughly 8 kilos DA and 4, single – and functioning was very good. The gun has turn out to be a basic. If you happen to, like me, are a fan of wheelguns, you need to give this Plus mannequin a glance. In any case, seven pictures are higher than six!
Hyperlinks To Gadgets Used In This Overview
Athlon Rangecraft Velocity Professional Radar Chronograph, $500
Bear Creek Arsenal-Branded Pink/Inexperienced Dot Sight, $80
Birchwood Casey Stuffed Capturing Luggage, $40
Birchwood Casey Eze-Scorer 8 Inch Bull’s-Eye Goal, 26 Targets, $9
Birchwood Casey Vary Cleansing Equipment, $60
Black Hills Ammunition
Caldwell E-Max Low-Profile Listening to Protectors, $33
Caldwell Velociradar Radar Chronograph, $605
Caldwell Final Goal Stand, $33
GPS Medium Vary Bag, $150
MTM Case-Gard Excessive-Low Capturing Desk, $160
