Smith and Wesson 686 Review: Weight, Fit and Limits
A seven-shot review isn’t describing the standard six-shot 686. A six-inch review isn’t describing the shorter model either. That matters because this Smith and Wesson 686 review starts with the configuration on Smith & Wesson’s current product page, then separates those specifications from experiences published about other examples.
The short answer: the standard 686 deserves a supervised fit assessment if you want a substantial, full-size revolver for deliberate range instruction. Its weight and single/double-action format also give you reasons to look elsewhere if holding it comfortably or managing its controls is difficult. A good reputation doesn’t establish that this is the right first handgun for you.
This is a research-based assessment, not Mike Kneuer’s hands-on test. No model-specific firsthand notes were supplied, and the published testing discussed below belongs to the named reviewers.
Which configuration does this Smith and Wesson 686 review cover?
The reference point is the standard six-shot Model 686 on the manufacturer’s page ending in 164222. It is not a 686 Plus or a Performance Center assessment. Use the current factory listing for the dimensions in this article rather than treating specifications from every 686 review as interchangeable.
Smith & Wesson lists the following on that model page:
- Capacity: six rounds.
- Action: single/double action.
- Barrel length: 4.13 inches.
- Overall length: 9.56 inches.
- Listed weight: 40.3 ounces.
- Frame and barrel: stainless steel; grip: synthetic.
- Sights: listed as “Red Ramp.”
The 4.13-inch figure is intentional. Older articles often describe a four-inch 686; this review retains the current factory number rather than silently rounding it or pretending that the older test gun was identical. The listed weight is also a manufacturer specification, not a measurement taken by Mike.
The factory page’s brief sight label isn’t a complete explanation of how the sights will look to your eyes. Ask to examine the actual stock configuration during instruction. Don’t infer a particular accessory or upgrade from a photograph of a different example.
Is the 686’s weight helpful or a reason to skip it?
At the listed 40.3 ounces, weight needs to be part of the evaluation rather than a footnote. A quick impression during handling cannot establish how the revolver will feel through a lesson. Ask whether you can assess comfort before committing to an extended session with it.
David Hume’s SSAA review described the weight of his six-inch 686 as immediately noticeable, while also reporting favorable balance. That is useful evidence of one reviewer’s experience with a longer configuration. It is not a measured comfort result for the shorter factory model discussed here.
Treat weight as a tradeoff to assess, not a feature that must be good or bad for everyone. You may prefer the feel of a substantial revolver, or you may find supporting it distracting. Neither reaction needs to match a reviewer’s preference.
Suppose the revolver initially feels steady, but supporting it becomes uncomfortable partway through a supervised lesson. Tell the instructor and pause. Finishing an arbitrary amount of shooting doesn’t make the equipment a better fit.
The guide to planning rounds for a training session explains why the lesson’s purpose should come before a box count. Use the same approach here: assess the equipment honestly instead of making the day’s plan a test of endurance.
What does the independent testing actually establish?
Austin Knudsen’s The Truth About Guns comparison evaluated an older 686 and a newer 686-6, including four-inch configurations and the older revolver with its longer barrel. He reported favorable shooting results from both shorter examples. His older firearm had configuration changes, so the article is not a clean comparison of three untouched current-production models.
The testing also has a limit that matters to a beginner: Knudsen described shooting single-action, seated and supported. That supports an account of what those examples did under his test conditions. It doesn’t establish what a new student will do in a different setting or how manageable the double-action trigger will feel.
Knudsen attributed the longer example’s better results in part to its sight radius and target-style front sight, while declining to conclude that the shorter examples were mechanically incapable of similar accuracy. That’s more careful than turning one set of results into a promise about every barrel length (The Truth About Guns).
The useful conclusion is limited: the review provides favorable evidence about the tested revolvers, not a guarantee of current production quality, reliability or your results. This article does not repeat its ammunition recipes or modification procedures.
How should you think about the grip and two action modes?
