Images by the author
Smith and Wesson invented the .357 Magnum revolver… and the .41 and .44 Magnums, too … we all know that. Pure fact. These guns came out, respectively, in 1935, 1964, and 1955. They were, by and large, the brain-children of Elmer Keith, the great revolver guru who was decades ahead of his time. I think, before we delve into this specific revolver, we ought to take a quick look back at the .357’s origins… it is an interesting story.
The .357 Backstory
The .357 Magnum was devised to be something more potent than the (at that time )the anemic .38 Special. Elmer had been experimenting with heavy .38 loads in stout S&W 38-44 revolvers… the 38/44 Heavy Duty, in particular. Those .38 Special guns were built using the heavier .44 frame. He caught the attention of Phil Sharpe and D. B. Wesson, who were both experimenting along similar lines. Cutting to the chase, they got with Smith and Wesson, and in 1935, the “Registered Magnum” revolver chambered in the new .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced. Finally, cops had a way to shoot through car doors to stop bad guys. I found an interesting article about the origins of the “original magnum” in an American Handgunner article… it makes interesting reading for fans.
That gun became the Model 27, and a pretty thing it was, too. Highly polished with a serrated top rib and fancy wooden grips, the gun sold well, even at its high price. That led to the Model 28, a plainer, less-polished version of the 27 – I had one, and wish I had it back. These guns were made on the big N-frame, and they were fairly substantial.
All was good, but some law enforcement officers wanted something a bit lighter, less bulky, but that still shot the .357. Enter Bill Jordan, an ex-Border Patrol officer who badgered Smith and Wesson into producing the Model 19. This was a .357 built on the mid-sized K-frame. It came out in the mid-1950s and was extremely popular. I remember, back around 1979, seeing one in a local gun shop with a price tag of $150. On my meager band director’s salary, it might have had two zeroes added on… no way could I own it. I just drooled on the glass counter…
The L-Frame
Smith and Wesson had a couple of good things going for the company… the K-frame and the N-frame. But neither of those was a perfect fit for the .357 Magnum. So, in 1981, they introduced the L-frame. Think of the old Goldilocks story, where she chose the middle bed, the middle bowl of porridge, etc. This became S&W’s Goldilocks .357. The L-frame is large and beefy enough to withstand continual pounding by the 35,000 psi-pressure .357, but not so large as to wear a policeman out carrying it. The Model 19 had some issues if it was shot with enough stout .357 loads. Cracked forcing cones and barrels, stretching, and timing problems presented themselves. The L-frame took care of those.
Originally in blue as the Model 586, the stainless 686 was not far behind. Today, you can get a 686 in many barrel lengths and variations, and that includes capacity. The one we have here is a 4-inch 686 Plus, with a 7-round cylinder.
This Revolver
Let’s take a look at some photos, then we’ll list specifications.
It is still dirty from firing, but it cleans up nicely.
The Hogue grip replaced the Goncalo Alves wooden panels in the 1990s.
The classic S&W red-front-insert-white-rear-outline sights work well for hunting, target shooting, or just about any other use. They have been around a long time.
The barrel is one-piece, unlike many other current SW revolvers.
Unfortunately, this model retains the (almost) universally despised lock. I ignored it.
Sprecifications
- Width: 1.55 in
- Length: 9.56 in
- Height: 6 in
- Weight: 39.2 oz
- Caliber: 357 Magnum/.38 Special
- Size: Medium
- Capacity: 7
- Action: Single/Double Action
- Barrel Length: 4.13”
- Grip: Synthetic, Hogue
- Sights: Red Ramp, adjustable rear
- Optic Ready: No
- Safety: None
- Color/Finish: Silver
- Construction: Stainless Steel
- MSRP: $1039
Observations
I admit it… I’m one of those shooteropterix dinosaurs who likes wheelguns. I own (and have owned) many, over the decades. As I said above, I sure wish I had that 4-inch Model 28 back. That Highway Patrolman wasn’t fancy, but it shot very well.
When I picked up this 686, the first thing I noticed was the Hogue grip. I love the look of walnut or Goncalo alves (whatever that is… I don’t have one of those trees on my property) grip panels, but for sheer utilitarianism, rubber can’t be beaten where heavy recoil is concerned. I own a 1981-vintage 629 .44 Magnum with the howitzer-length barrel. It came with a finger-grooved wooden set of grip panels, but the previous owner saw fit to add a rubber Pachmyer grip. That made sense. If I ever think of it, I’ll upgrade the grip with a Hogue when I’m in the store… the Pachs are about done. I like revolvers, but I don’t like recoil.
