Ares 686 2" & 3.5" CO2

[GraniteFraggle]

Out in HK now, more models and sizes on the way.

 

 

Adjustable hop, gorgeous wood grips. I have a 3.5" on the way. Site legal, beautiful shells (although you can use wingun 715s).

 

Initial reports suggest it's much more consistent and accurate than the wingun models. We'll see. BBs held in rubber hollow point end. No trades.

 

 

I suspect the wingun 715 speedloaders will work.

 

 

Edited March 19 by GraniteFraggle

[rj1986]

Look forwards to hearing your thoughts on it. I have a soft spot for slab sided / "tactical" revolvers so the 2 they showed at MOA look tasty.

[GraniteFraggle]

My 3.5" is on its way! I love taking a revolver out for a bit of style on the field. The Rhinos are eminently skirmishable - much more consistent than the DW 715. I get a lot of fun from both - but at over a kilo each and chunky I'd like something smaller on the belt as a tertiary. You really cannot beat the look/feel of a shell loader - plus the style of getting kills is something else.

 

The different design of the shells & chamber looks like it'll be a much more efficient seal - the wingun models suffer with consistency thanks to this - the DW being the worst. They're fine for sub 20m but anything over this is a bit hit & miss. At the moment I'd say the H8R gen 2 is probably the best revolver. You're not getting hi-capa/1911 range but its good out to 30m, maybe a little more.

 

Ares have confirmed that these 2 models will hit the UK in April, with the combat (assuming these are the ones with rails) & hopefully alternative grips in May.

 

If they've sorted out the consistency & have a decent hop (I've had it confirmed its a TDC style one) then its a game changer. There's a youtube video of a chap who had an early copy & he has found its superior to the wingun platform in everyway.

 

Currently investigating getting the S&W trades laser engraved on mine. The HK retailers that offer this at the moment are very reasonably priced but their shipping to the UK is extortionate, so I'll get that done here.

Edited March 19 by GraniteFraggle

[1st commando]

JD Airsoft have a couple in stock. I'm really not a fan of revolvers or CO2 but having played with these last month i was super impressed with the feel and build of them 

[Mookster63]

Mine arrived, shellac the grips, possibly the most beautiful Airsoft revolver out there, the cartridges look so realistic, ordered a 2” now

[novioman]

Very nice, didn’t think they had trades

[heroshark]

3 hours ago, Mookster63 said:

Mine arrived, shellac the grips, possibly the most beautiful Airsoft revolver out there, the cartridges look so realistic, ordered a 2” now

Is it nice Tanaka nice though?

 

[GraniteFraggle]

17 hours ago, Mookster63 said:

Mine arrived, shellac the grips, possibly the most beautiful Airsoft revolver out there, the cartridges look so realistic, ordered a 2” now

Beautiful. Looks like an HKS speedloader - the 586-A?

 

 

I've got plenty of DW715 ones but this beauty deserves the nicer HKS models. You planning on skirmishing her?

[NiallT]

Would the shells be compatible with ASG Dan Wesson shells?

[GraniteFraggle]

4 hours ago, NiallT said:

Would the shells be compatible with ASG Dan Wesson shells?

 

You can use DW shells but there's a reported drop in power and consistency. 

 

Not sure how it works the other way round.

Edited March 22 by GraniteFraggle

[Mookster63]

On 21/03/2025 at 20:19, novioman said:

Very nice, didn’t think they had trades

Got mine from Octagon Airsoft, trades are lasered on. They are really nice weapons, as heavy as my deactivated S&W .357, even has the red insert in the front sight post. Quality is good feels great in the hand, finger grooves in the grip are a bit small but then I have big hands. Shoots really well, nice crack on each shot. Can’t fault them really,

On 21/03/2025 at 23:07, heroshark said:

Is it nice Tanaka nice though?

 

I think close, it has the correct weight and you can load the shells which you can’t on a Tanaka

[GraniteFraggle]

So a quick & dirty report now my 3.5" is here, thanks to Red Wolf.

 

The bad - no manual or hop adjustment key. No markings, unless you have them done yourself. My local guy is primed ....

 

The good - everything else!

 

Hop is a bit fiddly to set - clockwise for more, anti-clockwise for less.

 

*EDIT****** Chrono'd again with my Acetech 6000 Mkiii - I thought the values were way too high.

 

Its absolutely beautiful - from the grips (unstained in my case - which is fine, I'm looking forward to working some bees wax into her), to the spinning chamber action (no other revolver really touches this) is stunning. Trigger pull I can't give you figures on but having shot a lot of real steel (pre-ban in the UK) it feels right. Very smooth, very smooth indeed. Its loud - anecdotely similar to the wingun. The shells make a lovely sound if you slot them in one by one into the chamber.

 

Consitency is way and above wingun - see FPS below as a result I would happily take and get a body shot at 30m, maybe 40m. I need to test her in the field really

 

Looks like that new shell design has paid off.

 

Shells are lovely (R-P 357 Magnum - "Remington-Peters" 357 Magnum). I haven't tried the moonclips - I'm running her with HKS 586-A speedloadeers on my belt as a secondary sidearm loadout. Love the way they resemble a copper plate bullet. The shells fit in a wingun speedloader but .... you end up with some shells in your chamber/some not. I could play around with them and work out how to get everything lined up ... but why dress lamb as mutton?

 

Fits my 686 leather holster with thumb snap for the hammer perfectly.

 

Hops .3s with no problem - I think you could go heavier but I don't see any advantage as 0.3 means I use the same weight in all my sidearms.

 

For my use, I think the 3.5" is a perfect balance between portability,weight & accuracy. I'd love to see what the 5/6" versions are like (possibly with a different finish although the silver is really special) & the other grip options. The longer barreled models are going to be (legal!) hand cannons I think. Quite excited by the prospect!

