Good $600-$800 357 for shooting cast boolits.

[glowe]

I'm looking to get a .357 for shooting cast boolits. I've been looking at some S&W which i like. But, I want to make sure its good for shooting cast.

looking at Smith and Wesson 686 6" 357 and Ruger KGP 161 357 6"

Thanks.

[stumpjumper]

I sure like my 686. I have no idea how many rounds have went down the barrel. all but about 40 have been cast.

[M4bushy]

My S&W 327-5 likes the 158gr mp hollow points.

[glowe]

I sure like my 686. I have no idea how many rounds have went down the barrel. all but about 40 have been cast.
Thanks, Do you have a fav boolit and load?
I would like to start with something that works. I buy 3-4 molds and to find a good one.
Thanks

Greg

[atr]

I just picked up a Herters .357 for $200.00 (95%)........and it REALLY SHOOTS CAST WELL,,,a very accurate revolver !....if you can find one in good condition I would say go for it
atr

[dragonrider]

I have a Ruger 6" SS GP-100 and it is a great shooter of cast boolits. Other say the same of the 686 S&W, Don't think you could go wrong with either.

[glowe]

Thanks Guys
I get faster answers here then asking my wife a question. lol
Greg

[texassako]

I have been having a lot of fun lately with a Ruger Security Six. I think they are a bargain for what you get. Mine is stainless with a 6" barrel, and it has been very reliable and accurate. I just started casting, but it sure liked the Lee TL358-158-SWC unsized over Unique I tried last week.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

My issue with the .357 is leading at high velocity. What do you plan to do with your .357? I bought my son a brace of Ruger 3-screw Blackhawks, one is 4 5/8" and the other is 6 1/2" and they are great at the pedestrian velocities of cowboy action shooting and wheelweight lead. I’d love to get a Keith mold and see how these guns perform at distance but the .357 has a bad habit of leading at high velocity. Jacketed boolits are, well, jacketed boolits. About as exciting to shooting in a revolver as kissing your own sister.

Are looking at dispensing lead at any velocity out of your .357 or shooting jacketed boolits?

[357shooter]

I've gotten great results with 6inch Taurus revolvers of the model 66 and older 669 variety. I've bought and sold some S&W and Rugers (Security Six and Blackhawk) but still have the two Taurus. Save some money and try one.

There are shooters here that don't like their guns, but I've not had a bad one yet. All are 6 inch, 357's. They shoot as accurate as the Blackhawk I had. I'm just not a single action shooter though. Different strokes...

I only shoot cast, and use checked bullets with high velocity bullets, mainly because I shoot them in my lever action rifle too.

[atr]

about leading....Im shoot mine at 1350 fps with keith style plain base 358429 / 165 gr....and no leading...no leading in either of my .357 Mag revolvers....I use supermoly as a lubricant
I've been shooting the Herters .357 Mag at 1 gallon paint cans at 75+ yards...off hand Im hitting that can 4 out of 6 times

[HATCH]

if your not going to be carrying it may I suggest a nice S&W model 27 or 28

something like this one -> http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=309887172

It is a N-frame gun so its heavy but you can shoot full mag loads and the recoil isn't that bad.

[unclebill]

if your not going to be carrying it may I suggest a nice S&W model 27 or 28

something like this one -> http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=309887172

It is a N-frame gun so its heavy but you can shoot full mag loads and the recoil isn't that bad.

my n-frame is one of my all time favorite guns period.

[fecmech]

Either the 686 or the Ruger GP will do cast just fine. Go look at them, handle them and pick the one that appeals to you. There is no wrong answer between a GP and 686 IMO.

PS.Here is something that might matter. The 686 is D&T'd for Weaver mount (dot sight) and has a smoother DA pull out of the box than the GP. So if you are going to shoot competitive PPC or want a dot sight on it, the 686 would have an advantage. As far as accuracy and SA triggers both are equal IMO.

[H.Callahan]

Between the GP and the 686, I would take the 686. Just a better gun -- not that the Ruger is bad, per se, just the 686 is better.

I would also +1 a Model 28. They can be picked up relatively inexpensively -- certainly in your price range -- and are built like a tank. YMMV, but my 28 has the best DA pull of any revolver I have. In SA, it is tied with my Python. ...and it came from the factory that way. I have not touched it internally. You can shoot heavy loads in it all day and it just laughs at you!

[pdawg_shooter]

Colt Python. Once you try on you will never go back.

[HATCH]

my n-frame is one of my all time favorite guns period.

I like them too.
Thats why I own 8 of them

625 -rb - 45acp - 3 inch
625 -sb - 45acp/460 rowland - 5 inch
625 -rb - 45acp - 5 inch
657 - rb - 41 mag - 3inch
657 - sb - 41 mag - 6 inch
38/44 - sb - 38sp - 6 inch
28 - sb - 357 mag - 4 inch
29 - sb - 44 mag - 6 inch

Find someone with a Nframe and shoot it. Either a 28 or a 27 and you will be hooked.

