S&W 686+ and Buffalo bore

[babills]

Well I have a 686 plus with a 4" barrel. I'm thinking about mounting a red dot on it and using it for hunting. Gonna try and recreate Buffalo bore 180gr outdoorsman hard cast for my Gp100. Will the 686 handle these loads. 1400ish fps? Thanks.

[bushog]

Not for too long…..

[babills]

Sept 24, 2023 21:59:00 GMT -5 bushog said:

Not for too long…..

That's what I was thinking. But I figured it would be ok for sight in and a couple shots per year while only hunting. No heavy use!

[gnappi]

Sept 24, 2023 21:59:00 GMT -5 bushog said:

Not for too long…..

 Make that three! 

[paul105]

I don't see why the 686 would have a problem handling the Buf Bore 180s. It's basically the same gun as the M69 (which is an L frame 44 Magnum). I don't think you could afford to shoot enough Buf Bore to hurt the 686 nor is there any reason to do so. Also, I never could quite duplicate velocity BB 180gr loads.

Here are some chron results from a 2 3/4" M66-8 (current K Frame with all updates). My 2 3/4" M66 appears to be on the fast side. My 4 1/4" M66-8 avg 1,295 fps with the 185/15.0 Lil Gun - (1,344 fps from 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk). For info purposes only - Not a recommendation.

Labradar Muzzle Velocity (familiarization run)
60 Deg F
S&W M66-8 2.75" .357 Mag

130gr Fed Hydra-Shok JHP "Personal Defense" PD357HS2 H …….. 1,416 fps avg (84 fps ES) -- two rounds
140gr Underwood Xtreme Penetrator (Philips head mono metal).. 1,422 fps avg ( 5 fps ES) -- two rounds
158gr Horn Xtp - 15.0gr A2400 Std small pistol, new Starline...… 1,316 fps avg (49 fps ES) -- six rounds
165gr CSWCGC (358156) - 13.0gr A2400 New Starline         ...… 1,070 fps avg (49 fps ES) -- six rounds
180gr Buff Bore …………………………………………………………………………….. 1,312 fps avg ( 6 fps ES) -- two rounds
185gr LFNGC (Beartooth), 15.0gr Lil'Gun, CCI 400 New Starline.. 1,228 fps avg (14 fps ES) – two rounds
200gr WLNGC (leadheads), 13.4gr H110, Fed 205, New Starline.. 1,102 fps avg ( 4 fps ES) – two rounds
200gr WLNGC (leadheads), 14.4gr H110, Fed 205, New Starline.. 1,155 fps avg ( 2 fps ES) – two rounds
(purported to be the “Doubletap” load info)
200gr WLNGC (leadheads) handload with Lil Gun ………………………. 1,266 fps avg ( 2 fps ES) -- two rounds
-- maybe too much of a good thing. Spent cases fell from chambers, and no obvious signs of over pressure. Recoil was heavy. Don't even know if this stabilizes.

If even needed, I would limit useage of the 180, 185, and 200gr loads in J & K Frame guns

Also ran two Buff Bore 180s thru 16" Rossi M92 carbine ……………. 1,894 fps avg ( 6 fps ES) -- two rounds

FWIW,

Paul

[bushog]

Well, there are some facts!

[Fowler]

I have a 180gr LBT mold and have roughly copied the Buff Bore load for trail use in my 2 1/2" 19. No that gun will not see more than a cylinder or 2 full a year of that load, I have a 28 If I want to shoot it a bunch. But for back country use with that gun it will certainly hold up enough for crunch time.

Would I select that load for a hunting load in the gun (if that gun was legal to hunt with here in Colorado)? Probably not, I want to put way more rounds downrange tuning up and practicing for season than a 19 should absorb in my opinion. Plus it just isnt a very fun load to shoot in the little gun.

YMMV

[babills]

Sept 25, 2023 8:16:32 GMT -5 paul105 said:

I don't see why the 686 would have a problem handling the Buf Bore 180s. It's basically the same gun as the M69 (which is an L frame 44 Magnum). I don't think you could afford to shoot enough Buf Bore to hurt the 686 nor is there any reason to do so. Also, I never could quite duplicate velocity BB 180gr loads.

Here are some chron results from a 2 3/4" M66-8 (current K Frame with all updates). My 2 3/4" M66 appears to be on the fast side. My 4 1/4" M66-8 avg 1,295 fps with the 185/15.0 Lil Gun - (1,344 fps from 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk). For info purposes only - Not a recommendation.

