Light Load for my 686P

[lfurr]

New guy here. Great forum. First time gun owner, as of two weeks ago. So after a great first day at the range with my new 686P, I have some basic ammo questions.

If "grain" has to do with the weight of the bullet itself, then what do I look for on the package in order to determine the "load", which, due to ignorance, I consider to be the amount of powder in the shell.

In other words, what do I look for to get less kick from a .38 or a .357 round. I don't mind the recoil, but for my wife or even me sometimes, I would like a much lighter load, but I'm not sure what to look for on the ammo package.

Thanks!!

 

[APS]

Unfortunately it won't tell you on the package unless it happens to have velocity listed on it. You need to go to the manufacturer's website to find out the velocity of the round. Compare to the other available loads and the lower velocity will typically have less felt recoil given the same bullet weight.

For .38s, most 130gr FMJ ammunition will have the least recoil. Next up will be 14-something grain Wadcutters (they are flat on top, almost looks like there isn't a bullet in the case). Next up is most 158gr stuff and then +P labeled ammunition.

For .357, the lower recoiling stuff is generally going to be the 110gr SJHP followed by the 125gr Remington Golden Saber hollowpoint. Next up is the 125gr stuff followed by the 145 Silvertip and 158gr stuff. I don't think there is any low recoiling plinking ammo though.

 

[old bear]

One of the very nice things about the .357 Magnum platform is the different ammo types that can be safely used in one. For most applications any 38 Special +P round should work well. There are any number of on line ammo sellers. For a good selection of top of the line ammo I use Ammo To Go. Georgia Arms also has very good and affordable range/ plinking ammo. Georgia Ammo also list the velocity of there ammo.

 

[indiandave]

For the lightest load use 148gr wadcutters. They are made for target shooting. They make a nice round hole in the target and have very little recoil. Do a google search and you will find who has them in stock. Georgia Arms has good prices but you have to see if there in stock.

 

[cjw3]

As some have said, 148 grain wadcutters are loaded for target use and are easy to handle for most folks.

Another thing to look for in .38 Special, .357 Magnum (and many others) is some of the ammo marketed as "Cowboy Action Shooting" loads. These are light loads and should work well for what you have in mind.

 

[JayDubya]

Light load for 686p

Check www.mastercast.net, a reloading service. From my 686+, I have fired many thousands of their .38 special reloads, 158gr SWC (SemiWadcutter), 148gr WC (Wadcutter) and a hundred of so of their 100gr WC. That last load (100gr WC) has all the whoopla of a .22. It is accurate out to twenty-five yards and (as do all wadcutters) cuts a very visible round hole in the target. Several years ago I standardized on the 148gr WC, a highly satisfactory range load with moderate recoil.

Mastercast is a mom and pop operation (her name is Pat) operating out of a farm in northwestern Pennsylvania. It is exactly the sort of business that we should support: prompt, reliable, inexpensive. You can lower the cost even more by saving your spent brass and sending it to Mastercast in exchange (same number and type). Do so via USPS Priority Mail. I can get a thousand .38sp cases in their ten dollar box. Any other way that I know of costs twice that.

Doing business with Mastercast is the least expensive way to obtain range ammo short of reloading your cases yourself.

Cordially, Jack

 

[TSQUARED]

If you want real light loads you will have to reload your own ammo. The lightest factory ammo would be the factory 148 gr. LWC in 38 Special but you could load much lioghter loads for plinking and even steel plate shoots.