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S&W Frame Question?

NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
Will someone please tell me the size frame the S&W 686 is built on? I know its a N or L frame but Im not sure?

Comments

  • texshootertexshooter Member Posts: 1,002 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    L frame is basically a beefed up K frame to take the battering of lots of high power 357 rounds.

    They do share K frame grips.
  • yawarakaiyawarakai Member Posts: 2,688 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
    L frame is basically a beefed up K frame to take the battering of lots of high power 357 rounds.

    They do share K frame grips.




    So you are saying my .357 is an L frame and not the K frame. But it will fit my K frame pachmar grips. Sweet.
  • CLINTFCLINTF Member Posts: 735 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    L and K frame can use the same grips and are the same size but I believe beantownshootah is correct in that the L frames were made to be stronger in some areas.
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by yawarakai
    quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
    L frame is basically a beefed up K frame to take the battering of lots of high power 357 rounds.

    They do share K frame grips.




    So you are saying my .357 is an L frame and not the K frame. But it will fit my K frame pachmar grips. Sweet.


    Well I don't know what model you have, but if its the 686, yes, K frame grips should fit.

    As far I know Smith isn't making K-frame 357s anymore (just L frames), but they made plenty of K frame 357s in the past. For example, my Smith model 19 is a K frame .357 magnum (and one of the nicest DA revolvers I've ever shot):

    101-0181_IMG.jpg

    And just to confuse you more, Smith and Wesson also makes .357 magnums on the small (J) and large (N) frames.

    But in general, the K frame and L frame revolvers have the same grip. As above, the main difference between the K and L frame is that the L frame is thicker and reinforced around the forcing cone (where the bullet enters the barrel) and in a few other areas.
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