 

Very happy with her - I'd say this is by far & away the best revolver I've used in a long line from Tanaka, Marushin & Wingun. Shells are a must for me - you really cannot beat the feel & buzz of using them in combat. Hopwise this is best I've seen, closely followed by the old 8mm Marushin, Tanaka SAA adjustable then coming a fair way behind, Wingun. Further behind still, Tanaka fixed.

 

So 6 shots, .3 ASG Blaster Devil BBs, 19°C, slow count of 5 between shots.

 

1: 227

2: 235

3: 229

4: 230

5: 231

6: 233

 

Average = 230 which is 282 FPS with 0.2 equivalent. So sight legal & really consistent

 

Some rubbish camera phone pictures attached, full review post skirmish day (or 2) to follow.

Edited April 3 by GraniteFraggle

[GraniteFraggle]

Ares have confirmed to me the the 6" - what they're calling the Combat Magnum will be released in May.

 

 

Take.My.Money.

[rj1986]

On 05/04/2025 at 15:04, GraniteFraggle said:

Ares have confirmed to me the the 6" - what they're calling the Combat Magnum will be released in May.

 

 

Take.My.Money.

So much for me not spending too much on guns this year…

[NiallT]

I hope they branch out from this and make a wider variety of revolvers with the same system. I would love a Smith & Wesson model 10.

[Cannonfodder]

On 05/04/2025 at 15:04, GraniteFraggle said:

Ares have confirmed to me the the 6" - what they're calling the Combat Magnum will be released in May.

 

 

Take.My.Money.

I used to have one of the CO2 air pistol replicas of the 586 (iirc the only difference was the colour) with the 8 inch barrel so I'm definitely interested in this

[GraniteFraggle]

My full review is up,chrono & 15m target results are up.

 

Skirmished with her Sunday - 18 shot - 8 kills. Yes I was sad enough to count

 

https://fraggle-soft.co.uk/ares-686-3-5-co₂/

 

[Doyley83]

I've just received mine today from JD Airsoft - what a superb bit of kit!

 

 

Has anyone who's purchased in the UK had the trades etched on yet?

Edited April 15 by Doyley83

[GraniteFraggle]

On 15/04/2025 at 19:03, Doyley83 said:

I've just received mine today from JD Airsoft - what a superb bit of kit!

 

 

Has anyone who's purchased in the UK had the trades etched on yet?

 

Not yet - planning on popping over to Tango Down in Northwich to get her done in the near future. Looking forward to taking her out again on Sunday.

 

Mine came from Redwolf - no hop key or manual though. Did yours come with them?

[novioman]

2 hours ago, GraniteFraggle said:

 

Not yet - planning on popping over to Tango Down in Northwich to get her done in the near future. Looking forward to taking her out again on Sunday.

 

Mine came from Redwolf - no hop key or manual though. Did yours come with them?

Manual is online from ares website, and I didn’t get a hop key in either guns.

[Doyley83]

12 hours ago, GraniteFraggle said:

 

Not yet - planning on popping over to Tango Down in Northwich to get her done in the near future. Looking forward to taking her out again on Sunday.

 

Mine came from Redwolf - no hop key or manual though. Did yours come with them?

 

No manual or hop key with mine either. I didn't know Tango Down did etching etc. - that would be extremely convenient seeing as their shop is 10 mins from my gaff!

[GraniteFraggle]

6 minutes ago, Doyley83 said:

 

No manual or hop key with mine either. I didn't know Tango Down did etching etc. - that would be extremely convenient seeing as their shop is 10 mins from my gaff!

 

There you go - my work is here is done - plus you're a 1911 man I see  You should get yourself over to my local site.

 

Do you have both the 2" & the 3.5" - how the 2"? I didn't pick one up as I thought the 3.5" would be the shortest skirmishable barrel, plus I thought I'd best save instead for the longer barrel models as I'm having them as soon as they show up in HK.

 

Very happy to see the manual online (finally!) although disappointed to see it doesn't have the useful *internal* diagrams I was hoping for. It does reference what I think will be the at least the 6" model (Apr-004). Not sure if its a 4" or ? though the apr-003. Roll on May!

[Doyley83]

1 minute ago, GraniteFraggle said:

 

There you go - my work is here is done - plus you're a 1911 man I see  You should get yourself over to my local site.

 

Do you have both the 2" & the 3.5" - how the 2"? I didn't pick one up as I thought the 3.5" would be the shortest skirmishable barrel, plus I thought I'd best save instead for the longer barrel models as I'm having them as soon as they show up in HK.

 

Very happy to see the manual online (finally!) although disappointed to see it doesn't have the useful *internal* diagrams I was hoping for. It does reference what I think will be the at least the 6" model (Apr-004). Not sure if its a 4" or ? though the apr-003. Roll on May!

No I opted for the 3.5" as they were selling out fast - I will be adding the 2" soon though I just want to see how the etching stuff goes as it's the only thing letting down a superb piece of kit! I will likely add the 6" on release also to complete the set 😂

[GraniteFraggle]

15 hours ago, Doyley83 said:

No I opted for the 3.5" as they were selling out fast - I will be adding the 2" soon though I just want to see how the etching stuff goes as it's the only thing letting down a superb piece of kit! I will likely add the 6" on release also to complete the set 😂

 

Yeh it's a shame about the lack of trades - but as I said in my review it's those damned licensing practices that are to blame. Umarex have the S&W license so it's unlikely to be resolved. Having seen the engraving quality that Octagon provided for this one I might plump for them over Redwolf for the 6s. I do need to speak to Tango Down though first & see if they can do it with the correct font/logo.

[novioman]

Keep a close eye on the grips, mine had a small part break off for no reason that I can think off. Not been banged or dropped, only fired one capsule so far.