Smith & Wesson's 686 Plus Deluxe is a seven-shot L-frame revolver in .357 Magnum that also fires .38 Special +P. The frame, cylinder and 6-inch barrel are stainless steel, the grips are wood, and the gun weighs 44.9 ounces at 11.9 inches overall. It runs double action or single action from the exposed hammer, and the sights are a red-ramp front with a white-outline rear that adjusts.

A 6-inch .357 with this much weight is a range and home revolver more than a carry piece; the long sight radius and steel heft make magnum loads easy to shoot well. For a New Jersey buyer, each handgun needs its own Permit to Purchase, applied for online through the State Police FARS system and routed to your local police department. The permit is good for 90 days and renews once automatically, buyers must be 21, and the state allows one handgun purchase every 30 days unless you hold an exemption.

Key features

• .357 Magnum and .38 Special +P, 7-shot cylinder
• Stainless steel L-frame, 6-inch barrel
• Double and single action, exposed hammer
• Red-ramp front, adjustable white-outline rear
• Wood grips, 44.9 ounces

The revolver ships to a New Jersey FFL dealer, who runs the State Police background check and releases it once your permit is in hand.