357 mag loads

[john 800]

I just aquired a s&w 686 357 mag. I have never owned one, and am not set perfectly for components. I have a few powders that will work but, would probably pick up something more ideal when it pops up. One thing that I am not sure if it will be a concern or not: I dont have any magnum small pistol primers, just a few standard and a few match. Every bit of data i have seen shows magnum primers. Would substituting standard primers for mag be acceptable and safe? For a backup for deer hunting/plinking I am thinking 158 is a good weight for this cartridge, what do you guys think? What do you like? Any favorite loads or bullets?

My dad was over at my grandfather’s house yesterday and he was in a selling mood LOL dad purchased, on my behalf, the 686 for $700 and a Benelli nova pump slug gun for $200 because he was sure enough I would want them, the nova for that price, I’ll take even though I don’t need it. The 686, has the later safety lock or whatever that the revolver purists dislike bit am I correct that $700 is still a MORE than fair price assuming it is in good used condition with little use. I haven’t even seen it yet, but I will go over to pick it up today and pay up

 

[PopCharlie]

In my 686, for full power loads, I use magnum primers. 2400 or w296 are great powders for this. I use Hornady 125 and 140 grain XTP bullets. For practice, I use 158 gr lead semi-wadcutters loaded over Unique or w231 and standard small pistol primers. I also shoot 148 gr full wadcutters, in 38 special brass, loaded over a light charge of Unique and standard primers. I seat the full wadcutters to the top crimp ring and lightly crimp.

PopCharlie

 

[rr2030]

It has been my experience that magnum primers are not necessary with 2400 powder. Accuracy in both .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum suffered with Magnum primers.

The Alliant Powder Reloading Guide Specified CCI 500 primers (standard small pistol) for .357 Mag / 2400 loads.

WW296 always receives a Magnum primer when I load that powder.

YMMV

 

[Rsadams]

I would buy some defense ammo in .357 and load some .38spl to play with.... If your using win.231 it gets position sensitive.... 38 is an old black powder case so be very careful because with win 231 if the case is half full it's a double charge.... I used it to load some for my wife at one time and hated it I should have got a better powder for it , there's plenty out there... Since I use it in 9mm I had plenty.... The 686 is one hell of a nice gun in my opinion and was my first duty weapon when I was an LEO many moons ago.... I sure wish I would have kept it now....

 

[PigButtons]

All of the powders that I use, H110, Acc#2,#5, TCM, Lil'Gun, work fine with Small Pistol Primers. They always go bang and they're plenty accurate.

 

[Surgeonwithagun]

If you were "chronoing" your loads I would expect a bit of a velocity "fall off" for loads with regular SPP, but probably acceptable in accuracy with all but the top end (slower) magnum powders...H110, 4227, Lil Gun. "Trial and error within reason" is a mainstay of reloading. The 158s are probably OK but again...try them and observe.

Hunting deer with a pistol....you must be able to get pretty close where you hunt.

John

 

[hoz53]

I just aquired a s&w 686 357 mag. I have never owned one, and am not set perfectly for components. I have a few powders that will work but, would probably pick up something more ideal when it pops up. One thing that I am not sure if it will be a concern or not: I dont have any magnum small pistol primers, just a few standard and a few match. Every bit of data i have seen shows magnum primers. Would substituting standard primers for mag be acceptable and safe? For a backup for deer hunting/plinking I am thinking 158 is a good weight for this cartridge, what do you guys think? What do you like? Any favorite loads or bullets?

My dad was over at my grandfather’s house yesterday and he was in a selling mood LOL dad purchased, on my behalf, the 686 for $700 and a Benelli nova pump slug gun for $200 because he was sure enough I would want them, the nova for that price, I’ll take even though I don’t need it. The 686, has the later safety lock or whatever that the revolver purists dislike bit am I correct that $700 is still a MORE than fair price assuming it is in good used condition with little use. I haven’t even seen it yet, but I will go over to pick it up today and pay up

a real good deal on the 686- i woulda bought it.