Another legacy feature is the sight situation. For decades, I got used to seeing that red-in-white-outline picture. Those sights have, over the years, been responsible for many deer in the freezer. I’m not the only one who has found them useful. Would I like them on my carry gun (I have a Diamondback SDR 6-shot .357 that goes with me at times)? Nope. That gun just had a set of XS Minimalist sights installed, and you can read about it here. That huge, tritium dot just pops in dim light. But, for your average, everyday range session or trip to the woods, the old-school S&W sights are fine.
I haven’t yet mentioned the fact that you get 16% more capacity with this Plus model. The “normal” number of holes in a revolver cylinder is 6 … although we need to remember that “normal” is a setting on your clothes dryer. Capacities vary. But, for a hard-charger like the 357, seven is a welcome addition. They didn’t, to the best of my knowledge, need to increase the cylinder diameter to accommodate the extra cartridge… the cylinder diameter of both the 5/686 and 686 Plus models is 1.55”. They simply reworked the geometry.
One final thought… There are many shooters who think of a 4-inch .357 as “the” gun to own. This revolver can wear many hats, if it could wear a hat… First, it makes a great range gun. Take along both .357 and .38 loads for a fun time. You can practice with both full-tilt and lower-recoiling cartridges and gain skill with both. Another use is as a carry weapon. Younger shooters who may not have much experience with revolvers may not know that, not so many years ago, there were not as many semi-auto pistols available as there are today. Back in the ‘70s and the early-to-mid ‘80s, revolvers were still king in both a policeman’s holster and in civilian hands. A four-inch .357 was routinely carried by many.
Yet another use for this particular gun has to do with filling your freezer. Here in the Hoosier state, along with many others, a 4-inch .357 is deer-legal. Many deer have fallen because of the “original magnum”. I am an oddball, I know, but sometimes the reloader side of my brain takes over, and I have been known to take squirrels out of tall hickory trees with a hard-cast .357 bullet at middling velocity. They just punch a hole straight through. Anyway, that’s me, but I’m not the only one.
All this brings me to the next section… shooting. How’d it do?
Range Time
Our oldest son, who has always had a thing for 4-inch .357s, came by and we did some shootin’. We burned through a couple of .357 loads and added a .38 Special load for fun.
Those three loads were from Black Hills, which supports my reviews by providing ammo. They included:
- 125-grain .357 JHP;
- 127-grain HoneyBadger (nope, no typo – that’s how they spell it);
- 125-grain +P .38 Special
We blew through a lot of ammo and had a blast (literally).
Here are three representative 25-yard targets, from the loads in the order listed above…
125-grain .357 JHP. 1214 fps, 20.2 standard deviation
127-grain HoneyBadger. 1363 fps, 19.8 standard deviation
125-grain .38 Special +P. 971 fps, 10.5 standard deviation
I am always impressed that the HoneyBadger loads I shoot in whatever caliber are the most accurate of whatever I was shooting that day, more often than not. These loads use a machined, copper monolithic bullet that is light for caliber. They are pushed to some ridiculous velocities and hit with authority. Being a reloader, as I mentioned above, I am aware that sometimes a lighter bullet pushed very fast will strike low on the target, as the barrel doesn’t have time to rise in recoil before the bullet exits. That does not happen with the HB loads. I really like them, and have reviewed them before on this site. They are a great option for your carry gun, whatever its caliber.
In Conclusion
This was not the first time I’ve reviewed a 686. They are very popular revolvers, even against good competition like the Ruger GP100. The L-frame is stronger than the K, but not as bulky as the N, and allows you to shoot full-bore magnum loads without fear of bending anything. This gun’s trigger was great – roughly 8 pounds DA and 4, single – and functioning was superb. The gun has become a classic. If you, like me, are a fan of wheelguns, you should give this Plus model a look. After all, seven shots are better than six!
Links To Items Used In This Review
- Athlon Rangecraft Velocity Pro Radar Chronograph, $500
- Bear Creek Arsenal-Branded Red/Green Dot Sight, $80
- Birchwood Casey Filled Shooting Bags, $40
- Birchwood Casey Eze-Scorer 8 Inch Bull’s-Eye Target, 26 Targets, $9
- Birchwood Casey Range Cleaning Kit, $60
- Black Hills Ammunition
- Caldwell E-Max Low-Profile Hearing Protectors, $33
- Caldwell Velociradar Radar Chronograph, $605
- Caldwell Ultimate Target Stand, $33
- GPS Medium Range Bag, $150
- MTM Case-Gard High-Low Shooting Table, $160
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