It Beat Me - .44 to .357

[scruffy]

Early Feb I got into N-Frame .44 Magnums as range toys on impulse. First used 629 had carry up problems. A self proclaimed S&W certified "gun smith" butchered the action making it worse. Gone. Second NIB 629 was perfect according to measurements and tests, but shaved copper/lead badly and wouldn't shoot worth a nickel. Minute of basketball at 7 yds. About this time (after too many boxes of .44 mag and special) shooting became a chore. At almost 73 y/o, my semi arthritic hand and thumb ached worse with every range session.

It beat me. I quit. Traded it back to the gun store/range that sold me the 629s and they gave me $225 more for it in trade than the two closest LGS on a NIB 686+ w/ 6" barrel. Naturally I lost a little, but the sheer joy of shooting the 686 in terms of comfort and accuracy more than made up for it.

One initial concern was a B/C gap of .010"-.011", but forcing cone is cut nicely and smooth as a baby's butt. Bore is shiny and crown looks great. No discernible barrel cant. S/A is a crisp 3 3/4 lbs. and D/A is around 12 lbs. and very smooth. Carry up and timing are dead on. Bottom line is how it shoots. Put on a Hogue/S&W conversion grip and hit the range. First session was a mix of 100 .38 special and .357. I am not a great shot by any means, but I hit every plate and silhouette I aimed almost dead center at out to 25 yds. It's first 5 shots at 7 yds free hand told me what I needed to know about it's potential and never had to touch the factory sight adjustment. No spitting, shaving or other issue of any kind. Nicely done, S&W.

 

[Farmer17]

I got rid of my .41 and .44 mags and all my big bore revolvers and have a 1967 Highway Patrolman 4", a M-19-6 4", and a Ruger stainless Security Six 4" and love them all. The perfect amount of power and enjoyable recoil is a .357 mag but I recently bought a M&P 4" 10mm and it has quickly become my favorite handgun.

 

[The Mighty S&W]

They say that variety is the spice of life, and I tend to agree. I run really hot loads through my 6 inch model 57 .41 Magnum, but I won't generally fire more than 20 rounds in a session because it gets abusive. And while I know that I could handload some low recoiling cartridges for that gun, I have other tools for various jobs. The 2.5 inch model 66 can be abusive as well with 158 grain factory magnum loads, but it is my main carry gun and that's all I shoot in it. When I really want less abuse, I have a 4 inch M&P M2.0 Compact that is so pleasant to shoot that I sometimes wonder why it isn't my favorite.

If I were going to have only one however, a 4 or 6 inch .357 Magnum built on an L or N frame would likely be what I'd choose. They can handle just about anything you'd ever need a handgun for, and in that configuration the .357 Magnum is plenty comfortable to shoot.

 

[murf205]

I am in your corner brother. My 686 endeared its self to me with this 40 yd performance with my hand loads. BUT...I am not going to shed my 44's and 45's.

 

[MajorD]

I am a bit younger than you but never have cared for guns that beat me up. I have no desire to fuel some sort of testosterone/ macho contest regarding how much recoil I can put up with.

I am quite happy to shoot 38's, 22's 9mm's and 45 auto and colt.

 

[StrawHat]

I traded away from Magnum shooting decades ago. I switched to ACP revolvers and have never looked back. Plinking, Target work, EDC, even hunting, it is all handled with a variety of S&W ACP revolver. I am glad you have found what works for you!

Kevin

 

[K Harris]

It is really hard to beat a 686 of any vintage.

 

[shovelmike]

Congratulations

That's a nice 686, and you did some very good shooting with it.

 

[rct269]

I can't blame anything on how old I am now (older than dirt), but back a ways when the .44 Magnum was the new kid on the block, and I had to have one, I got a not so shiny Ruger Blackhawk----brand new in the box, 'cause S&W's were not to be had---unless you wanted to wait six months---I didn't.

So here we are, my friend and I, in the "Gumbo Flats" (Missouri River bottoms) outside of St. Louis.

