Accurate loads for S&W 66 4in. ???

10 Spot Terminator · April 18, 2010, 10:26 AM

Hello all ,,,

Looking for basicly an accurate 125 gr. jhp personal defense load and a heavier hunting load in 158 gr. jsp for backup when in the field with cougars an such. Have had 2 close encounters with cougars over the years and one with a bad guy . Not looking to be a victim, would rather be a survivor . As stated accuracy is my goal here so dont need to be full blown light up the night sky type loads and manageable recoil means faster second or third shot recovery while sprinting backwards and filling my drawers . Appreciate any good advice you might give short of kaopectate jokes an such,,,

BTW is a 357 mag.

Thanks guys, 10 Spot

WESHOOT2 · April 18, 2010, 10:43 AM

Suggest 140g XTP-HP over 19.0g (MAXIMUM) H110 in new sized cases, ignited with either a CCI or Federal SPM primer, finished with the Redding Profile Crimp die.
Will work for both needs.

Start load = 16.8g H110.

Practice with lead-bullet loads using Universal.....

zxcvbob · April 18, 2010, 02:44 PM

Is the model 66 OK with 125 grain bullets, or will they crack the forcing cone like on a model 19?

I like 158 grain SWC's with 8 grains of Herco or WSF, or 11 grains of AA#7.

vladan · April 18, 2010, 03:11 PM

My pet loads are 158SWC Missouri bullet ( 18 hardness for .357 velocities, not the softer ones for .38 ) over 10.5grains of AA#7 and Nosler 158JPH over 11grains of AA#7. Both very accurate in my 65 and gp100

WESHOOT2 · April 19, 2010, 08:58 AM

K-frames (like the 19 and 66) cracking cones with 125s were what led to the L-frame and GP.

April 18, 2010, 10:26 AM	#1
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	Accurate loads for S&W 66 4in. ??? Hello all ,,, Looking for basicly an accurate 125 gr. jhp personal defense load and a heavier hunting load in 158 gr. jsp for backup when in the field with cougars an such. Have had 2 close encounters with cougars over the years and one with a bad guy . Not looking to be a victim, would rather be a survivor . As stated accuracy is my goal here so dont need to be full blown light up the night sky type loads and manageable recoil means faster second or third shot recovery while sprinting backwards and filling my drawers . Appreciate any good advice you might give short of kaopectate jokes an such,,, BTW is a 357 mag. Thanks guys, 10 Spot

April 18, 2010, 10:43 AM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	in YOUR gun Suggest 140g XTP-HP over 19.0g (MAXIMUM) H110 in new sized cases, ignited with either a CCI or Federal SPM primer, finished with the Redding Profile Crimp die. Will work for both needs. Start load = 16.8g H110. Practice with lead-bullet loads using Universal..... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 18, 2010, 02:44 PM	#3
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Is the model 66 OK with 125 grain bullets, or will they crack the forcing cone like on a model 19? I like 158 grain SWC's with 8 grains of Herco or WSF, or 11 grains of AA#7. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

April 19, 2010, 08:58 AM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	K-frames (like the 19 and 66) cracking cones with 125s were what led to the L-frame and GP. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 18, 2010, 03:11 PM	#4
vladan Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 813	My pet loads are 158SWC Missouri bullet ( 18 hardness for .357 velocities, not the softer ones for .38 ) over 10.5grains of AA#7 and Nosler 158JPH over 11grains of AA#7. Both very accurate in my 65 and gp100