New to forum and have been reloading for 40 years but have little experience with handgun reloading. Would like to know what powder would give me the best accuracy and vel. out of a Model 686 S & W with a 4'' barrel. Accuracy being most important. Any input will greatly be appreciated.
Best powder for S & W 686 w/4'' barrel
- Thread starter btmonnat
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ontargetagain
Member
Bullseye and Titegroup seem to do very well in many instances and both meter very well too.
A good friend of mine is a die hard Bullseye powder guy and it works well in all his revolvers and excellent in his GP100 4in with plated and jacketed bullets.
Karl
A good friend of mine is a die hard Bullseye powder guy and it works well in all his revolvers and excellent in his GP100 4in with plated and jacketed bullets.
Karl
boatbum101
Member
I'd start with 2400 . W296/H110 will give top velocity & good accuracy but must be close to or at max load . 2400 is more flexible . What bullets are you planing on using ?
elpac3
Member
Can't go wrong with Bullseye, unique, 2400, or W231.
Save the 2400 for top end loads with heavy bullets.
Save the 2400 for top end loads with heavy bullets.
Lead ?
Copper ?
Light weight?
158gr plus ?
15 yards.........
100 yards ?
I have no clue.
Copper ?
Light weight?
158gr plus ?
15 yards.........
100 yards ?
I have no clue.
gwpercle
Member
Large game ?
Small Game ?
Three gun Bullseye Match ?
Steel plate, bowling pin Match ?
Tin can plinking ?
Information helps informed answers.
Small Game ?
Three gun Bullseye Match ?
Steel plate, bowling pin Match ?
Tin can plinking ?
Information helps informed answers.
fredj338
Member
No such thing. What bullets are you going to use? What vel are you trying to achieve? It depends. IME, accuracy is rarely powder dependent. Unlike rifles, pistols show less preference.
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AND, for now, and most importantly, what powders do you have, or can you get?
I plan to use 158 gr. XTP's. I have 231 and H110 for my 629 classic 44 mag. I hunt mostly deer and am trying to cut down on the quilly pig population up on my wood lot. If someone in the family wounds a deer I leave the rifle home and track with my pistol. I want a smaller gun than my 6 1/2 '' 44 mag. I killed a nice buck with the XTP's in my 44 that is why I would like to stay with them. It would be
easier dragging a deer with a smaller gun strapped to me. I also have a 45 ACP in a 1911 I load for.
Sorry for not providing more Info. in the original post.
easier dragging a deer with a smaller gun strapped to me. I also have a 45 ACP in a 1911 I load for.
Sorry for not providing more Info. in the original post.
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MDMarauder
Member
Best powder for S & W 686?
Any powder you can find..
Any powder you can find..
Fishinfool
Member
For max hunting loads, the H-110 you have will work fine. It is the same powder as win 296. It will give max velocities, and usually makes for an accurate load, along with the expected muzzle blast. 231 is a good target / light field powder. I personally have a high opinion of XTP's, and have used them often on big game, usually in a 44 mag.
Larry
Larry
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
You can load for the .357 Magnum the same way you load for the .44 Magnum. Use W231 for middle to middle hot loads and H110/W296 for the upper end hottest loads. I recommend a magnum primer with that powder.
scooter123
Member
IMO H110/W296 and IMR 4227are too slow for use as a 357 Magnum Handgun powder. Yeah, they will work and will produce higher velocities. But the price you will pay is excessive muzzle flash, blast, and gas cutting of the top strap. H110 is best reserved for 357 Magnum rifle loads where you have enough barrel length to properly utilize this slower burning powder.
For Hornady's excellent 158 grain XTP bullet the powder I've found provides the best balance is Accurate #9. With a 4 inch revolver you won't see any excess muzzle flash, it won't have that distinctive BAHOOM of H110, and the Barrel/Cylinder flash is noticably reduced from what is seen with H110. As for accuracy, my pet #9 Handgun load features 11.1 grains of powder with the 158 grain Hornady XTP. Out of the barrel of my 6 inch Dan Wesson this load produces 1200 fps and will produce 1.5 inch groups at 25 yards with clockwork regularity. Considering that a comparable H110 load using 15 grains of powder only produces 1250 fps you don't lose a lot for shedding all the drama the slower powders generate.
For Hornady's excellent 158 grain XTP bullet the powder I've found provides the best balance is Accurate #9. With a 4 inch revolver you won't see any excess muzzle flash, it won't have that distinctive BAHOOM of H110, and the Barrel/Cylinder flash is noticably reduced from what is seen with H110. As for accuracy, my pet #9 Handgun load features 11.1 grains of powder with the 158 grain Hornady XTP. Out of the barrel of my 6 inch Dan Wesson this load produces 1200 fps and will produce 1.5 inch groups at 25 yards with clockwork regularity. Considering that a comparable H110 load using 15 grains of powder only produces 1250 fps you don't lose a lot for shedding all the drama the slower powders generate.
Though XTPs aren't.....
Though XPTs aren't 'target' bullets that are lobbed subsonically to the target, for JHPs the most accurate loads are often found in the mid range. For hunting velocities, I'd surely sacrifice a modicum of accuracy for velocity. For medium loads I use Unique and Acc #7. People are saying good things about the new BE-86. I use 2400 for hot to top loads because it gives up very little in velocity to 110/296 but is more versatile.
Though XPTs aren't 'target' bullets that are lobbed subsonically to the target, for JHPs the most accurate loads are often found in the mid range. For hunting velocities, I'd surely sacrifice a modicum of accuracy for velocity. For medium loads I use Unique and Acc #7. People are saying good things about the new BE-86. I use 2400 for hot to top loads because it gives up very little in velocity to 110/296 but is more versatile.
Shooter Magaven
Member
158gr jacketed 357 Mag
i been using Viht N110.
Clean, very accurate and little flash. Velocities just shy of h110 and 2400.
Its a compressed load, but no issues.
i been using Viht N110.
Clean, very accurate and little flash. Velocities just shy of h110 and 2400.
Its a compressed load, but no issues.
SLT223
Member
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I'll add that discharging IMR 4227 from a 4" or 6" BBL will cause you gun to double as a sand blasting tool.
I use the above mentioned powders with outstanding results in a 20' 1892 Winchester chambered in 44 Magnum....even then I get some unburned powder with 4227.
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27 Man
Member
Bullseye, Unique and 2400 will do anything you need or want in .357 mag and .38 Spl.
fredj338
Member
Sounds like you want full power loads. The W296 will be exc with 158gr anything.
boatbum101
Member
These loads are from Hornady & are max with a 158 XTP : 16.0grs W296 & 15.6grs H110 show 1250fps from an 8" barrel , 11.5grs AA#9 , 13.1grs N-110 , 14.3grs 2400 , 15.1grs H4227 , 15.2grs W296 & 15.0grs H110 show 1200fps from same barrel length . All loads with Win SP mag primer & C.O.L. of 1.590" . Hope this helps .