You could shoot a loooooooong way there, back when, and the plan was to sight it in at 50 yards, and see what the difference was at 100. I'm sitting with my back up against a tree, knees drawn up, with both hands resting on the knees. I'm using factory ammo---6 rounds in the gun---44 more in the box. KABLAM!!!!

That was quite possibly the most shattering thing I'd ever experienced in my life!! I decided right then and there that anybody who thought .44 Magnums were fun to shoot was seriously demented!! We went home, after shooting more civilized guns----my plan being to come up with a more civilized load for my .44.

After a brief session with my bullet puller, I had 1 once fired case, and 49 primed cases. After a brief session of thought, I put 18.5 grains of 2400 behind a 205 grain SWC with a gas check into those cases, and back we go to the Gumbo Flats.

The end of this story is that load out of that gun made 4" groups at 100 yards-------and it was civilized. The other end of this story is that one round of factory .44 Magnum ammo I'd fired was my first and last----and I still think those who profess enjoying shooting full power .44 Magnum loads are a little bit nuts.

The last end of this story is I later learned my civilized load was regarded as a hot .44 Special load, but nowhere near a .44 Magnum load----and I didn't care; not even a little bit!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[329]

I mixed up boxes of 38 special and 357 the orr day and really did not notice a huge difference in my 6" 27-2. That's comfortable shooting.

 

[Bald1]

I traded away from Magnum shooting decades ago. I switched to ACP revolvers and have never looked back. Plinking, Target work, EDC, even hunting, it is all handled with a variety of S&W ACP revolver. I am glad you have found what works for you!

Kevin

Have you even deer hunted with a 45acp? I have not. I always wondered how it would perform on deer.

 

[StrawHat]

Have you even deer hunted with a 45acp? I have not. I always wondered how it would perform on deer.

When Ohio allowed handguns for white tailed deer, I grabbed a Model 29-2 and went hunting. Got a few but was always underwhelmed with the performance. I loaded a Lyman 429421 over 21 grains of 2400 powder. Velocity, no idea, did not care then and still don't. A buddy hunted with the 45 long Colt with a 5.5" barrel. His 260 grain bullet probably made 900 fps. Similar hits resulted in faster stops, usually drop right there, than my 44. It did not take long before switched to 45 long Colt.

How does the 45 ACP compare? A 260 grain bullet can easily obtain 900 fps from a revolver. As a matter of fact, the later Model ACP revolvers can handle the 45 Super. The boutique loaders have 255 grain bullets dancing around the 1000 fps mark, some higher, some lower.

I load a 240 grain wadcutter to 900 fps. The one deer I took required only one shot, broke both shoulders and it dropped in its tracks. A sample of one is proof of nothing. But, similar ballistics should give similar results.

While capable of longer shots, I apply to handgun hunting the same limits I would use with a bow.

Kevin

 

[M29since14]

Nice looking 686 you've got there. Looks like an really nice polish job, judging from your pictures. Much better looking than a few I've seen.

I still have .44 Magnums and enjoy shooting them, but I only shoot a box or two of magnum-level cartridges any given year. Most of my shooting is done with loads in the area of 900-1000 FPS. Magnums never were all that much fun to me, and every year I'm less and less tempted to shoot too many of them. Anyway, congrats on finding something you enjoy shooting and that good looking 686.

 

[329]

Nice looking 686 you've got there. Looks like an really nice polish job, judging from your pictures. Much better looking than a few I've seen.

I still have .44 Magnums and enjoy shooting them, but I only shoot a box or two of magnum-level cartridges any given year. Most of my shooting is done with loads in the area of 900-1000 FPS. Magnums never were all that much fun to me, and every year I'm less and less tempted to shoot too many of them. Anyway, congrats on finding something you enjoy shooting and that good looking 686.

Yep, 44 special loads are not really more noticable recoil wise than 38 special. Expense wise expect to pay 2x for the 44 loads though
Shooting my 629 with 44 specials is not really any different than my 27 with 38 specials except my 27 is nicer

 

[jcs266]

I mixed up boxes of 38 special and 357 the orr day and really did not notice a huge difference in my 6" 27-2. That's comfortable shooting.

