686 Groupings

[Sportsterguy]

I don't know if you quoted the wrong post or if you misread MY post. But I clearly stated I was shooting @ 50 yards....not 25 feet. A postcard is 3''X5'' and staying inside of that @ 50 yards is at least as good as the accuracy you claim @ 25yards .......but then my gun don't have a 4 foot barrel. Maybe you should avoid caffeine or nicotine before your next internet session.

Calm down please sir. I was merely making a example of what a good shooting revolver SHOULD do by relating your post and the great groups you achieved to the original post (OP). Was actually a compliment, but I should have been clearer on my post when quoting you. In no way was I being disrespectful to either of you two gentlemen.

Regards,

SG

 

[camario]

Thanks again guys for all the input. I'm still learning and you've given me some very good advice and things to try. Hopefully with help one day I'll shoot the 686 as well as my Ruger Mk II which makes mouse farts sound loud.

 

[bountyhunter]

I've come to the conclusion that the shooter's control of a gun is by far the most important variable in determining accuracy.

My conclusion has been the ammo is far more of an error factor than the gun. Especially lately, when ammo makers are pressed to ship anything since prices are so high and supplies are short. With reload junk like Miwall or the like and I have trouble holding a 3" group at 25 yards off a rest with a 6" barrel model 66. With good ammo the same gun has shot 1" groups.

My buddy casts his own .38 bullets out of wheel weight lead and loads his own. Most accurate ammo I have shot, usually prints groups half the size of the junk I have.

 

[AveragEd]

Back in the "day" (which was 35 years ago), I was a pretty fair revolver shooter. I would take my 4" Model 19 and a box of .38 Special wadcutter reloads (148-grain hollow-bases over 3.5 grains of Bullseye) to a 25-yard indoor range two evening a week and try to put all 50 in the black of a standard 25-yard pistol target while shooting one-handed offhand. I did it twice and often got 47 or more in the black. In PPC matches back then, I did well with that M19 or my 6" Python. Trust what these guys are telling you about trigger control!

With regard to the POI of different bullet weights, I had an 8-3/8" Model 14 I used occasionally for groundhog hunting when the hay or alphafa was high. My bullet of choice for that hunting was a Sierra 110-grain hollow cavity but even with the rear sight up as high as it would go, the gun shot below the POA at 25 yards but could be adjusted to center 148-grain wadcutters with plenty of sight adjustment remaining. S&W sent me a higher rear sight blade and that could be adjusted to work with both bullet weights. So yes, light/faster bullets shoot lower.

Ed

 

[drew-67]

Thanks again guys for all the input. I'm still learning and you've given me some very good advice and things to try. Hopefully with help one day I'll shoot the 686 as well as my Ruger Mk II which makes mouse farts sound loud.

Hi,
A year ago I purchased a 686-6 6" and went through much trial and error and asked similiar questions on here...
Anyway I am happy to say with all the help the members of this Forum provided and getting the right ammo/and lots of practice;
I am now enjoying the accuracy of the revolver, and know that it's capabilities are still superior to mine.
For me, I find 158 grain to work best in both 38 special and 357 magnum...(this is in factory ammo).
One of these days I need to start reloading...

Good luck with all. and if you find time to seach back at the posts from last year, there is some really good knowledgable information that the members shared on the 686...and very motivating too.