I will be using my 686 mostly as a range toy and I need help deciding brands, grains, etc.

What .38 special is good ?

What .357 magnum is good?

If you don't reload, Georgia Arms has decent ammo for paper punching.
They have a website.

Any and all.

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I prefer 125 grain bullets so I reload.

Any brand of American made ammo is good. I have friends who shoot Perfecta from Walmart.

Fiocchi had at least 5 duds per box which was a disappointment to me. I bought 1000 rounds.




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If you are a Reloader 158 grain RNL Dardas brand bullets over 3.4 grains of Titegroup works for me. Its a mild load and I like the RNL shape better than the SWC or the WC as they tend to lead up less. I'd start with the .358" diameter and adjust up or down after shooting a bunch. .358" is usually the standard for reloading but slugging your barrel is also a good idea.

If you do NOT Reload I'd go with Federal's American Eagle standard velocity 158 grain RN or SWC lead. If you are going to be a frequent shooter I'd STRONGLY SUGGEST visiting Dillon Precisions web site, drink the BLUE koolaide and get yourself a reloading Outfit. For low volumes the Square Deal is good, but if you are young and going to get into this hobby in a big way, I'd suggest the Dillon 650. IMHO it's the NUTZ of Reloading presses. The 650 also uses standard dies (unlike the SD-B which uses proprietary dies).

There are some ammo experts here abouts, but I'm not one of them. I've settled on 158gr Full Metal Jacket (FMJ), for both .38SPL & .357 Mag.

I like to shoot my 686's a lot, and share the experience with others, but I don't reload so I look for good sales and stock up.

My current "value" plinking ammo is Cabela's Herters brand when double 20% sales are run. That's 20% off store sale, plus 20% off Cabela's credit card holders sale. With the CC rebate the .38SPL is $14 and .357 is $16. Order online for in-store pick up to guarantee the quantity you want.

For target use, any standard pressure .38 Special load that is accurate and clean will work. Jacketed bullets will cause less fouling. For .357, probably any jacketed 158 gr load would be good to start. Other loads would be better for "social use" but any full expanding bullet .357 will suffice if needed. Try a few different types of each.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Sgammo is your friend.

Personally, I do not like shooting lead bullets, so I for FMJ, or at least semi jacket rounds.

Here's what I'm currently running in .38:

50 round box - 38 special FMJ 158 grain Sellier Bellot Ammo SB38P | SGAmmo.com

For some decent range .357 that I wouldn't be afraid to use for self defense...here:

50 round box - 357 Magnum 158 Grain SJHP Prvi Partizan Ammo PPR35 | SGAmmo.com

Like others have said, Perfecta from Wal Mart is also good to go in both .38 and .357, although I've never seen it in .38, just .357.

If you want some hot stuff...Hornady makes some pretty affordable "American Gunner" line of FTX loaded .357...and it is HOT. I can get it for around $16/25rds locally.

All I shoot in 38 special / 357 magnum is lead bullets , I even cast my own , since 1967 .
Any factory ammunition will be fine even the ones with lead bullets, don't be afraid to try several weights and makers.
357 magnum loads will usually be jacketed because of the high velocity.
Accurate and pleasant to shoot are the 148 grain target wadcutter ammunition. +P 38 special loads will be between 38 special and 357 magnum. 357 magnum come in all weights, I like 158 grain but I'm old school and 158 grain was the standard weight for years.
Availability has a lot to do with what you buy. Go to store, gun store employee's can offer guidance , pick up 2 to 4 boxes of different ammo and try them and see what you and your gun like.
Good luck , be safe and have fun,
Gary

Super Vel.

I like perfecta as well.

You'll just have to shoot different brands and bullets weights and see what shoots best. I found a bunch of 158 gran Federal Hydra Shok ammo at a fairly cheap price and bought up a bunch of it. It turns out it's super accurate in my 686+. So accurate that until it's all gone, I have no desire to try anything else.

Personally I like federal, Remington, Winchester, and hornady. But, I'll pretty much shoot anything that's on sale at Academy or Cabelas.

You showing your age talking about Super Vel , I still have a few of the bullets in the little Super Vel box they came in.
We had fun loading them hot and shooting water filled milk jugs.
Gary

Wait a second......Super Vel closed up shop in 1973-1974 !
I just gargled super vel ammo and ...." They're Back "!
Yes try some of the New Super Vel Ammo , the old was good !
Gary

Perfecta .357 from Walmart. My local store always seems to have it on the shelf and you can't beat the price.

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I recently tried 5 grains of Titegroup with a 125 gr JHP bullet loaded in a .357 case (although technically a +P .38 load) to shoot out of my Mod 66. My goal was something with a little more 'pop' than a standard .38 and loaded in a .357 case for the 'potential' slight advantage for accuracy. Very nice load, accurate and controllable.

Any other ammo recommendations for just plinking? Perfecta was out of stock at my local walmart and I have a feeling neckbeards hoard the 38 special and 357 mag.

The best plinking load is a .38 Special wadcutter target load. I'd say that at least 90% of the .38 Special and .357 revolver shooting I do is with a reload using 148 grain full wadcutter lead bullet and 3 grains of Bullseye. Little noise, little recoil. That's been the standard .38 Special target load for about 100 years.

For paper punching just about any ammo will do the job. Usual problem seems to be obtaining a consistent source so you're not always fiddling with sight settings to compensate for different ammo.

I've been reloading since 1971 and casting bullets since 1972. Wouldn't know how to get along without home-brewed ammo, even though I don't worry so much about costs at this point in my life. I like to practice with ammo as close as possible to what I will carry for defensive use, so most of my .38 Special loading is geared toward the upper end (95% or so) of standard pressure loads. Years ago I settled in with 158-grain SWC and 5.0 grains Unique, which is moderately stiff on recoil in the small and medium frame revolvers, but consistently accurate and controllable, so I can easily switch over to Federal 158SWC-HP +P loads for carry ammo without experiencing much difference.

In lightweight snubs I prefer 3.0 grains Bullseye for a mild practice load and standard-pressure SWC or WC ammo for carry. Again, no significant differences to overcome.

If you are not going to reload I suggest finding ammo that meets your needs, then buying in case lots so you have plenty on hand to stay current.

In my 357 I love 38 specials loaded with a 148 grain wadcutters, makes a nice neat hole in the target.