 

[Randall D]

My favorite load for plinking is Fed. small pistol primers with 7.5 grains of Longshot pushing an Xtreme 125 gr. plated bullet at 1025 fps.
My hunting load is CCI 400 SRP with 180 Gr. hard cast with 15 gr. of LiL Gun [1290] fps. This is a hot load so work up to it.
I'm using a 686 plus 6 inch barrel. It has a 7 round cylinder which is a bit thinner than the 6 round. I paid $600 a few years ago used and was glad to get it.

 

[john 800]

If you were "chronoing" your loads I would expect a bit of a velocity "fall off" for loads with regular SPP, but probably acceptable in accuracy with all but the top end (slower) magnum powders...H110, 4227, Lil Gun. "Trial and error within reason" is a mainstay of reloading. The 158s are probably OK but again...try them and observe.

Hunting deer with a pistol....you must be able to get pretty close where you hunt.

John

Where I hunt it is very thick woods on some places with trails and some pipeline or powerline cuts through it, so sitting on a pipeline clearing I can have a deer step out way, way out there or they can step out plenty close with little to no warning. I once Had a doe run under my stand, between the ladder and the tree. Got her sevral feet in front of my stand.

 

[PigButtons]

Hunting deer with a pistol....you must be able to get pretty close where you hunt.

John

With the pistol that the OP mentioned, the 686, that would certainly be true. But there are many "pistols" around that can keep up with the rifles to at least 300 yards.
Just saying, not trying to be snarky, hope you understand.

 

[johnfred1965]

For hunting you will want high velocity, and that means the slower powders that are harder to ignite. I have used standard primers with H110/W296, and Lil gunwith no problems, but have heard of hangfires with those combinations. For plinking and target shooting, I like H universal, and it lights just fine with a regular primer.

What part of the country are you in? If you were around meand just needed enough for some hunting loads, I would part with some of mine. There should be some like minded shooters near you. John

 

[C_Ackley]

For hunting you will want high velocity,

Depends on the bullet.

 

[johnfred1965]

Depends on the bullet.

Just my opinion, with that small of caliber, I like as much energy as possible. Now if I was shooting a fat 45 colt, maybe not as much

 

[Dub]

I use H110 and Titegroup with SPM primers. mostly use 158gr JHP bullets. Brownells had SPM primers recently and may still have them. Great price on that 686!

 

[JSH]

I have found the heavier bullets to shoot better for me. I tend to lean on my 357 loads, GP100 and FA though I shouldn’t even mention the FA, almost like cheating.
I use nothing but Starline brass for all my wheel guns.

 

[jcm800]

CCI 400's (SR) can be substituted for SPM. I use them in standard and magnum revolvers, glocks ect.

 

[john 800]

Midway had enforcer available to I bought a few lbs.
Still need a few things, but getting there

 

[Kittitas George]

I've used 2400, standard primers and 158 grain hard cast 'Keith' type bullet. This has been my load for about 40 years.

 

[WVRJ]

I load AA-9 powder and non-magnum(CCI500)primers work fine with it.I also use it in my 10MM 1911 and my load for it is regular primers.The 357 doesn't have to have magnum primers.

 

[K22]

Been shooting the 357 magnums now for about 50 years. Tried a bunch of powders and bullets over those years.

For full power loads, my favorite was 2400 with 140 jacketed bullets. If my memory is correct, I believe the bullets were either Speer or Sierra. The 140 has a good balance between velocity and penetration.

I've only shot one deer with the 357, it was in the 80's and it was a small buck, and at close range, about 50 yards or so. But it went down without an issue but that doesn't mean that the 357 doesn't have some significant limitations for deer hunting. I would much more prefer a 44 magnum if I was going to routinely hunt deer with a pistol.

However, I hunted ground hogs extensively in the 70's and 80's with a 357, Model 27 S&W. Again, using the 140 grain bullets and 2400 powder. This load was quite effective on ghogs.

These days, I primarily shoot 125 grain Hornady XTP's behind a modest load of 231. This combo is extremely accurate in my S&W Models 686 and 586 and 19. The modest recoil is also pleasant to shoot. I don't hunt with a pistol anymore, just recreational shooting.