Labradar Muzzle Velocity (familiarization run)
60 Deg F
S&W M66-8 2.75" .357 Mag

130gr Fed Hydra-Shok JHP "Personal Defense" PD357HS2 H …….. 1,416 fps avg (84 fps ES) -- two rounds
140gr Underwood Xtreme Penetrator (Philips head mono metal).. 1,422 fps avg ( 5 fps ES) -- two rounds
158gr Horn Xtp - 15.0gr A2400 Std small pistol, new Starline...… 1,316 fps avg (49 fps ES) -- six rounds
165gr CSWCGC (358156) - 13.0gr A2400 New Starline         ...… 1,070 fps avg (49 fps ES) -- six rounds
180gr Buff Bore …………………………………………………………………………….. 1,312 fps avg ( 6 fps ES) -- two rounds
185gr LFNGC (Beartooth), 15.0gr Lil'Gun, CCI 400 New Starline.. 1,228 fps avg (14 fps ES) – two rounds
200gr WLNGC (leadheads), 13.4gr H110, Fed 205, New Starline.. 1,102 fps avg ( 4 fps ES) – two rounds
200gr WLNGC (leadheads), 14.4gr H110, Fed 205, New Starline.. 1,155 fps avg ( 2 fps ES) – two rounds
(purported to be the “Doubletap” load info)
200gr WLNGC (leadheads) handload with Lil Gun ………………………. 1,266 fps avg ( 2 fps ES) -- two rounds
-- maybe too much of a good thing. Spent cases fell from chambers, and no obvious signs of over pressure. Recoil was heavy. Don't even know if this stabilizes.

If even needed, I would limit useage of the 180, 185, and 200gr loads in J & K Frame guns

Also ran two Buff Bore 180s thru 16" Rossi M92 carbine ……………. 1,894 fps avg ( 6 fps ES) -- two rounds

FWIW,

Paul

Thank you. The recipe I found was 15.8gr lilgun with a Montana bullet works 180gr WFN-GC. If I remember the fella was getting 1460fps out of  4" gp100. That is a lot of valuable info you gave me and I truly appreciate it.

[paul105]

Went back thru my load notes - found the results for 185gr BTB over 15.7 gr Lil Gun and CCI 400s (Small Rifle Std primers - reportedly same as small pistol mags according to conversation with CCI primer tech)

66 to 75 Deg F
5 long steps from muzzle (old chrono)

3 1/16" M386 .............. 1,226 fps - 2 shots
5 1/2" FA83 .............. 1,372 fps - 3 shots
6 1/2" Ruger Black hawk .. 1,414 fps - 5 shots

Felt 15 gr was a good working load, so settled on that - (185gr Beartooth Bullets is no longer in business, but 180s avail from several sources)

Paul

[gcf]

At least for limited use, I wouldn't worry too much about BB in a 686 - provided it's in good condition.

[babills]

Sept 25, 2023 15:48:15 GMT -5 gcf said:

At least for limited use, I wouldn't worry too much about BB in a 686 - provided it's in good condition.

Its a 2020 model with less than a box of ammo through it. Should be good. I have a Ruger gp100 that will handle the bulk of the abuse. Lol. I will use the smith sparingly.

[bdoyler88]

I shoot both the Underwood and Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast out both of my 686-6's, 3 inch TALO and four inch 686 plus, at least 500 rounds through each revolver, more with the Underwood 125 XTPs and I haven't noticed any problems. Like another poster said the L frame 69 is a .44 Magnum so .357 Magnum shouldn't be a problem. Good shooting, those BB loads are fun!

[woody]

Paul[/quote]Thank you. The recipe I found was 15.8gr lilgun with a Montana bullet works 180gr WFN-GC. If I remember the fella was getting 1460fps out of  4" gp100. That is a lot of valuable info you gave me and I truly appreciate it.[/quote]


I would worry more about using LilGun than using a duplicate of the Buffalo Bore load. I’ve used LilGun in both the .357 and .32 mag but since stopped using it with all the warnings about LilGun and throat erosion. Any 686 will hold up to the use of the load you mentioned.

[babills]

Well I solved the problem. The 686 was purchased for my wife. She prefers the sp101, so I traded the smith for a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 mag. Problem solved. Now to put an optic on it and get it ready for season. Now I have an all Ruger collection again. No durability questions.