Lipsey’s S&W Model 686 Plus Review: The Mountain Gun

I hit the range to test out Lipsey’s exclusive S&W Model 686 Plus Mountain Gun.

Revolvers do not get a lot of interest these days. We could argue the reasons for this, but I think it’s apparent that modern shooters are more interested in compact 9mm handguns, which are lighter, easier to shoot and hold more ammunition.

But this world has not changed that much, and a good revolver is just as viable of a tool as it was back during Prohibition when my grandfather was packing a Smith & Wesson Model 10. A new revolver that caught my eye is the S&W Model 686 Plus Mountain Gun from Lipsey’s.

Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus Mountain Gun Specs:

Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: Model 686 Plus Mountain Gun
Frame: Medium ; L-Frame
Caliber: .357 Magnum
Weight Unloaded: 35 Ounces
Capacity: 7
Overall Height: 5.68 Inches
Barrel Length: 4.13 Inches
Overall Length: 9.75 Inches
MSRP: $1,200

Called to Duty

When I became a police officer in 1992, I was issued a Smith & Wesson Model 686 with a 4-inch barrel. Oddly, everyone else in my department was armed with a Glock Model 22, because the department had just transitioned from the 686 to the Glock. The problem was they did not have enough Glocks to go around.

So, I got the revolver and, in fact, it was the handgun I used when I was attending the West Virginia State Police Academy. I was the only officer in my Academy class using a revolver, but it didn’t hinder me. On qualification day I had the top score, so as you might imagine, I have a bit of an attachment to the 686 and ended up carrying it on duty for almost a year.

The Smith & Wesson Model 686 was one of the most popular of all the service revolvers used by police agencies across America. It had a stellar reputation for reliability and accuracy, and over the years it has saved the lives of a lot of lawmen. It has also been reasonably popular with those looking for a powerful self-defense revolver or hunting or trail gun.

The main difference between the 4-inch 686’s carried by so many police officers and the new 686 Plus Mountain Gun from Lipsey’s is that the Mountain gun does not have a full underlug on the barrel. It has a smooth set of TGW Bear Hug Walnut Grips, a seven-shot capacity, and the front sight has a gold bead instead of the common red insert, ramped sight.

I’ve spent a good bit of time with the 686 Plus Mountain Gun, enough to know it offers the same reliability and precision the 686 is famous for. I tested two .38 Special, and two .357 Magnum loads out of this revolver, and the average precision for a bunch of five-shot groups at 10 yards from a sandbag rest was right at an inch.

Shooting Results

There were no functional issues of any kind, and the single-action trigger pull was quite impressively crisp at only 4 pounds. The double-action pull was surprisingly light at about 8 pounds, but it did have a little drag right at the end. A talented revolver smith should be able to easily smooth this action to perfection.

Many will consider a 4-inch L-frame revolver a bit heavy for concealed carry, but the 686-Plus Mountain Gun only weighs 35 ounces, unloaded. That’s less than a full-size, steel-framed 1911. However, even though it might be lighter than a 1911, it is bulkier and a bit more difficult to conceal. As for a gun you might want to use for big game hunting, you might find the distance between the front and rear sight a bit short for making accurate shots at longer ranges, but I had no problem routinely hitting an 8-inch plate offhand at 25 yards.

Where the 686 Mountain Gun shines the brightest is in the role of a trail gun that might need to be used for defense against four- or two-leg predators. The extra round—seven as opposed to six—is nice, and with a load like the .357 Magnum 180-grain Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman, this revolver—if you can stand the wrist-wrenching recoil—can stop any critter in North America.

Same But Different

Lipsey’s also offers a six-shot, .44 Magnum and 10mm Auto version of the Mountain Gun. Unlike the Model 686, the Model 629 in .44 Magnum and the Model 610 in 10mm Auto are built on the larger N-frame as opposed to the L-frame used by the Model 686.

Interestingly, Lipsey’s also offers a Model 617 version of the Mountain Gun chambered for the .22 Long Rifle. It’s built on the smaller K-frame, has a 10-shot capacity, and looks just like the other three. In fact, all four of these revolvers are all stainless-steel, have 4-inch barrels and are outfitted with the smooth walnut Bear Hug grips and gold bead front sight. They all also have a retail price of $1,199.

If I was looking for a trail/mountain gun for predator defense or for occasional hunting, I’d go with the 686 Plus version in .357 Magnum. It’s 4 and 5 ounces lighter—respectively—than the .44 Mangum or 10mm Auto versions, and it holds one extra round. It can also shoot the much lighter recoiling .38 Special cartridge, and between the .38 Special and .357 Magnum there is a lot of ammo to choose from.

I’d also consider the Model 617 from Lipsey’s because it would make a great sub-caliber trainer companion to the 686 Plus Mountain Gun.

S&W Model 686 Plus Mountain Gun Deals

Midway USA	$1,300
Guns.com	$1,238

Range Notes: V-Type Targets

I’ve been conducting accuracy testing with rifles and handguns for a long time, long enough to learn the target—especially when shooting with open sights—matters. Standard bull’s-eye targets are not the best option because trying to hold center is too imprecise without an optic. The big, black and white V on the Thompson Target Iron Man target provides a perfect sight picture and allows for very precise sight alignment with conventional open sights.

Unfortunately, it’s no longer available, but the red and white Dead Center target is. Thompson Targets offers two versions of the Dead Center. The 19×25-inch version with a 1-inch grid is best for longer ranges ($6.99 for five, #R-4700-5), or the 9×12-inch grid-less version is great for about 15 yards and in ($4.99 for 12, #R-4501-12). Alternatively, you can make your own V-type targets, and I bet if you use them, you’ll shoot better with your open sights.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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