Yep my 6" 28-2 is very manageable with Rem factory 158gr ammo.

To the OP... Congrats on finding a beautiful 686 there. IMHO the 686 is the goldilocks .357 and has been my favorite since 1985. I have a 3" which is my EDC and a 4" also. By far my most accurate handgun shooting has been with the 686.

 

[mrussell]

Gumbo Flats

I can't blame anything on how old I am now (older than dirt), but back a ways when the .44 Magnum was the new kid on the block, and I had to have one, I got a not so shiny Ruger Blackhawk----brand new in the box, 'cause S&W's were not to be had---unless you wanted to wait six months---I didn't.

So here we are, my friend and I, in the "Gumbo Flats" (Missouri River bottoms) outside of St. Louis.

You could shoot a loooooooong way there, back when, and the plan was to sight it in at 50 yards, and see what the difference was at 100. I'm sitting with my back up against a tree, knees drawn up, with both hands resting on the knees. I'm using factory ammo---6 rounds in the gun---44 more in the box. KABLAM!!!!

That was quite possibly the most shattering thing I'd ever experienced in my life!! I decided right then and there that anybody who thought .44 Magnums were fun to shoot was seriously demented!! We went home, after shooting more civilized guns----my plan being to come up with a more civilized load for my .44.

After a brief session with my bullet puller, I had 1 once fired case, and 49 primed cases. After a brief session of thought, I put 18.5 grains of 2400 behind a 205 grain SWC with a gas check into those cases, and back we go to the Gumbo Flats.

The end of this story is that load out of that gun made 4" groups at 100 yards-------and it was civilized. The other end of this story is that one round of factory .44 Magnum ammo I'd fired was my first and last----and I still think those who profess enjoying shooting full power .44 Magnum loads are a little bit nuts.

The last end of this story is I later learned my civilized load was regarded as a hot .44 Special load, but nowhere near a .44 Magnum load----and I didn't care; not even a little bit!!

Ralph Tremaine

Hi Ralph,
Love the story. I live in Chesterfield and worked in "Gumbo Flats" for 33 years. You would not believe how it has grown up over that time. I am 71 now and can remember my grandfather taking me to watch people shoot in the quarry right across the river from Gumbo. This would have been around 1960. I would love to be able to figure out what area you were shooting in. By the way, I still love to shoot full house .44 magnum loads in my 629-3 Classic as it handles the recoil very well. I do not enjoy heavy loads in my 4" 29-2.
Mike Russell

 

[oink]

Have you even deer hunted with a 45acp? I have not. I always wondered how it would perform on deer.

I have not. However a good friend and coworker of mine (now passed) owned a small house on acreage in W. Va. There were always plenty of dear on his property. In season he was near his barn and as usual had his service weapon with him, a Glock 21 loaded with issued Gold Dots. He saw a couple of deer and decided to take one. Well the 45ACP Gold dot passed through the first and took out the second deer too. Granted it was no more than 25 yards but yeah a 45ACP will work, at least on W. Va. whitetail.

 

[gwpercle]

I handload ... my model 58 S&W 41 magnum can be a kitten with light charges of Bullseye and cast lead bullets .
I will never "get rid of" my 41 magnum ...

I know how to make it behave !
Gary

 

[glenwolde]

I can't take the beating anymore either. Not sad about it, I've fired more than my fair share of full house loads in .41 and .44.

These days I just load light loads with cast bullets for the only one I now have, a 6" Model 657.

I like it just as much as my .38/.357's. Maybe a little more. Makes big holes.

 

[Miracle Man]

I still enjoy shooting 44 mags a little bit. Heavy on the "little bit" with full power loads anyways.

I have a 6" 586 that I enjoy shooting with full power 357's much more than 4" model 19. The 19 has basically become regulated to 38's. I know it's only a few ounces difference but it seems like 2 lbs. to me.

At closing in on 60 years old I'm just not as recoil/muzzle blast tolerant as I used to be. Plus like you say web of hand gets stung and longer recovery time, now. LOL