The 686SSR has chamfered cylinder mouths for faster reloads, although one tester wished they were chamfered a bit more aggressively.

Of the 15 five-shot groups we fired, all of them printed near enough to point of aim to make us happy and measured as small as an inch--and none was larger than two inches The 686SSR is the most accurate out-of-the-box revolver we’ve seen in some time.

After chronographing our five test loads, we put the 686SSR through its paces in offhand speed shooting. We first set up a pair of combat targets and, using a mixture of the remaining ammunition, ran the Smith though the following series of offhand drills.

• Five yards. Draw and perform the FBI drill--two rounds to the body, one to the head--on each target. Perform a combat reload and repeat, firing the revolver unsupported (one-handed).

• Ten yards. Draw and fire three rounds on each target. Perform a combat reload and repeat three more times.

• Fifteen yards. Draw and fire three rounds on each target. Reload and repeat.

The revolver was drawn from a Gould & Goodrich M803 holster; reloading was facilitated by the use of HKS and Safariland Comp III speedloaders. After perforating cardboard in a most satisfactory manner, we moved over to the next berm and used up the remaining ammo running speed drills on various plates, rectangles, squares and diamond-shaped steel targets.

Rusty, a serious revolver competitor and former North Carolina state revolver champ, thought it was one of the most versatile and well-built wheelguns he’d ever shot, his only criticism being that he thought the chamber mouths could be chamfered more aggressively to make reloads faster. He thought it handled very well; out of the 48 rounds he sent downrange, only one impacted outside of the targets’ respective A zones.

The Model 686SSR proved itself capable of doing anything that might be required in IDPA competition. Heck, it proved itself capable of performing just about any duty one might require of a handgun.

SMITH & WESSON Model 686SSR
Type:	double action revolver
Caliber:	.357 Mag./ .38 Spl.
Capacity:	6
>Barrel Length:	4 in.
Overall Length:	9.56 in.
Weight:	38.3 oz.
Sights:	interchangeable blade front, fully adjustable rear
Finish:	satin stainless
Grips:	stippled wood
Price:	$965
Manufacturer:	Smith & Wesson Performance Center, smith-wesson.com , 800-331-0852