Fitting bullets to SW 686

[mattd]

While I waited for my new to me 686 to arrive I loaded up some ammo w the lee 140g SWC, 110g jacketed ammo and a 185 NOE WFN. The cast bullets were sized .3585.

Gun arrives and the mag cast ammo dosent fit. Bummer. The jacketed does as well as the 38 special cast.

My .3585 bullets don’t push thru throats. The .357 jackets are a very slight push fit.

Slugged the barrel but can’t measure it cause it’s 5 groove, but the slug is a very slight push fit thru the throats just like the 357 jackets.

So I have some .357 9mm commercial cast bullets that again require a slight push thru on all cylinders. load them up and THEY DONT FIT!!! Erg.

The brass, at the mouth w bullets, measures .371 with the jacketed bullets, .374 with cast.

What causes that? I thought it was going to be an easy, get a .357 sizer kinda answer.

One weak spot of my system is I’m using the Lee whack a mole loader. Don’t have dies yet. But all bullets were loaded w it and every jacketed bullet fits perfect.

[tradbear55]

You need to contact Dougguy and get the cylinder throats honed.

[mattd]

I know that’s an option but I’m not sure my throats are smaller then my bore. They also all required the same pressure to push bullets thru. Not a great test but seemed even.

[6bg6ga]

I'm measuring .376 OD with .357 diameter jacketed 125gr hollow points and .377OD with 160gr RN cast sized at .358 they fit in my 686. Take a measurement with a micrometer on the OD of your ammunition if you haven't done so. Carefully measure the cylinder and record each station. I would call S&W and talk to them.

I wouldn't rush it off for throating yet.

[6bg6ga]

I just measured my cylinder and I get .380.+1-0 and I have no problems getting my ammunition in the cylinder. Lacking a set of pin gauges I had to rely on my vernier caliper for measurement. So far my 686 has been the tightest I have run across. I would get the cylinder accurately checked before proceeding any further. My experience over the last 40+ years is I've never seen a 38 or 357 that I couldn't size my bullets to .358 and have a form fit function problem.

[mattd]

I’m stumped.

[mattd]

I’m stumped. They aren’t even getting to the throats. It’s like the whole cylinder hole is tapered up to the throats

[C.F.Plinker]

Do the slugs that went through the barrel go through the cylinder throats easily?

[mattd]

Very slight push thru. I’d say it’s perfect.

[mattd]

Got a 357 lead bullet to go in. It’s not as slick as the jacketed bullet but an easy push to get it all the way in. Thinking it’s this nickel brass or whatever it is. The yellow brass went in. Reloaded another silver one and still hangs up. The taper must be in the silver brass.

[bigted]

Now we are getting someplace. If your nickel cases have been work hardened ... they may not take sizing and might "spring" back instead of staying sized. I do not know if you can anneal those cases but if your regular brass cases do fine ... do not use the silver ones.

By the way ... what brand are the cases that do not work.

Also maybe check your procedure in loading with those hammer dies. May be getting a little heavy with the crimp.

[Mitch]

I few things to check first.agree with big ted
to much crimp crushing the case.
To much bell that the crimp will not take out.
Is it only one cylinder that don't fit?It is not hard to miss some hard to get out crud in the cylinder.
Then maybe the bullet shaving and going off center from not enough crimp.
Where did you brass come from?Range pickups could be anything from good to damaged or someone left it behind for a reason.

I keep looking at the pics just dont see it but it is likely something simple going wrong in the loading of the rounds.Or crud in the cylinder.If it were just to fat of bullets the round would go right up to the throat before it stops.Just go thu every step and make sure the wakamole is doing everything like it should be.Just Putting out some things out there that could be wrong.that i have seen over the years.I shoot 686 and 586 no dash and a 586-3 never seen anything not go in the cylinders unless i had something wrong loading the brass.

[bigted]

To check your sized brass try loading it into the cylinder after just sizing.

I have had frustration getting my reloads to chamber and discovered they needed length cut for an even crimp. If the crimp is off just a smidge ... they will not load properly.

As mitch eludes to, if there has been lead wadcutters in 38 spcl cases fired in it, you may have lead/carbon deposit ahead of the 38 cases and need some heavy cleaner to cleanse it for 357 mag cases to work properly again.

Nice revolver. Should give years of great service and happiness.

Try soaking the cylinder in turpentine. This will help if there is deposits from those fun 38 cases fired in a 357 cylinder.

Bettin on the crimp tho. This has been a problem for me in the past loading stretched cases and getting a small bit more crimp then the rest of my cases.

[gunther]

Seems like a Lee Loader only sizes the neck of a straight-walled case. Will the offending cases chamber without a bullet?

[mattd]

I figured it out. The lee loader was putting a bulge in the brass near the head, I believe during crimping. To be fair I wasn’t following the directions. Rather then putting it in their cup shell holder and running the die into it, I was putting the round in my Lyman all American press, Turing the turret between stations and using the ram to apply the crimp. Seems like that would be better, but not what Lee specifies.

Got a set of real dies anyway and good to go! Thanks everyone!

[mattd]

I figured it out. The lee loader was putting a bulge in the brass near the head, I believe during crimping. To be fair I wasn’t following the directions. Rather then putting it in their cup shell holder and running the die into it, I was putting the round in my Lyman all American press, Turing the turret between stations and using the ram to apply the crimp. Seems like that would be better, but not what Lee specifies.

Got a set of real dies anyway and good to go! Thanks everyone!

[Rich/WIS]

What are you crimping into, I don't see a crimp groove in the bullet? Trying to roll crimp without a crimp groove can bulge a case, especially if the bullet is hard cast. IIRC the Lyman AA uses standard dies, don't be cheap, a decent set of dies is a good investment if you are planning to do much shooting.

[1006]

You might try a 9mm taper crimp for light loads, just to see if it helps. I wouldn’t do anything to the cylinder until you have shot all the bullets that you like to use and see how they perform.

[jrayborn]

Glad you got it figured out!