Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus .357 Mag
Model: 164194
Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus .357 Mag
Model: 164194
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus is a stainless double-action .357 Magnum built for range work and home defense. It has an MSRP of $1,039. Its cylinder holds seven rounds inside the same 1.55-inch width and 9.56-inch length as the six-shot version of the same frame.
A red ramp front sight and an adjustable white outline rear come fitted, so the gun can be zeroed for the load it is fed and the front blade can still be found in poor light. The grip is plain synthetic. The barrel is 4.13 inches with a full-length underlug and turns 1:18.75, and the gun stands 6.0 inches tall and weighs 39.2 oz. Nothing on it takes an optic.
If you're cross-shopping, the six-shot Smith & Wesson Model 686 is out of production and a used buy, and six chambers in the same cylinder diameter leave more steel between them. The Ruger GP100 has an MSRP of $1,109, weighs 40 oz behind a 4.2-inch barrel, holds six and locks its cylinder into the frame at the front, the rear and the bottom. The Plus is the only one of the three with a seventh chamber, at the same 1.55-inch width as the six-shot gun.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The seventh chamber costs nothing in width or length over the six-shot gun, so holster and belt position do not change.
- A white outline rear around a red ramp front is quick to pick up in bad light and still precise enough for paper.
- The rear sight adjusts, which means a cheap practice load and a full-power carry load can each have their own zero.
- The grips are plain synthetic, and a set of wood or rubber ones is a separate purchase.
- No optic cut and no rail anywhere, so a dot means paying a shop to mill the top strap.
Category Rankings
How the Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus .357 Mag ranks among full-size .357 Mag handguns.
Compare Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus .357 Mag
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Ballistics Calculator
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Plus differ from the six-shot 686?
Cylinder capacity, and nothing else that shows. Frame size, barrel, action and external dimensions match; the Plus cylinder is simply bored for one more chamber.
What speedloader does it need?
A seven-shot loader. Six-shot loaders for the standard cylinder will not line up with the chambers, and a speed strip works either way.
Can it shoot .38 Special?
Yes, as any .357 Magnum chamber can, and at 39.2 oz the shorter case is mild enough for a new shooter to learn on.
