Which Bullet Design for S&W 686?

[gefiltephish]

This is probably a better fit in the molds forum, but I wanted to be sure to catch the attention of experienced revolver shooters.

I have very little experience with revolvers, but I will be getting a 686+ before the end of the year. (Is there any reason I shouldn't get the 7rnd vs 6rnd?)

I plan to shoot both 38 and 357. The cast bullets are mainly for target practice, but also for SHTF after the economy collapses. This will also be my wife's HD weapon.

I understand that there are double canelure designs so the same bullet can be used for each cartridge. I'm thinking GC for 357 and PB for 38, but I'd like to get one mold. Somehow shooting a gc bullet without the gc doesn't appeal to me, but putting a gc on a 38 seems like a waste. Flat point is fine, I like a large meplat. Further down the road I'll consider a Mihec HP.

I am aware that in a multi-cav mold I could get some gc'd and some not. I'd like to get a 5 or 6 cav aluminum block.

Weight. Generally, I tend to prefer mid to mid-heavy bullets for caliber. Just for example, I like 125gr for 9mm, 160-170 for 30-30, 405 for 45-70, 200-230 for 45acp.

I'd like to get either NOE or an Accurate Mold. I like not having to wait forever from Tom though and the 3 molds I have from him are outstanding (as is the NOE). I'll be scanning over the Accurate and NOE "catalogs" tonight, but I wanted to seek suggestion from those experienced in this area and in particular with this gun.

Don't worry, I'm not ordering anything until after I slug the barrel and measure the cylinders/throats etc. I do realize that some of these areas may need adjustment and bullet diameter will depend on the outcome.

[Love Life]

Lyman 358477
Lyman 358429
Lee 358-158-RF

That should about cover your needs.

[gmsharps]

I don't remember the lyman number but the 173 SWC shoots mighty well out of my 586.

GM

[sffar]

You might go for this one . .
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=108300
A kind of modified Lyman 358156
It's closing very soon, can be gotten in mixed PB and GC in the mould.
Sam

[subsonic]

The best shooter for me of a couple I tried was an LBT 160gr FN. I have some heavier boolits to try, but FN and WFN always shot better than SWC for me.

The LEE 158rf is bevel base and leaded like crazy in two 686s and a 28.
But it does come in a 6 cavity if you can figure out how to get rid of the bevel base.

See my thread: "handgun load development, cast of course" to see how things went with one of my 686s.

[Dan Cash]

Lyman 358429 over 5 gr Unique for .38SP and 11 or 12 gr 2400 for 357 does well for me. Bullets are fired as cast from 16:1 aloy. I do have an LBT mould for my .41 mag that is very accurate and if I were buying a new mould for .357, I would buy from him in a similar style.

Would suggest a 6 chamber revolver. 7 holes make a cylinder very fat.

[gefiltephish]

Lyman 358429 over 5 gr Unique for .38SP and 11 or 12 gr 2400 for 357 does well for me. Bullets are fired as cast from 16:1 aloy. I do have an LBT mould for my .41 mag that is very accurate and if I were buying a new mould for .357, I would buy from him in a similar style.

Would suggest a 6 chamber revolver. 7 holes make a cylinder very fat.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't plan on carrying it so width is not that important to me.

[PacMan]

Another vote for the LBT 160 FN.

[gefiltephish]

You might go for this one . .
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=108300
A kind of modified Lyman 358156
It's closing very soon, can be gotten in mixed PB and GC in the mould.
Sam

Thanks for the tip, I'm checking it out now! That bullet looks nice. Of course I have no idea what my gun-to-be will like. This mold is supposed to drop at .360. Will I be regretting it if I order one before I even get the gun? I don't know exactly what is the "normal" range of sizing for this gun. (i.e. My 1895 likes .461) Sure I can beagle it up 001-002 if need be.

[sffar]

gefiltephish,
There's no way to know for sure about the exact sizing unless you have the gun, but likely you'll find the mould will be just the thing for 38/357. A very nice mould! Measure the gun before you pay for a sizer. Good luck!
Sam

[gefiltephish]

Yeah, I didn't plan to get a sizer yet, I already have .356, .357 and .358. Of course that guarantees that I'll need a .359 or .360, right? :D

[gefiltephish]

Another vote for the LBT 160 FN.

