686-6 For Bullseye Shooting

[Photochromes]

I bought a 686-6 Competitor and some 12 BHN lead, 158gr swc and 148 DEWC from Missouri Bullet, after trying some Berrys. I have a few relaoding books.

I am older and my eyes are not in the best condition so I put a Ultradot Matchdot II on it.

I am having dismal results off the bench with all rounds tested so far. Really bad.

The 38 specials have 14 twists and the 357mag have 18.75 I think? Should I be moving away from lead bullets and going to jacketed and higher velocities? My Lyman book listed Titegroup as their most accurate powder for the wad cutters, but they are listing a 150gr dewc with a 22BHN, ie Linotype.

It's a brand new gun with less that 200 rounds through it.

If I do move to a jacketed bullet, where should I start? 125gr found nose?

I would like the gun to hit the bull at 50yards from the bench at least, If the revolver can hit it, then I at least have a chance to.

Thanks!

 

[Protocall_Design]

All the S&W barrels have a 1 in 18-3/4 twist. The 45 ACP barrels are 1 in 16. This is too slow for light target loads. Get you DE wadcutters over 900 to 950 FPS and you will be doing a lot better. The factory twist is just too slow to stabilize anything slower out to 50 yards. That's why all PPC guns have a custom 1 in 10 or 1 in 14 barrel.

I have never got Berry's or Ranier copper plated bullets to shoot a group out of any of my guns with any barrel. The same guns will shoot tight groups with jacketed, polymer coated, or cast and lubed lead. I'm getting about inch and a half groups at 50 yards in my 1 in 10 PPC gun with Bayou Bullets poly coated 138 gr. DE wadcutter at around 920 fps. I have not tried them in a factory barrel.

The Ultradot Matchdot II is a very good choice. It's a high quality target scope.

 

[Photochromes]

Excellent info, thanks!

Much appreciated! I will try that.