Hunting ammo for 686

[scottydude003]

For a 4" 686 what would be the most accurate and dependable hunting ammo for deer. Based on your personal experience of course. Any replies would be helpful thanks. ( In .357 mag by the way. )

 

[badge 851]

For a 4" 686 what would be the most accurate and dependable hunting ammo for deer. Based on your personal experience of course. Any replies would be helpful thanks. ( In .357 mag by the way. )

I use THIS as a hunting load and futher as a Bear Defense load. It is highly accurate in my 4" 686 (No Dash) 357 Magnum.

 

[scottydude003]

thanks man. Do you see good results with this as far as wound channels go? I surprised because it is not an HP

 

[badge 851]

thanks man. Do you see good results with this as far as wound channels go? I surprised because it is not an HP

Plows straight through just like a shotgun slug. The only huntable thing I use HP ammo for is varmints.

 

[smith17]

scotty:
I recommend the PMC .357 Magnum in 158 gr JSP. I have yet to have a deer go anywhere after being shot with this round. Most of my shots have been under 35 yards.
Ed

 

[squarles67]

Hollow points are not the best option, as has been already mentioned a JSP or hard cast lead, whichever shoots the best in your gun

 

[Frank237]

If You don't handload I agree on that Buffalo Bore ammo. I load the same 160 gr LBT slug for a few friends who hunt whitetail in the brush with their three five sevens.

FN in MT

 

[scottydude003]

Ok thanks for the info. I did not know that. Im guessing that there is no fragmenting with these bullets are there?

 

[badge 851]

Ok thanks for the info. I did not know that. I'm guessing that there is no fragmenting with these bullets are there?

Nope, there is no fragmentation with any cast bullet I have found.

 

[badge 851]

If You don't handload I agree on that Buffalo Bore ammo. I load the same 160 gr LBT slug for a few friends who hunt whitetail in the brush with their three five sevens.

FN in MT

160gr or 180gr? The Buffalo Bore® load I referenced is 180gr.

 

[squarles67]

Probably should have said this in my first post but a hollow point will most definately kill a deer but it is much less likely to exit and leave a blood trail so you can track it.

 

[Frank237]

160gr or 180gr? The Buffalo Bore® load I referenced is 180gr.

180 gr LBT. You caught me...my typing sucks.

To pass on a few things I've experienced shooting deer and elk with handgun slugs.

LBT or hard cast SWC Keith style slugs...work VERY WELL on big game. They tend to penetrate DEEP and STRAIGHT.

An EXIT wound is a definite PLUS. Makes tracking much easier.

Heart/lung shots work very well. LARGE target, easy to figure out WHERE to aim. Pop both lungs, hit the heart as a bonus...your quickly dragging out a deer or whatever.

Stick to BROADSIDES if possible. Take a look at the anatomy of your animal...theres a few books called "The Perfect Shot" or something like that. They show all the various organs at various angles. Worth a look. I know Safari Press list the book.

Good Luck.

 

[badge 851]

180 gr LBT. You caught me...my typing sucks.

To pass on a few things I've experienced shooting deer and elk with handgun slugs.

LBT or hard cast SWC Keith style slugs...work VERY WELL on big game. They tend to penetrate DEEP and STRAIGHT.

An EXIT wound is a definite PLUS. Makes tracking much easier.

Heart/lung shots work very well. LARGE target, easy to figure out WHERE to aim. Pop both lungs, hit the heart as a bonus...your quickly dragging out a deer or whatever.

Stick to BROADSIDES if possible. Take a look at the anatomy of your animal...theres a few books called "The Perfect Shot" or something like that. They show all the various organs at various angles. Worth a look. I know Safari Press list the book.

Good Luck.

Your experience mirrors mine, hard cast is definitely the way to go.

 

[Frank237]

Should have also thrown in that .410" works a bit better than .357". and .452" works better than .430", etc. BIGGER the hole...the better it goes.

FN in MT

 

[JamesArthur60]

I read articles and researched deer hunting ammo for my 686 awhile ago and these two factory rounds are recommended:

Winchester Supreme Partition Gold S357P 180gr.
Federal CastCore P357J 180 gr.

 

[scottydude003]

I called my pro shop and they did not carry the buffalo bore 180 gr. But... they do carry the Federal castcore p357j 180 gr. how does this ammo compare based on accuracy and knock down power?

 

[Nico Testosteros]

I think the Federal is a mite less powerful. Can't say how accurate it'll be in your revolver.

 

[badge 851]

Here is how those two loads (italics) compare to others....
• Federal® Vital-Shok® 180gr Cast Core® #P357J = 1130fps, 466fpe
• Winchester® Partition Gold® 180gr JHP #S357P = 1180fps, 510fpe

• Federal® Power-Shok® 180gr JSP #C357G = 1130fps, 466fpe
• Federal® Vital-Shok® 180gr Swift A Frame # P357SA = 1130fps 466fpe
• Remington® Express® 180gr JSP #R357M10 = 1145fps, 524fpe
• Buffalo Bore® 180gr LFNGC #19A/20 = 1400fps, 783fpe
• HSM® 180gr RNFPGC #HSM-357-18-N = 1489fps, 886fpe

All specs are from the respective ammunition manufacturers website. It's easy to see why I choose Buffalo Bore® and HSM® for my 357 Magnum hunting loads. Although they are 300-350fps faster than the others the recoil is still manageable in my 4" 686.

 

[carbofan21]

Federal American Eagle 158gr JSP is easy to find, reasonably priced, accurate and definitely full power.

Buffalo Bore is good too, but awfully spendy. The Fed. Am. Eagle is cheap enough to practice with and sight-in for elevation..

 

[vista461]

I used a 180grn Winchester partition on the 8 pt buck whose antlers are on my wall. It was out of my wifes old 686 6".