Smith & Wesson 686 Plus .357 Magnum 7-inch 7-Round Satin Stainless
About this product
What is the Smith & Wesson 686 Plus? It's a stainless steel L-frame revolver with a 7-inch barrel and seven-round capacity, designed to manage .357 Magnum's power while offering the versatility of .38 Special rounds. Built on Smith & Wesson's proven mid-frame platform, it delivers a substantial 51.2 ounces of weight to dampen recoil, paired with adjustable target sights for long-range precision shooting.
What is the Smith & Wesson 686 Plus used for?
It's primarily a field and target pistol for power and precision. The 7-inch barrel provides a sight radius of 11.5 inches for enhanced accuracy at distance, making it excellent for metallic silhouette or bowling pin shooting, while the durable stainless steel construction withstands harsh field conditions for extended hunting trips or backcountry carry.
How does the Smith & Wesson 686 Plus compare to the Ruger GP100?
The 686 Plus offers superior sight configuration and one more round. Where the Ruger GP100 typically features a 6-round cylinder and fixed sights, the 686 Plus provides a drilled-and-tapped frame for optics, adjustable target sights, and that seventh chamber, placing it ahead for serious competition shooters who value configurability and capacity over the Ruger's simpler, arguably more robust internal lockwork.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
It weighs 51.2 ounces (3.2 pounds) unloaded, adding significant mass for recoil control. With a 7-inch barrel and an overall length of 12.8 inches, this revolver requires a full-size holster; its cylinder width of 1.75 inches mandates a holster designed specifically for L-frame revolvers, not the more common K-frames like our Stevens 334 bolt-action rifles which have entirely different carrying profiles.
Who is this NOT for?
This is not for concealed carry or new shooters. The 7-inch barrel and 51-ounce weight make it impractical for daily concealment, and the potent .357 Magnum recoil, even in this heavy frame, can be intimidating for someone accustomed to the mild report of a .38 Special or the light handling of a Stevens 555 .410 shotgun; this is a specialist's tool.
What's in the box?
The factory package includes the revolver, one 7-round unfluted stainless cylinder, a standard set of keys for the internal lock, and owner's paperwork. Smith & Wesson does not typically include speed loaders, a cleaning kit, or a quality holster that accommodates the 7-inch barrel profile, so budget an additional $75-150 for those essential accessories.
Is the Smith & Wesson 686 Plus worth it at $1007.99?
Yes, for a shooter seeking a durable, accurate platform for .357 Magnum. The premium over a standard 6-shot model buys you increased capacity, a longer sight radius for tighter groups, and the factory-drilled frame for mounting optics, which would cost $150+ to have done aftermarket; it's a purpose-built investment, not a general-purpose sidearm.
Specs at a glance
Video review
Pros & cons
What works
- 7-round capacity – offers one more shot than the standard 686 or Ruger GP100
- 51.2 oz (3.2 lb) frame weight – reduces felt recoil of .357 Magnum by approximately 30% versus lighter K-frames
- 11.5-inch sight radius – improves aiming precision for targets beyond 50 yards
- Drilled & tapped frame – allows direct optics mounting without expensive gunsmithing
Trade-offs
- No included optics mount or rings – plan an extra $60-120 for a quality base plate
- Significant muzzle-heavy balance – the 7-inch barrel shifts the center of gravity forward, making sustained one-handed shooting fatiguing
- Internal lock mechanism – some purists dislike the potential point of failure, though it can be removed with a $25 kit and basic tools
Expert review
Key attributes
| upc | 022188145151 |
| manufacturer | Smith & Wesson / S&W |
| manufacturer part number | 150855 |
| action | SA/DA Revolver |
| atf type | Revolver |
| barrel finish | Satin Stainless |
| barrel length | 7'' |
| caliber/gauge | .357 Magnum |
| capacity | 7 |
| color | Silver |
| length | 12.3'' |
| magazine included | 1 x 7-Round |
| model | L Frame |
| package height | 3.4 |
| package width | 9.7 |
| product type | Revolver |
| safety | Internal Lock |
| shipping weight | 4.6 |
| sights | Adjustable |
| sights type | ADJUSTABLE |
| state restriction (guam) | NO SALE TO GUAM |
| state restriction (pr) | NO SALE TO PUERTO RICO |
| state restriction (vi) | NO SALE TO VIRGIN ISLANDS |
| units per box | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with .38 Special ammunition?
- Yes, the 686 Plus fires .38 Special, .38 Special +P, and .357 Magnum cartridges interchangeably. The .357 Magnum chamber allows safe firing of the shorter-cased .38s, making it ideal for low-recoil training. You must physically clean the cylinder chambers after firing .38s to prevent carbon buildup that can impede .357 Magnum case insertion.
- Does it fit standard L-frame holsters?
- It fits holsters designed for 686 models with 6-inch barrels, but not perfectly. The extra inch of barrel will protrude, and you must verify the holster specifically accommodates an unfluted cylinder. We recommend a duty-style holster from Safariland or DeSantis that lists compatibility with 'S&W L-Frame 6-7 inch' for proper retention.
- How long does shipping take to an FFL?
- Processing and ground shipping typically take 3-5 business days before the firearm ships. Once shipped, transit to your chosen Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealer takes an additional 2-7 business days depending on your location. You must contact your FFL dealer to coordinate transfer paperwork, which can add another 1-3 days before pickup.
- Can I return it if it's defective?
- Yes, but only for manufacturer defects per Smith & Wesson's warranty, not for buyer's remorse. Ironclad Armory facilitates returns of unfired, original-condition firearms with all factory packaging within 30 days for a 15% restocking fee. Any mechanical defect discovered must be handled directly through Smith & Wesson's lifetime service policy, which typically has a 4-6 week turnaround.
- Does this work with a common red dot mount?
- Yes, the drilled-and-tapped frame accepts common mounts. You need a specific Picatinny or Weaver rail base designed for Smith & Wesson L-frame revolvers from manufacturers like EGW or Weigand. The mounting process requires a torque wrench set to 15-18 inch-pounds on the mounting screws to avoid stripping the factory threads.