.357 Powder and Cylinder Test

[doc540]

50 yd steel silhouette project

Today's results with both Unique and Win231 at 50yds.

It appears the Win231 is most accurate when pushed to 6 grains.

Hope this helps someone.

The half-asked rest:


Unique Powder at 50 yds


Win231 at 50 yds


Cylinder Test to Check Flyers

Moved in to 25yds for the cylinder test.

4.5" target

Also shot a few at 50yds with 6.4gr of Win231.

Most important thing I've learned about reload accuracy with my Model 686:
158gr LSWC's like to be pushed more than they like powder puff loads.

APPEARS to me that none of the cylinders are way out of whack.

What does the test tell you?

[Revoman]

Not sure what this test proves. At 25 yards I would expect to see a one hole group, especially from a rest. Perhaps the breezy conditions were not conducive to better groups.

It could also be the ammunition. That might explain the fliers. You can customize your ammunition by further testing with differing loads to find that sweet spot load for that 686. Perhaps start with 38 loads and work your up to magnum loads from there.

There is also the possibility that trigger control is slightly less than ideal, so practice some dry fire to improve on that end.

Your groups aren't bad, just not what they might or could be.

[Whiterabbit]

always with the I-can-do-betters. Post some better groups. Then the other people come out of the woodwork and tell you you were using a machine rest.

Don't worry about showing groups to calgunners. keep on keepin' on.

I wish I could find grips for my revolver like yours. My trigger finger keeps hitting my left thumb's cuticle under recoil and it irritates. that grip looks like it would manage left thumb placement nicely.

[ns3v3n]

The most important is that you enjoyed the process of the test, and that's awesome. Any day at the range is a good day. Cheers!

[Whiterabbit]

I forgot to mention, I see lots of dead sillouettes in those pics

[Revoman]

"always with the I-can-do-betters. Post some better groups. Then the other people come out of the woodwork and tell you you were using a machine rest."

So this means that I said I could do better??? I didn't say that I could do better.

I was attempting to give good advice, not get slammed.

The question was asked what do you think of these groups? I was simply stating some facts, never saying I was better or worse. You gave no advice, only a comment asking a self serving question about grips.

[doc540]

Not sure what this test proves. At 25 yards I would expect to see a one hole group, especially from a rest. Perhaps the breezy conditions were not conducive to better groups.

It could also be the ammunition. That might explain the fliers. You can customize your ammunition by further testing with differing loads to find that sweet spot load for that 686. Perhaps start with 38 loads and work your up to magnum loads from there.

There is also the possibility that trigger control is slightly less than ideal, so practice some dry fire to improve on that end.

Your groups aren't bad, just not what they might or could be.

See? Being from Texas I appreciate straight talk like that.

That's some good input there.

I know the gun WILL shoot tight groups from the same rest and at 50 yds. I just haven't loaded the right recipe for it yet.

Thanks for the input. You must be from Escondido.



fwiw: trying to reload heavier bullets to knock down steel silhouettes at 50yds.

Good news?

Using my first .44 Mag reloads I won my last match with a S&W M29. Won the optics class shooting those Fed factory loads in the 686, but shot really badly.

[Revoman]

Now that plate group is looking purdy dang good indeed. (10/10/12)

That's what I'm talking about, your 686 obviously likes that ammo. Did you pull some bullets and check out the guts for yourself to duplicate? I know that most of the ammunition manufacturer's use a 'special blend' of powder, but you can come really close to matching their ammo by 'copying' as close as possible.

Take a really good look at the powder with a magnifier and you should be able to tell which powder it is. Weigh it and look in the loading manuals for a load that matches the powder and weight with that bullet. NEVER going out of the load data though. ALWAYS keep within the given manufacturer's load data. I cannot stress this enough.

No, I'm not from Escondildo....

[doc540]

Now that plate group is looking purdy dang good indeed. (10/10/12)

That's what I'm talking about, your 686 obviously likes that ammo. Did you pull some bullets and check out the guts for yourself to duplicate? I know that most of the ammunition manufacturer's use a 'special blend' of powder, but you can come really close to matching their ammo by 'copying' as close as possible.

Take a really good look at the powder with a magnifier and you should be able to tell which powder it is. Weigh it and look in the loading manuals for a load that matches the powder and weight with that bullet. NEVER going out of the load data though. ALWAYS keep within the given manufacturer's load data. I cannot stress this enough.

No, I'm not from Escondildo....

When I lived in Sandy Ego, Escondido seemed a lot like Texas to me.

The problem with the 125gr SJHP's is cost and bullet weight.

Reloading plated or jacketed bullets is more expensive than hard cast, and the 125's tend to turn the silhouettes sideways sometimes instead of knocking them down. Thus, the 158gr SWC's.

I did haul off and spend the money for some 158gr jacketed soft points, so worst case might be practice with cast, shoot matches with the jacketed.

Not the best solution.

And I'll keep testing, thanks

[doc540]

Reloaded with my new, Starline brass.

I think my load is set for silhouette matches at 50yds.

Now it's up to me to shoot more accurately.

4.5" target from a rest:

[Revoman]

Your Unique load looks purdy good, slightly better than the 231 anyway.

Unique meters somewhat inconsistently, especially with a progressive. Are you trickling your loads or using one of the powder stations?

Keep up the good work!

[doc540]

Your Unique load looks purdy good, slightly better than the 231 anyway.

Unique meters somewhat inconsistently, especially with a progressive. Are you trickling your loads or using one of the powder stations?

Keep up the good work!

thanks, I'm using a Redding 3BR with the rifle diaphragm, but have the pistol diaphragm coming in the mail.

I'm double checking the drops with both a balance and digital scale.

Win231 measures more consistently than the Unique, and I'm looking forward to getting more consistent drops regardless of the powder, that's for sure.