The factory designation is single/double action, not double-action only. That gives an instructor two operating modes to explain, including their different trigger characteristics and safety implications. It isn’t a reason to experiment with an unfamiliar firearm without instruction (Smith & Wesson specifications).
Knudsen described a long, smooth double-action pull and a crisp single-action pull. Hume, reviewing the six-inch example, initially found double action heavy while describing its release as predictable. Those observations aren’t necessarily contradictory: smoothness, effort and predictability are different qualities, assessed by different people with different samples (Knudsen, Hume).
Grip fit deserves the same caution. Knudsen reported that the original large wood grips on his older revolver didn’t suit his short-fingered hands. That is a specific observation about his older setup, not proof that the current synthetic grip will fit or fail to fit you.
During a supervised assessment, describe what you notice: difficulty comfortably reaching a control, uncertainty about a command, or strain while supporting the revolver. Ask the instructor to evaluate the stock setup first. Neither this review nor a forum comment is a substitute for a qualified professional’s assessment of any mechanical concern.
Who should look beyond the standard 686?
Look elsewhere if low weight is a firm requirement. This model’s factory dimensions also make it a poor match for someone whose main requirement is very small equipment. Don’t turn a full-size revolver into a compact one in your expectations simply because you like its reputation.
It may also be the wrong learning choice if the weight or control reach prevents you from concentrating on the lesson. If you’re unsure, leave the decision open until instruction gives you better information. You don’t owe a particular model a favorable verdict.
The strongest case for considering it is narrower than “does almost everything”: you want this revolver format, accept its size, and find the actual example manageable during instruction. The current specifications and attributed reviews justify that assessment. They do not justify calling it the best choice for every beginner or every purpose.
How can you arrange a model-specific assessment locally?
Suburban Protector’s private instruction page lists Palm Beach Shooting Center in Lake Worth and Declaration Defense in Pompano Beach among its training venues. Those provide concrete location options for Palm Beach and Broward readers to discuss. They are not confirmation of an appointment.
Tell Mike which 686 you mean, whether you own it, and what you want assessed. The service page describes firearms being available for lessons, but it does not establish that this exact configuration is available. Confirm that before planning around it.
Use the handgun class booking questions to confirm the venue, equipment arrangements and lesson format. If a different firearm will be used, be clear about what that session can teach and what remains untested about the 686.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a review of the six-shot 686 or the 686 Plus?
The reference model is the standard six-shot 686 on Smith & Wesson’s product page ending in 164222. The 686 Plus is not the subject. Independent reviews include other configurations, which are identified rather than treated as identical examples of the current model. Check the specific firearm before applying a review’s details to it.
Why does this article list a 4.13-inch barrel?
That is the barrel length listed on the current manufacturer page reviewed for this article. Older independent reviews describe four-inch examples. This assessment keeps the current factory figure and the older reviewers’ descriptions separate instead of assuming that every version shares identical measurements or that Mike measured the barrel personally.
Does the 686’s weight make it easier for every beginner?
No. A listed weight cannot establish personal comfort or suitability. One reviewer described favorable balance in a longer example, but that does not predict how the shorter model will feel to you. Ask for a supervised assessment and report discomfort rather than forcing yourself to meet an arbitrary practice target.
Do favorable reviews prove that my 686 will perform the same way?
No. Published results describe particular firearms, reviewers and test conditions. The comparison discussed here included supported single-action testing and an older firearm with configuration changes. That evidence should not be presented as a guarantee of your results, current production quality or reliability. Have concerns about your actual firearm evaluated by a qualified professional.
Can I use this exact model during a Suburban Protector lesson?
Confirm that with Mike before booking. The private instruction page describes firearms being available for lessons, but it does not promise a standard six-shot 686 in this configuration. Say whether you own the firearm and ask what equipment will be used, where to meet and what the lesson can realistically assess.
Ask for a fit assessment, not a verdict in advance
Use this Smith and Wesson 686 review to make your private lesson request specific. Tell Mike your experience level, the exact configuration and whether your main concern is weight, control reach or understanding the action. Confirm equipment availability and the meeting location before heading to the range.