New Addition: S&W 686+ .357 Magnum 3" Talo Exclusive UPDATED!!!

[shlike]

Just picked this up yesterday from my FFL. It is a S&W 686 Plus (7-round) L-Frame .357 Magnum 3" Barrel Talo Edition. I can offer no rational justification for this purchase other than I just wanted it. My collection has been getting boringly repetitious, all semi-autos of various brands and configurations, so I thought a nice .357 Magnum revolver would add a little variety to my collection.

First impressions: The gun is very well-made, high quality, butter-smooth action and tight lock-up, which is typical of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The DA trigger pull is long and fairly heavy, I would estimate around 12 lbs. It is, however, smooth as glass with a crisp break and no stacking. Now the SA trigger pull is a different story! Very light and crisp, no wall, no stacking, puts my 1911's to shame. The gun is heavy! That's OK, as it's intended use will be as a range toy. It will see limited CCW use, although I did order a Wright Leather Predator Pancake holster for it for when I do CCW it. I am also ordering a pair of Altamont rosewood checkered boot grips to lower the profile for CCW.

I don't care for the internal lock. I have no intention of using it, and I'm sure I will learn to ignore the little hole on the left side of the frame...

I am not embarrassed to say that one of the reasons I bought this gun is that it is beautiful to look at. Aesthetics are important to me, and this gun does not disappoint! Also, Hickock45 loves this gun and has a video on it. He can hit that gong way up on the hill every time shooting it DA!

I have been trying to figure out the proper grip for shooting this gun (the standard high thumbs-forward grip does not work on revolvers, as you know). This is the first DA revolver I have owned in a very long time, so I have to re-learn the fundamentals of proper revolver grip. I watch a couple of Jerry Miculek instructional videos, so I think I have it figured out. I am taking it to the range tomorrow, so I will find out! I will be shooting a combination of 158gr. .357 Magnum loads and 125gr. 38 Sp. +P's. still trying to figure out the various .357/38SP loadings so I can standardize.

Will update this thread with a range report tomorrow.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/SW%20686%201_zpsbdpzqbkg.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/SW%20686%206_zpsdghdymmv.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/SW%20686%204_zpsxebl76ty.jpg


UPDATE FOR GRIPS AND HOLSTER!!

My intent when I purchased this gun was mainly for range use and to fondle and look at, but also for limited CCW. To that end I purchased a Lobo Gun Leather Enhanced Pancake Holster, and installed the Altamont Rosewood Boot Grips as pictured in the photos below. The grips transform the gun; they are beautiful to look at, and even though they are considerably more compact than the grips that came on the gun, I can still get a very secure grip on it. I plan to leave these grips on. The holster is well-made and allows the gun to ride tight to the body for good concealment (as good as a large-framed revolver can be concealed). The gun is big and heavy, so it will see very limited CCW use.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/Boot%20Grips%201_zpskvid7vbs.jpg


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/Boot%20Grips%205_zps9ear2hdk.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/Lobo%20686%201_zpspi0rxy7m.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/Lobo%20686%202_zpsaqs9gtpu.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/Lobo%20686%204_zpshh1uauhi.jpg

[jeepster09]

Awesome! Great score.

[gb6491]

Nice wheel gun :)

[Phish]

Congrats on nice revolver!
I really like those grips. May have get a set like those for my 617.

[kerby9mm]

I like the non-fluted cylinder. I have one 3" a 66-4. The 3 inch barrel just looks right.

[340pd]

I love 3" guns. Yours looks great.

[berettabone]

Very nice..........................I usually need to do a bit of trigger work on these newer revolvers. It's a definite looker!!!!!!

[340pd]

Trigger work on S&W's is easy and improvements are immediate. My 7 round 586L Comp out of the Performance Center needed the same attention.

Make sure you have the correct screwdrivers. Pop the sideplate, get the crud out of the internals (usually worse on brand new guns), Wolff spring kit, light polish of the rebound slide, usually 14-15# recoil slide spring is most reliable, lube internals to taste (lot's to argue about there), removable locktite on the new mainsprings strain screw, carefully re-install side plate and you are good to go. That should remove at least 2-3# of DA draw weight and still keep it 100% reliable.

[Phish]

Wolff spring kit, I got mine from Midway is all you need. Just put one my 617 over the weekend. Niiice!

[berettabone]

I did a trigger and hammer spring change on my wife's revolver and it's all the difference in the world.

[Slugnutty]

Revolvers have SOUL - semi-auto's are utilitarian, a well made revolver speaks to you like nothing else.
Well done!

[shlike]

just picked this up yesterday from my ffl. It is a s&w 686 plus (7-round) l-frame .357 magnum 3" barrel talo edition. I can offer no rational justification for this purchase other than i just wanted it. My collection has been getting boringly repetitious, all semi-autos of various brands and configurations, so i thought a nice .357 magnum revolver would add a little variety to my collection.

First impressions: The gun is very well-made, high quality, butter-smooth action and tight lock-up, which is typical of smith & wesson revolvers. The da trigger pull is long and fairly heavy, i would estimate around 12 lbs. It is, however, smooth as glass with a crisp break and no stacking. Now the sa trigger pull is a different story! Very light and crisp, no wall, no stacking, puts my 1911's to shame. The gun is heavy! That's ok, as it's intended use will be as a range toy. It will see limited ccw use, although i did order a wright leather predator pancake holster for it for when i do ccw it. I am also ordering a pair of altamont rosewood checkered boot grips to lower the profile for ccw.

I don't care for the internal lock. I have no intention of using it, and i'm sure i will learn to ignore the little hole on the left side of the frame...

I am not embarrassed to say that one of the reasons i bought this gun is that it is beautiful to look at. Aesthetics are important to me, and this gun does not disappoint! Also, hickock45 loves this gun and has a video on it. He can hit that gong way up on the hill every time shooting it da!

I have been trying to figure out the proper grip for shooting this gun (the standard high thumbs-forward grip does not work on revolvers, as you know). This is the first da revolver i have owned in a very long time, so i have to re-learn the fundamentals of proper revolver grip. I watch a couple of jerry miculek instructional videos, so i think i have it figured out. I am taking it to the range tomorrow, so i will find out! I will be shooting a combination of 158gr. .357 magnum loads and 125gr. 38 sp. +p's. Still trying to figure out the various .357/38sp loadings so i can standardize.

Will update this thread with a range report tomorrow.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/sw%20686%201_zpsbdpzqbkg.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/sw%20686%206_zpsdghdymmv.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/sw%20686%204_zpsxebl76ty.jpg


update for grips and holster!!

my intent when i purchased this gun was mainly for range use and to fondle and look at, but also for limited ccw. To that end i purchased a lobo gun leather enhanced pancake holster, and installed the altamont rosewood boot grips as pictured in the photos below. The grips transform the gun; they are beautiful to look at, and even though they are considerably more compact than the grips that came on the gun, i can still get a very secure grip on it. I plan to leave these grips on. The holster is well-made and allows the gun to ride tight to the body for good concealment (as good as a large-framed revolver can be concealed). The gun is big and heavy, so it will see very limited ccw use.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/boot%20grips%201_zpskvid7vbs.jpg



http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/lobo%20686%201_zpspi0rxy7m.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/lobo%20686%202_zpsaqs9gtpu.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shlike48316/lobo%20686%204_zpshh1uauhi.jpg

updated for grips and holster!!