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Old November 21, 2017, 12:31 AM   #1
Jeryray
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S&W 686 target loads

What factory 38 ammo yields the best groups at 50 feet with the 686 6"?
SWC
plated, lead?
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Old November 21, 2017, 05:49 AM   #2
m&p45acp10+1
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I load my own so I am not sure of brand. 158 grain bullets tend to line up to point of aim without having to adjust tbe sigbts.
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Old November 22, 2017, 11:33 PM   #3
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Got some berry 158 SWC, look ok, will load some and try, Just hate Factory loads. Lost a match because I missed a bad crimp. Now ALL my re-loads are case gauged.

Will be using 3.0 Bullseye.
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Old November 22, 2017, 11:52 PM   #4
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Yeah, I loaded my own when I used my 586 for bullseye matches.
But look no further than this:
Federal match "gold medal" 148 grain wadcutters
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/23...tter-box-of-50

If you are looking for factory, I would try those out, or fiocchi makes some target grade .38 special wadcutters as well.
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Old November 23, 2017, 01:24 AM   #5
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Agree with HVR, you will not beat a 38 Special lead 148 WC at 50 feet. I cast and load my own but I have shot Winchester Super-X 148 WC and Federal 148 WC factory ammo. Both are very accurate out of every thing I tried them in.
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Old November 23, 2017, 01:18 PM   #6
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If you're not reloading, you must try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your revolver. The cost means nothing. Otherwise, there is no way of telling what brand your revolver will shoot best.
50 feet isn't that far either. It's only 16 yards. Kind of an odd distance. NRA Precision Pistol, for example, is shot at 25 and 50 yards.
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Old November 23, 2017, 01:40 PM   #7
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Our club's indoor range was only 50 feet and we shot competiitve bullseye matches with the appropriate targets. These were sanctioned NRA conventional, and US postal matches. A couple of weeks ago, the same 50' range club held the California (California Rifle and Pistol Association) state pistol sectional matches.

a few other indoor ranges held the competitions at 20 yards and 25 yards.
But 50 feet is not that odd a distance. The club also held santioned small bore compeitions at that distance as well.
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Old November 23, 2017, 10:13 PM   #8
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I am shooting a 480 NRA match, 6 rounds, reload 6 more, 30 seconds.

Need SWC, the Full wad will not feed with the speed loader.
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Old November 24, 2017, 06:30 AM   #9
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I have a 686 plus that I bought last weekend. It sbot 158 grain LSWC.38 Spcl. Loads well. Point if impact and pount of aim lined up. I shot some 125 grain plated hollow point that I load for the wife's snub nose. At 15 yads they hit the 6 inch dueling swingers well enough to clear the rack witbout a miss.
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Old November 25, 2017, 08:20 AM   #10
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Many try to divert the discussion to reloading, but in terms of bought ammo, readily available, I can only think of ammo to try. Something rated for "target" or moderate recoil is what you want, and I think of how satisfied I am with Winchester W Train and Defend. Train is FMJ and Defend is JHP.
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Old November 25, 2017, 08:26 AM   #11
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Quote:
Got some berry 158 SWC, look ok, will load some and try, Just hate Factory loads. Lost a match because I missed a bad crimp. Now ALL my re-loads are case gauged.

Will be using 3.0 Bullseye.
This is a different topic than your OP (factory ammo).
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Old November 25, 2017, 08:30 AM   #12
Eddietruett
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I shoot a lot of Berry’s Plated. 148gr HBWC & 158gr THP. Both very accurate loaded with 3.0 gr Bullseye. Really like how clean plated bullets are loading and shooting. Also use the same THP with 7.5gr HS-6 for metal plate shooting at 75yds. Again very accurate and clean. The most accurate load in most of my guns is Zero Swaged 148gr Lead HBWC. However, since lead is much dirtier I normally sacrifice the little difference in accuracy for the ease of cleaning
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Old November 25, 2017, 11:17 PM   #13
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accurate

When I shot a wee bit of competitive revolver, usually interagency type matches on the PPC course, or modified near equivalent, W-W Super Match, 148 gr WC was the load our guys really liked. That was out of M66's, but it was superb ammo across the board.
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