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686 Pro- Worth the extra $$ ?

torquimata
I have just moved to the country and want to get a 357 revolver for home security. I believe the revolver is the best tool for my wife and teenage son to master in case they have to defend home and hearth. I only want to buy one ever and want a S&W 357 new. I just don't trust buying used, never know if the piece has been abused.
Any way the 686 Pro SSR looks really nice and was wondering if, in your expert opinions, it's worth the extra $. I don't want a 7 shooter,(too big). If you think it's not worth the extra cash I will go with a 6.5 inch 357

Thanks, as always, for your guidance!
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3 comments

Date Votes
  • TANK78Z
    My best friend got an ssr a couple of months ago. I have put a couple hundred mixed 38's and 357's through it he has about another 600. asst. reloads and new factory. It does not seem particular to any one type of ammo, all have shot very accurately ,the trigger is very smooth,let off very crisp, with virtually no over travel.
    The sights are std. S&W target, grips are just hand-filling not too big and feel good, they keep your grip fairly high for good recoil control.They come with an extra set of rubber grips, so you have a choice of what to mount.
    The balance is good.
    It also has a "cool" look with the sculpted barrel profile.
    What else can I say?
    I have a 4" std. 686, and I love it. But the pro ssr is really better , for only a little more cash. it is a quality piece , very easy to shoot, will be a good teaching/learning tool.
    I am lucky to be able to shoot it whenever we go to the range with out buying one, but I may still get one, they are that good
    Go for it .
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  • nmyers
    I would call that one "heirloom quality". You won't regret it. Neither will your grandchildren.

    Neal
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  • beantownshootah
    OK, in order:

    -I agree with your assessment that a Smith 357 revolver is an excellent choice for home defense for yourself, the wife, and kid, and that if not recklessly abused, it will last a lifetime. I agree so much, that's what I use myself!

    -There are lots of used Smith revolvers out there that are in excellent shape. Lots of people buy these and shoot very few rounds through them. In fact, with .357s, lots of people buy them, then never shoot "real" .357s through them, only .38s. So I wouldn't entirely dismiss the idea of buying a used gun. Obviously, someone who knows what they are doing can inspect the gun thoroughly, and I would recommend doing that before buying a used one, but on a first level, if the gun simply looks like its in excellent shape, chances are pretty good that it is!

    -I'm pretty sure there is no difference in size between the Smith 686 + (that holds 7 rounds) vs the ordinary one that holds 6 rounds. The two cylinders are the same size, the only difference is that the cylinder holes on the 7-round gun are squeezed closer together. So if you prefer one extra round, get the 7 rounder. In fact, one might ask why ANYONE prefers a 6 rounder given the choice. Answer, apart from tradition, (I think) is that the trigger pull on the double action is SLIGHTLY different, and if you're more accustomed to the six-gun, you might prefer it.

    -For an indoor/home defense gun, I'd say a 6 inch barrel is overkill. In general, longer barrels work better for outdoor target shooting or hunting since you get a little more velocity from the round and mostly because the longer sight radius makes it easier to aim.

    Indoors on a defensive gun, a longer barrel does look a little more intimidating. On the other hand, a longer barrel makes the gun heavier (and the 686 is already reasonably heavy), a bit harder to handle, harder to conceal, and (most important) easier to grab away from you.

    If you think you are ALSO going to shoot the gun outdoors a lot or hunt with it, then I'd say a 6" barrel is a reasonable choice, but if that's not the case, I'd suggest a 4" barrel instead. Nothing wrong with a 2.5" or 3" barrel either.

    -In terms of specific models, the Smith SSR is basically somewhere in between a stock gun and a true custom gun. It has a tapered underbarrel lug, slab-side match barrel, some forged parts (instead of MIM parts), special grip and tuned action.

    178012_large.jpg

    IMO, its a very nice gun, though I think a lot of it is simply appearance, and most of its benefits would be seen in serious competitive shooting. If you like it and have the money, then its a perfectly reasonable choice. In my opinion, though, as a home defense gun, you're probably not going to see much advantage to it over a stock 686.

    -In general, 686 is a fairly heavy gun. Other models you might consider include Smith 66 (which is the stainless version of the old model 19, see below), Smith 65 (same thing, stainless, fixed sights), Smith 60 (though this one only holds five shots), 619, 620.

    Its not stainless, but personally, I've like this stock Smith 19 which was built on the now-discontinued medium "K" frame. It has a glass-slick action as good as a custom gun, its lighter and in my opinion handles better than a 686, and it also costs quite a bit less too. A wipe down with a little gun oil when I'm done, and I'm not worried about rust:

    101-0181_IMG.jpg?t=1272386305
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