[subsonic]

There is no guarantee that any will be "good for shooting cast", as they can all be plauged with dimensional issues. My pick would be an older N-frame S&W though.

[atr]

+2 on the model 28 S&W...its the other .357 I own and it too is a great shooter

[Mk42gunner]

I have had several .357's in the past ~25 years. My advice is to pick the one that balances and feels best to you. An action job isn't that expensive, once you have proven the basic accuracy of the gun.

There are a plethora of stocks available for the S&W K/L frame, and several for the N frame and GP-100 also. The original rubber grips on the GP-100 work pretty well.

I only have two things against an N frame S&W-- 1. the cylinder is too short for loading the Lyman 358429 in Magnum brass, and 2. I have never been able to find a set of stocks for an N frame that really fit my hand.

The .357 that I ended up keeping? A four inch blued GP-100. It works well as a grab it and go gun.

Robert

[Mark85304]

I got my S&W 686 in 1984 as my service revolver in the Sheriffs Department. Over the years I have put tens of thousands of cast boolits through it. It was a perfect fit right out of the box new and the action was the smoothest I have ever experienced from any factory production gun. It is still my favorite wheel gun to shoot. There's a reason the 686 is named the Distinguished Combat Revolver. Great balance, excellent trigger pull, and adjustable sights. The 686 is stainless steel and the 586 is blue. They are the same pistol otherwise.

[MtGun44]

I have a 586 7 shooter that I bought new for $475 a few years back (3-5) and it is a really
nice shooter with boolits. Never had a j-bullet down the bore, at least since it left the
factory.

Bill

[atr]

Mk42gunner (Robert) makes a good point about the S&W model having a short cylinder.

although you can crimp on the forward band when loading for the short cylinder
standard cylinder loading on left side
short cylinder loading on right side of photo

[bobthenailer]

A+ on the 686 S&W ive owned 3 and still have one , all shot cast excellent with no leading ! ive owned 4 N frame 357 mags & still have 2, 627s I prefer the 686 in 357 mag over the N frame in 357 mag, save the N frame for the the larger calibers or when shooting games where a 357/38 with 8 shot cyls and full moon clips are used . I may be buying another 686 soon ?
As stated before the N frame has shorter cyls than a L or K frame S&W in 357 mag ! go figure theres room to make it longer but they dont do it for some reason .

As for loads ! 357 mag case , just about any 148 to 180 gr cast bullet with 4.0 to 4.5 gr of BE or Tightgroup powder should yeald 800 to 850 fps and better than 1 1/2 inch groups at 25 yards . Ive use those loads for 30 years from perhaps 12 different S&W revolvers and all were accurate

[Blammer]

I've got a good S&W 41 mag that will be good for cast boolits. It's for sale. :)

[subsonic]

My reason behind liking the N-frame .38/.357s is that the barrel shank is larger and thread choke seems less common in the ones I've played with.

I can do without the 358429.... nothing against it, just nothing special to me.

[David LaPell]

For that price you should be able to find a really nice Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman, or a Ruger Blackhawk, or a Model 27 shooter.

[waksupi]

My issue with the .357 is leading at high velocity. What do you plan to do with your .357? I bought my son a brace of Ruger 3-screw Blackhawks, one is 4 5/8" and the other is 6 1/2" and they are great at the pedestrian velocities of cowboy action shooting and wheelweight lead. I’d love to get a Keith mold and see how these guns perform at distance but the .357 has a bad habit of leading at high velocity. Jacketed boolits are, well, jacketed boolits. About as exciting to shooting in a revolver as kissing your own sister.

Are looking at dispensing lead at any velocity out of your .357 or shooting jacketed boolits?


If you are getting leading, you have a fit problem. Possibly the cylinder throats.

[fecmech]

I’d love to get a Keith mold and see how these guns perform at distance but the .357 has a bad habit of leading at high velocity.
Yeah, I remember reading that back in 1970 when I first started casting. It was written and proclaimed every where that it was so. It was BS then and it's BS today. The stories got started because of factory lead bullets coated with "Lubaloy" from Winchester. They would make your rifling disappear in one cylinder full! I have been running "Keith" bullets in any number of .357's @1300 fps for the past 40 years with no leading and accurate to boot. Use a good lube, 358429 sized right, appropriate powder(296/H110,2400,AA9,4227 etc) and success can be yours.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

OK, I'm convinced. Going to give it another try and I'll let you know how it goes. First I have to buy a mold. Gee, I'm easily talked into buying another boolit mold.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

I just ordered Lyman 358429 from Midway USA along with .358" H&I die and cooresponding top punch. Backordered until Thanksgiving of course. Planning on starting with 6 parts ww and 4 parts Linotype over a dolap of 2400 and another batch with Blue Dot for starters. I'll keep you posted.

