Many years ago I bought a new 4 inch Model 686 CS-1. Cronographed both Winchester and Federal factory 125 grain JHP loads. They both went about the same speed over the chrono- about 1335-1340 FPS. There can be a great deal of difference in velocity form one gun to another, with the same barrel length. I'm not saying those loads would not do 1450 in any gun, but IMHO It would be a rare 4" gun that will produce the 1450 with the Federal load. If I were looking for a factory load that would go that fast, I would try Underwood or Buffalo Bore. In my youth, I tried to duplicate the hot 125 gr loads with close to max charges of H110 in front of SP magnum primers. I was using a 2.5" Model 19 back then and had no chronograph, but I was probably getting around 1250 FPS, and tremendous muzzle blast. For more insight into velocity differences from gun to gun, read this short article and look at the velocity charts. It is surprising, especially for the 6 inch revolvers.


Why Ballisticians Get Gray