Need some experienced advice

[onegun]

You can usually find 686s fairly easy and a very good condition pre-lock version runs about $100-150 less than that here. If you wanted new I wouldn't be real concerned about the IL. I don't like them because they just look tacky but it can be removed and the hole filled with "the Plug" which can be bought via the S&W forum classifieds. That makes it look not quite so bad and removes any worry about it locking itself up.