It must just be me. Every time I look at the LBT catalog I get a headache. I don't have an LBT mold yet, but I do have the hardness tester. If were to contact Veral and just say 160 FN for S&W 686, he'd know what I need? (once I determined diameter that is). Would this work well for both 38 and 357?

[bobthenailer]

Ive had 3- S&W 686s they have shot all cast bullets accuratly from wad cutters , rn, swc tc , and wfn, and in most cases more than one bullet style in each weight 148,158,180

[9.3X62AL]

My 4" 686 sixgun dotes on #358156, 358429, and 358430. A group-buy 180 grain FN/GC runs well, too.

[Dale53]

One of the reasons I bought my first 686 is that the cylinder is long enough for the Keith 357429, which is a first rate bullet for the .357 magnum.

I have never had the "leading problem" that some complain about with the .357 magnum (cast bullets at full velocity). However, it apparently IS a problem in some guns. I have never needed a gas check. However, one situation just BEGS for a gas check. That is when you want to use a soft bullet for a hollow point bullet (soft so it will expand MAY, just MAY cause leading - only tests in YOUR revolver will determine that).

An excellent bullet for general use in all .38 Specials and many .357 Magnums is the Lee 358-RF. It is available in a six cavity mould. My mould turns them out like "shelling corn" (shelling corn - FAST). I can cast 20+ lbs of finished match grade bullets in less than an hour and a half with my Lee six cavity mould. I often use 20/1 lead/tin for hollow point bullets.

For serious work, I use a Mihec .359-640 Hollow point mould (the mould will also cast solid points). This is a superb design and works brilliantly in my .357's. You might write Mihec and ask when he is going to run some more of these custom moulds:

http://mp-molds.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=15

I want my .38 Special/.357 Magnum moulds to cast at .360" with WW's. That way I am assured that they will be large enough to size to .358" with any of the generally used lead alloys (20-1 through linotype). My standard alloy for velocities up to 1200 fps are WW's+ 2% tin. You may want to water drop for the magnum velocities - test in YOUR revolver. I've been lucky with the 20/1 alloy for hollow points in my revolvers - didn't need checks.

I have never owned an S&W revolver (as well as Rugers) that didn't respond well to a .358 cast bullet. This does not necessarily mean that YOURS will but chances are it will.

Dale53

[MtGun44]

love life nailed it.

Bill

[Jack Stanley]

My first choice is a LBT 185 that I originaly bought for a .357 revolver for deer hunting . It turns out the bullets is amazingly accurate when loaded in a .38 case also . Another plus is that it feeds through a Marlin lever better than anything else I have .

Jack

[PacMan]

Here are two groups that i shot with the 160 gr LBT one GC and one PB.
Like Jack Stanley i also have the 180GR FN LBT that is very accurate that i shoot in my Marlin and Handi Rifle mostly.
Lot of experience in the replys above so it will mostly boil down to your choice of bullet design,type of mold material and of course price which somtimes equals quality of bullets cast.
Dale mentioned that he likes his molds to drop at .360 and i am the same for the same reasons along with others. easier to size down when needed than the other options.

To answr your questin about the LBT molds. The picture shows the bullet that i am shooting mostly and it is described as .359 160gr FN GC. One thing to consider when ordering one of Verals molds is that they will always cast at or over the ordered dia. I have ten or so of his molds and they all cast .001 to .0015 over ordered dia. which is good in my view.

Dwight

[Frank V]

My 4" 686 sixgun dotes on #358156, 358429, and 358430. A group-buy 180 grain FN/GC runs well, too.





I'll second the suggestion of the 358156, it's a great bullet.
Frank

[gefiltephish]

I am getting in on the NOE group buy mentioned above. So many 'votes' for LBT, I'll seriously consider for my next mold. Sheesh, is it ever possible to buy just ONE mold per gun? :grin:

[Jack Stanley]

Probably not . Veral made the mold for my .357 and I was so impressed that several other guns I have got an LBT mold of their very own . Yes you could say I'm very happy with them .

Jack