Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

New to Wheel Guns

MemphisJim1
My introduction to handguns began in the mid-'60s while in the Army. Since then I have experienced exactly two revolvers (Ruger Bearcat and Ruger Single Six) but am high time with semiautos (mostly my collection of German-made Sigs in 9mm, .40 and .45). Yesterday I went to a local gun show and impulsively bought a Smith & Wesson 686-1, 4" with wood grips, .357 Mag, estimated mid-80s vintage in immaculate condition for $475, as my intro to serious wheel guns. I even bought some ammo (.38 Spl semiwadcutters, 158 gr.; and Hornady LeverEvolution 158 gr.). Anything special I need to know before going to the range?
0

Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • ruger41
    great gun and you did ok--now you have to find a nice holster & speed loaders to complete it.
    0
  • MemphisJim1
    ruger41: got online first thing this morning and ordered 2 Safariland Comp II speedloaders; hope to have 'em by week's end. I'll take a little more time on the holster, though. I plan to stay with the Sigs (228 and 229) as the "carry" pieces.
    0
  • beantownshootah
    Its a great revolver (period).

    Only thing I would say is that unlike with automatics, where grips will generally only change the feel of a gun slightly, with revolvers, the grips can really dramatically alter the way a gun feels in your hand, including both how it points, and the trigger reach distance.

    So depending on how you like the wood grips that came with your gun, you might consider swapping them for a more ergonomic set (eg Hogue, Pachmayr, etc).

    Just for fitting purposes, your Smith is built on the "L" frame, and it takes the same grips as the Smith "K" frame guns.
    0
  • partisan
    A perfect wheelgun!!!
    0
  • Mark G
    The L Frame S&W is a great gun. Not too big and not too small. My wife and I both shot the heck out of a 681 we had. You will want to switch the grips to some sort of finger groove style. I prefer Pachmayr for heavy loads and long shooting sessions but I also have some wood finger groove grips on other revolvers that look fantastic. Either way, you made a great deal.
    0
  • hdcolt51
    You will love the 686.I'd go with the pachmayr's to.
    0
  • tsr1965
    You have purchased a truly great revolver. Its greatness extends to the models 19 and 66 before it, that were made on the K frame. The 686 and 586 were made on the larger L frame. It should be extremely accurate, and very soft shooting with those 38's, and will be very accurate with the 357's too.

    When you go holster shopping, Safariland, bianchi, and DeSantis all make great leather for it, and in many styles.

    It is at least the equal of your Sig's.

    Best
    0
  • Mort4570
    For someone just getting into wheelguns,you chose a great one !
    enjoy!


    oh,where the heck are THE PICS??? !!! :)
    0
  • ElMuertoMonkey
    Good choice! I prefer Ruger revolvers, but S&W is by no means anything to be unhappy with.

    Now the only thing left is to go have fun with it!

    Just a note, though: be mindful of the Hornady Leverevolution. It kicks a little bit more than other "regular" .357's I've fired. I think they're loaded a little hotter.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity