Best powder for S & W 686 w/4'' barrel

[alwslate]

I have done a fair amount of chronographing 357 loads out of a 4"
barrel and 296/H110 is too slow for best velocity. 2400 will yield more
velocity with less drama. I would suggest that you consider a hard
cast 158 gr SWC instead of the JHP. Good velocity from a 4" barrel is
hard to achieve with a 158 gr jacketed bullet. A reasonable charge of
2400 and a magnum primer will yield well over 1300 fps out of a 4"
barrel with a cast bullet. Well above the actual velocity you will see
with a 158 gr jacketed bullet.

 

[btmonnat]

I was not really looking at hard cast bullets. The biggest reason was in my 45 model 1911 Kimber I had so much leading they were a headache to say the least. I ended up giving them to an EX friend. I can see where a revolver may be different. How does the lead clean out of the barrel?

 

[mstem]

I started reloading in 1975 when I purchased my first .357 Magnum. I first used WW 296. Later changed to H110 & use it in all barrel lengths. I load maximum loads & Hornady 158gr. XTP bullets.

 

[hangnoose]

2400 for hunting.

Ultimately it will be the one you spend time working up a load to find the sweet spot.

 

[Bruce51]

I switched to AA #7 for 158 grain JHP loads in my 4" 686.

While I use H110 for rifle loads that loads produces a huge fireball in the 686.

Having used Bluedot previously which also is very flashy AA #7 is great.

It has minimal flash, appears to be lower pressure and is a joy to load and shoot.

I used Speer #14 data and had no issues working up to the top listed load.

BLM

 

[gwpercle]

Hog Hunting! FUN
Since you have H110 and wish to use 158 gr. XTP bullet go with the Hornady data alwslate cited in post # 21. That should do just fine.

If , by some miracle , you come across some 2400 pick it up , it has always been an accurate powder in magnum hunting loads.
Good luck with the pig thinning,
Gary

 

[Shooter Magaven]

.. I had so much leading they were a headache to say the least. I ended up giving them to an EX friend. I can see where a revolver may be different. How does the lead clean out of the barrel?

Gas check'd HARD cast bullets. Faster than jacketed and no leading. I use RimRock's 170gr LBT-WFN and love them. This is a great hunting bullet. Hard, with a lot of penetration and wide frontal, bone crushing flat nose.

You asked for high velocity and accuracy in a 4" bbl .. well, again, I recommend Vv N110 and the hard cast w/gc.

g/ch .38spc .357mag 170 gr. LBT-WN per 100 - Gas Checked Cast Lead Bullets - Premium Bullets

Cleaning lead from a revolver..? Its a PITA. I think I'm gonna find an EX friend and give them my remaining Hornady swaged 158gr for this very reason

 

[drummer007]

I was not really looking at hard cast bullets. The biggest reason was in my 45 model 1911 Kimber I had so much leading they were a headache to say the least. I ended up giving them to an EX friend. I can see where a revolver may be different. How does the lead clean out of the barrel?

You might look at coated bullets: .38/.357 158 Gr. SWC - 1000 Ct. - Bayou Bullets

With coated bullets there is no leading problem

 

[boatbum101]

If cast bullets are sized to fit & lube is good leading will be almost non existant . If you go this way check cylinder throats & slug the bore . Throats should be larger than bore , if not throats should be reamed . Size bullets to be a push fit through cylinder throats & use a good quality lube ( I love White Label or LBT Blue ) . I shoot either the Lyman 358429 ( solid ) or 358439 Keith designed SWC bullets 12 BHN alloy from a 4" 586-0 . If you want a gaschecked bullet the LBT WFN or the Thompson designed Lyman 358156 also work very well . The Keith solid will shoot clean thru a good sized hog & the hollowpoint work very well on deer . If you don't cast the above mention Rimrock makes all these bullets , go with the softer 12 BHN . Reason so many commercial cast lead is because they're too hard ( 22 BHN ) & lube used sucks .

 

[Bugkiller99]

I was not really looking at hard cast bullets. The biggest reason was in my 45 model 1911 Kimber I had so much leading they were a headache to say the least. I ended up giving them to an EX friend. I can see where a revolver may be different. How does the lead clean out of the barrel?

Lewis lead remover, or
COPPER Chore Boy wrapped around a bore brush.

Best to avoid with proper bullet hardness for pressure, and fit to bore and throat. Common mistake is TOO hard. Bullet does not expand to fit bore, you get gas cutting and leading.

 

[Shooter Magaven]

OP, I Just got back from testing some loads, might interest you.

2400 vs H110/W296 vs N110
180 gr Cast FN
S&W 686 4" bbl

Target was @ 27 yards

Alliant 2400 (loaded a bit higher then max).
(CCI 500)
1289 fps Avg
ES 21
SD 9
1.78" group (5 shot)

14.0 gr Viht N110 (compressed)
CCI 400
1321 fps avg
ES 18
SD 9
0.85" group (5 shot)

13.65 gr W296
CCI 550
1126 fps avg
ES 100
SD 46
1.5" group (5 shot)

Im sure some of you are loading H110/w296 to higher charges but I have not gone over 14.0 because accuracy diminished and primers were cratering.

 

[fredj338]

I have done a fair amount of chronographing 357 loads out of a 4"
barrel and 296/H110 is too slow for best velocity. 2400 will yield more
velocity with less drama. I would suggest that you consider a hard
cast 158 gr SWC instead of the JHP. Good velocity from a 4" barrel is
hard to achieve with a 158 gr jacketed bullet. A reasonable charge of
2400 and a magnum primer will yield well over 1300 fps out of a 4"
barrel with a cast bullet. Well above the actual velocity you will see
with a 158 gr jacketed bullet.

Not really true. You'll almost always get higher vel with slower powders, regardless of bbl length. You'll just get more blast & flash. I agree, 2400 is more user friendly & you only give about 30fps in a 4". I pretty much moved back to 2400 for all my magnums.

 

[alwslate]

Not really true. You'll almost always get higher vel with slower powders, regardless of bbl length. You'll just get more blast & flash. I agree, 2400 is more user friendly & you only give about 30fps in a 4". I pretty much moved back to 2400 for all my magnums.

I wouldn't really argue with you as far as this being true but
we are talking about a specific situation here. I don't know
where you are getting your 4" data but as I said, I have done
a fair amount of chronographing myself with 4" 357s. I have
four, two S&W 28-2s and two 27-2s. Velocities are higher,
sometimes much higher, with 2400 than with 296 with
recommended charges. In the 44 mag I do prefer 296 to 2400.

 

[btmonnat]

You might look at coated bullets: .38/.357 158 Gr. SWC - 1000 Ct. - Bayou Bullets

With coated bullets there is no leading problem[/QU

What are these bullets coated with and do they need lube or can you load them just like a xtp jacketed bullet. This thread so far favors 2400 so that is what I would like to use if I can find it. Where can I find load limits for the 158 SWC with 2400 powder and what primer? Some people have told me you do not need a mag primer for 2400. Do not now if this is true or not. Sorry for the string of questions but would like to try something that has a chance of working without to much experimenting. Funds are tight. Thanks for all the great replies so far.

 

[forestswin]

Gas check'd HARD cast bullets. Faster than jacketed and no leading. I use RimRock's 170gr LBT-WFN and love them. This is a great hunting bullet. Hard, with a lot of penetration and wide frontal, bone crushing flat nose.

You asked for high velocity and accuracy in a 4" bbl .. well, again, I recommend Vv N110 and the hard cast w/gc.

g/ch .38spc .357mag 170 gr. LBT-WN per 100 - Gas Checked Cast Lead Bullets - Premium Bullets

Cleaning lead from a revolver..? Its a PITA. I think I'm gonna find an EX friend and give them my remaining Hornady swaged 158gr for this very reason

Shooter
Try Unique with those Hornady swaged swc's. They shoot POA with 5grains in 357 cases in my 686 at 25 yards. No leading. Or I'll be your EX friend and give you my ship to address.
Use Hornady's load data for them.

 

[Shooter Magaven]

Thanks Forest, but I have no Unique and as long as the " great pistol powder hording" is going on, I'm done looking for powder. My blood pressure is too high and I have a job, so no time for that sillyness.

 

[fredj338]

I wouldn't really argue with you as far as this being true but
we are talking about a specific situation here. I don't know
where you are getting your 4" data but as I said, I have done
a fair amount of chronographing myself with 4" 357s. I have
four, two S&W 28-2s and two 27-2s. Velocities are higher,
sometimes much higher, with 2400 than with 296 with
recommended charges. In the 44 mag I do prefer 296 to 2400.

It obviously depends on the charge wts, but in a test run with 4 diff 4" guns, h110/w296 give higher vel with safer pressures in all 4 guns with 158gr bullets.

 

[btmonnat]

This truely is a great site

Thanks to all. This has been very helpful.

 

[Fishinfool]

You might look at coated bullets: .38/.357 158 Gr. SWC - 1000 Ct. - Bayou Bullets

With coated bullets there is no leading problem[/QU

What are these bullets coated with and do they need lube or can you load them just like a xtp jacketed bullet. This thread so far favors 2400 so that is what I would like to use if I can find it. Where can I find load limits for the 158 SWC with 2400 powder and what primer? Some people have told me you do not need a mag primer for 2400. Do not now if this is true or not. Sorry for the string of questions but would like to try something that has a chance of working without to much experimenting. Funds are tight. Thanks for all the great replies so far.

Couple things. You should have a good reloading manual (or 5 ). Free printed ones are available from the manufacturers. I have added a link to a good manufacturers site for pressure tested loads.http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...R98Ub4qstkSKtqWtCwAw9-A&bvm=bv.86956481,d.eXY

I don't have much experience with plated bullets, but I believe most are soft lead, with a plating, some with copper, some with powder coat, and not designed for maximum velocities, or the heavy crimps required with most heavy powder charges. They might not perform well on big game, do to their soft construction. Something to look into. They are supposed to be fine for target level loads though.

I recommended h110 / 296, as you already have some. 2400 works well also. Mag primers are needed with H110 / 296. Some use them with 2400, some don't. Go by what the published and tested load indicates.

Larry

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I must be doing something wrong. I have been loading lead bullets in all my handgun cartridges including the .357 Magnum and in a few rifle cartridges too and I never get any leading. I wonder what I'm doing wrong?