[Digger]

Been using a "586" all these years ....very nice shooter , very accurate .
Have been feeding it 125 gr. hp and 158 gr hp from Mihec"s line up of molds , in both .38 and .357 shells ... it eats them up ...:D
Lube is Ben's red ...once in a while I forget to clean so when I do check , .. the bore is always shiny so just wipe down the cylinder and barrel from lube spray and powder with quick swab down the barrel for good luck ,.
At the range .. there is always some one who wants to try it out ...
digger

[PS Paul]

I have Smith and Rugers. I REALLY like the Security Six from Ruger. The new GP100's are outsttanding for the money, IMHO. There was a good article that compared the 686 to the GP100. As I recall, the smith was a touch more accurate than the GP with 6 out of 8 or 9 loads.

My assessment is the rugers are a bit more "stout", but not as pretty or "refined", which is in alignment with the writer of that article. Cannot remember if Guns and Ammo or Gun World was the mag or not?

Lots of good info and opinions on the forum, though. This is just my .02 having shot rugers mostly for 30+ years.....

[Shooternz]

I shoot a 586 with SAECO mould 398 and Lyman 358429 lost count of the number of rounds fired
must be 50 thousand the trigger is real slick in DA, SA is about 2lbs only polished it up a little when new just got smoother from shooting barrel is super smooth current load is Universal 5.5grains with the SAECO boolit for heavy loads 13.0gr 2400 358429 got given a box of J-words by a friend still got 15 left, Will be taking this one to the grave. Robert.

[Jal5]

Look around for a S&W M66, can shoot 358429 all day long with mine either Unique or 2400. Lots of fun out of the 6" gun and you should be able to find one easily in that price range.

[Tazman1602]

I've gotten great results with 6inch Taurus revolvers of the model 66 and older 669 variety. I've bought and sold some S&W and Rugers (Security Six and Blackhawk) but still have the two Taurus. Save some money and try one.

There are shooters here that don't like their guns, but I've not had a bad one yet. All are 6 inch, 357's. They shoot as accurate as the Blackhawk I had. I'm just not a single action shooter though. Different strokes...

I only shoot cast, and use checked bullets with high velocity bullets, mainly because I shoot them in my lever action rifle too.

Good Lord. I thought I was the only person on this board who had good luck with and loved my Taurus revolvers.

I have a 6" 669 in 357, 2 or 3 inch 445 in. 44 special, and three mod 82's that were recent purchases and Brazilian military trade ins that are really beat up.

ALL are excellent cast shooters and the 6" stainless 669 is the most accurate of all my revolvers. I love the old beat up 82's, don't have to worry about scratching them up....

Art

[bob208]

i have not seen or heard of a ruger smith or colt that would not shoot cast bullets.

[glowe]

Bought a S&W 686+ 7" barrel. Love the gun,
Now I'm looking for a good holster. Bloody 7" barrel is a pain.
Anyone have or know where to get a good hip holster for a 686+ 7" barrel.

Thanks

[rfp357]

I have a 686+ and a Convertible New Model Blackhawk. I love both of them and haven't had any issues firing cast boolits. If you have the cash I'd buy a couple of each.

[GLL]

I would also agree that a nice used S&W Model 66 is a good choice. I have a couple 686's but prefer the 66 if it is going to be carried around all day.

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/A6D452FE4DACF8F/medium800.jpg

[Taz700]

I have a S&W and a Ruger GP100, both in 6" (S&W is 6.5") SS. They both love and eat anything I feed them (the S&W is 44 mag though). But I would recomend either of them highly. I like the Ruger a bit more for it's "
beefyness". The S&W is a little more of a looker, but if I had to grab one, it would be the Ruger.

[BCB]

I have been having a lot of fun lately with a Ruger Security Six. I think they are a bargain for what you get. Mine is stainless with a 6" barrel, and it has been very reliable and accurate. I just started casting, but it sure liked the Lee TL358-158-SWC unsized over Unique I tried last week.

I agree with the Ruger Security-Six, or whatever model is the equivalent today and you will get it for less than the $600-$800 price range you indicate...

My SS is from the early 70’s and it has shot beaucoup rounds. I first started with jacketed bullets as they were affordable and so were most powders—that has changed a bit today…

I did change the springs in the trigger and the hammer and it made it a very nice action to shoot. Yet, the factory set-up was also good…

I now shoot cast exclusively in all my handgun and all of them are Rugers--.357 Magnum, 44 Magnum, and 45 Colt…

The cylinders allow for maximum overall cartridge length, and that can be important when it comes to some cast boolits…

I would look for a used Security-Six. I have seen them pretty reasonable in price. If not to your likings after you have tried it, then trade it for whatever you think might serve the purpose…

Good-luck…BCB

[glowe]

I bought a S&W 686+ 7" for about $860CDN.
It's a nice gun.
Thanks for the info guys.

Greg

[Jack Stanley]

I would agree with the choice of a 686 , I bought one shortly after they came out and it's done just fine . I had an five inch model twenty-seven that you would have loved so if you see it , buy it !!

Jack