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Smith’s Performance Center M686: Run, Don’t Walk

Dan Zimmerman - comments No comments

686 rt

While we were only able to put seven rounds through it today – and they were .38s at that – Smith’s skilled custom smithies have turned out one seksi shootin’ iron. In their original press release, Smith referred to their Performance Center-made beauty as “a high-end personal protection revolver.” That’s kinda like saying a Bugati Veyron is a nice way to bop on down to the market for a gallon of milk. If there’s a more elegant way to tote seven rounds of .357 wheel gun-delivered dissuasion with a slicker-than-snake-snot action, we can’t think of it. And all for a comparatively reasonable MSRP of $1089. Yes, please.

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0 thoughts on “Smith’s Performance Center M686: Run, Don’t Walk”

  1. There may be a technical reason for this, but I’ll go out on a limb and ask anyway –

    The AR platform rifles generally use a buffer behind the bolt to absorb some of the recoil. Why is there never a buffer/shock absorber mechanism built into the butt-stock itself (other than the recoil pads on some shotguns)?

    Reply
    • I’m with you on that. Unless I have some kind of larger project build in mind, the thought of buying a firearm that I know will have to be modified by a gunsmith before I would think of carrying it is just…wrong.

      Lose that damn thing already, S&W.

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      • Agreed. There are a whole bunch of S&W revolvers I’ll buy as soon as they get rid of that hideous useless zit. Until then, they can keep them and I’ll stick with the 642-1’s and 642-1 Pro’s that they are currently manufacturing without the lock.

        Reply
  2. I know how you feel Nick.
    McMillan makes a darn fine rifle. The trigger on mine is the finest I’ve ever touched.
    If you get to meet Kelly, he is a true gentleman.

    Reply
  3. How could it even adjust for windage automatically? With a big honkin’ WIND SOCK on top? It still wouldn’t tell you about wind downrange.

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  4. I’d love to see it in action, Although, I’d REALLY love to see a head-to-head comparo between the Sword .338 semi-auto, the Noreen “Bad News” .338 and even the Alexander Arms Ulfberht .338 semi-auto, once all three of them are out.

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  5. I have 3 PFI scopes now and I can say with 100% certainty that these scopes outperform any Leupold scope I’ve ever owned.
    PFI makes quality scopes that far exceed what the average shooter can utilize. I have shot 500yds with no issues with my 300 and PFi scope. To do that with my last scope was a crap shoot at best.
    For the money you will not find another scope on the market that will do what a PFI can do.
    The author of this article happens to work for Leupold. Go figure he would write a trash piece about a superior product.

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  6. I purchased this rifle as a tool to beat around in my truck etc, was not willing to spend much money on a ‘work’ weapon. This was considerably less expensive than all other 357 mag rifles, with the exception of single shots, and even those were only about $150 less than this one. This purchase was a no brainer.

    I knew these were considered ‘fixer uppers’ and it would take some effort to get it operational. Luckily there are a lot of mods on the internet to slick’em’up.

    After shortening, grinding or de-tensioning all nine springs it was much sweeter to cycle, but would still jam at least 50% of the time. Further investigation revealed the angle at which the rounds were being pushed into the chamber guaranteed jams. Using a Dremel tool and rubber polishing cones I ground a ‘feed ramp’ in the lower edge of the chamber, this stopped ALL jams.

    The furniture is rough, lightly sanded and stained an unpleasant color with no sealer.

    A positive aspect is I now probably know as much about lever action rifles as some gunsmiths! I’ve also developed a cartridge I call a 357 Max Short to use for hunting. Use 357 Mag brass, 180 grain spire point bullets (which makes it too long to cycle through a pistol) and H110 powder. Kicks like a mule but will blow a hole in a good sized tree.

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  7. I don’t think this tech has much of a future. The reason people shoot long range is because of the skill required to do it well, and having a scope do any of it is cool, but defeats the purpose. This stuff might take off with military and police snipers (because they have to shoot perfect every time), and maybe even some hunters, but I don’t think the long-range community in general will like these things.

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  8. The US Gov’t markted guns pretty hard in WW2 when they recruited our fathers for service with posters of marines with thompsons and M1 Gerands.I beleve Hitler had a problem with the 1st Amendment .He didn’t like this the 2nd either
    Didn’t England get their ASSES bailed out by the NRA when Roosevelt asked the NRA to help set up the civilian armament program? Let’t ask Pierce.
    Weren’ t the soldiers we asked to go to war 18-24?
    Didn’ we defeat tyranny of Nazis japenese? Who murdered millions who were unarmed? Haven’t these Assholes learned their lessons yet?
    Now who are these turds holding signs?

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  9. Ill pit my build against any store bought “quality” manufacturers off the shelf rifle, any day of the week… I live on south Florida so any takers Just let me know….

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  10. I just found one locally and bought it on the spot. Unfortunately, I just bought a Sig P226 and P229 last week so my wife is in for a surprise when she gets the charge card bill. Easier to ask for forgiveness and all that.

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