new 686 & test loads

[Forrest r]

Bought a new 686 last week and took it out and shot a bunch of old loads I had laying around to test it for function. Then started the process of doing test loads. So far I've only used 2 different bullets (h&g #50bb & Mihec 640) and 4 different powders. All the testing has been done @ 50ft. Figured I'd go thru the 12+ powders and 15 different bullets I cast to find what shoots bug holes and then re-test those loads @ 25/50 & 100yds.

Got a mix of typical plinking loads so far.



Along with some loads that chew bugholes in the targets.



After I get done testing the 38spl loads I'll switch over to 357's and start testing all over again. Got an idea this pistol is going to flat out shoot bugholes with a bunch of different bullet/powder combo's.



Keeping them dirty keeps me smiling.

 

[jimbo728]

Looks like it shoots good with all those loads.
Jim

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Good shooting! Is that the Competitor model?

Somebody likes nickel plated brass.

.

 

[JoeReed]

That just a great 686. My six inch is my best all around target gun.

 

[Rule3]

12grains of 2400 with a 158 gr LSWC. in a 357 case.

Save you some testing.

forestwin did a lot of testing and data on the 686 and 2400. Here is one thread. There are others.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/334952-chrono-data-357-2400-cci500-158-gr-cast-w-targets.html

 

[BLUEDOT37]

/\ That's a good thread /\ ...but there's something fishy about it.

.

 

[Rule3]

I would rather be catching and eating those Trout for sure!

 

[Forrest r]

Yes it's a competitor model, should of bought 1 years ago.

Thank you for the link to the 2400 loads. Was planning on testing the "classic" hp swc's with them to see if the different bullets designs have different points of diminished return or if it's just a simple bullet weight/powder combo thing.


Classic swc's ='s:
358477hp
358156hp
358429hp
h&g #12hp

Right now I wanted to look @ 38spl/plinking fodder with the high volume molds that I have like the 10-cavity h&g #50 or the custom Mihec's (640 series).

Then test the hb molds (5 of them) looking for ultra accurate 50yd loads.

Another bullet I'm really looking forward to is the 110gr h&g #42 in 357's loads. I'm interested in seeing where the accuracy starts with this bullet and at what speeds it falls off.

I've always used other firearms as benchmarks to compare the performance of a new firearm. The competitor is going to get all it can handle going head to head with custom 38/357's.

custom shop vs custom pistols/custom bbl's

Short range (25yds an in) 38spl's it's the 686 vs a ppc revolver.



For 50y & 100yd accuracy it's the competitor using both 38spl and 357's vs a custom shop tc 12" 38spl bbl.



And for beating and banging, the weighted competitor vs custom heavy shrouded/muzzle braked 357's with custom 1 in 10 twist bbl's.



I believe this 686 can hold it's own with any of the customs. S&W says it's from their custom shop. The cream always rises to the top & 5,000+ rounds of testing will tell.

Really looking forward to this one.

 

[Bugkiller99]

Don't have access to my loads at the moment, but the WORST load was pretty darn good.
686 is such a great revolver. Luv mine.

 

[Nevada Ed]

It is always nice to have a load that you can use to do away with flys that land on your targets !!

Looks like you have a great start with the little 38 specials.

Can't wait to see what the long cases will kick out when you get to them.

Great looking revolver, by the way.

 

[forestswin]

Bought a new 686 last week ..........................

two "r" Forrest

I had to check to see if this was a Zombie thread

What took you so long??

I will anxiously wait for your test results - please continue posting your results and thoughts

sincerely, thanks

 

[forestswin]

It is always nice to have a load that you can use to do away with flys that land on your targets !!

Nevada - were you the one who put jelly on the target for "fly-action"??

 

[novalty]

12grains of 2400 with a 158 gr LSWC. in a 357 case.

Save you some testing.

forestwin did a lot of testing and data on the 686 and 2400. Here is one thread. There are others.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/334952-chrono-data-357-2400-cci500-158-gr-cast-w-targets.html

Oh I see how it is Forestswin, give me a hard time for spelling your name wrong, but it's fine for Rule3.

 

[Forrest r]

Thank you for the replies, planned on testing around 20 different bullets in the 686. Among them include 5 different hb bullets & 125gr/158gr/180gr swaged bullets.

Just need the time to be able to do so. Came out of semi-retirement this year, needed a couple of things so I started another business. The way the contracts look I'll end up working almost every day from now through September.

Actually fly swatting is 1 of my favorite past times. Using mostly 22's and quality ammo along with wind flags for 50yd hunting, it makes for some real challenging shooting. The bull bbl'd target 22's @ 50yds and the sporters @ 25yds.

An interesting build:
Built a 10-22 like allot of other people, wanted one for off-hand/silhouette's.



What sets that 10-22 apart from the others is the bbl, more specifically it has a full blown match chamber in it. Most bull/match grade target bbl's use a "bentz" chamber. It's nothing more than a lawyer'd up plinking chamber, a kids rifle, the Chipmonk" has a tighter chamber.



After doing some reading/studying/measuring most gunsmiths build their custom 22's so that the bullet engraves the rifling around 30/1000th's deep. So I did some measuring of the different ammo & compared it to the reamer chart above. Selected the Lilja reamer because it best matched the type of ammo I planned on using.



So after buying a used cheap butler creek bbl and taking 1/4" off the shank and rechambering it, I ended up with a pretty good plinker that eats low grade match ammo. This lot of sk+ shot around .120" to .220" 5-shot groups @25yds with 10+ different rifles, the 10-22 was no different.



Stepping up 1 grade in ammo, that 10-22 could do around 3/8"/.375" groups @50yds.



Anyway, so much for hunting flies and the builds/rifles people use to hunt them with (no ghillie suit required).