[Mastrogiacomo]

Just got back from Walmart where I attempted to buy ammo for the gun range. I have a new (used) 686P with a 4" barrel that I'm excited about. Aside from my former 442 -- I never really had a revolver and don't know much about the ammo used for this firearm except that I can use two calibers. I saw a box of Winchester .38 in a 130 grain which was the cheaper of the two I was looking at so that's what I bought. The other more expensive was 125 grain and looked like it read 38P. Being Walmart I had to wait for a half hour for someone to show up. When she did, she obviously wasn't from that department and didn't know anything about guns.

I just want to shoot the .38's through this gun. What can I expect from the 130 grain and what's the difference between the two boxes I was looking at? Thanks.

[Chugach]

Were they both in a white box?

Sounds like the more expensive was .38 Special +P, 125 grain, in jacketed hollow point with a muzzle velocity of 945 fps.

What you bought was probably .38 Special, 130 grain, full metal jacket with a muzzle velocity of 800 fps.

You can also fire .357 Magnum cartridges in your 686P with a typical muzzle velocity of 1200 fps for a 125 grain bullet.

In order of increasing power then, they would be:

.38
.38 +P
.357 Magnum

Don't be confused by the .38 vs .357 designation. Both cartridges use either .357" or .358" diameter bullets. The .357 Magnum cartridge case is longer and holds more powder, hence the greater bullet velocity.

Either .38 Special or .357 Magnum can be fired safely in your 686P. The .38 Special load you chose should be relatively mild to shoot.

Winchester has a great Web site. You can pick up a lot of cartridge info there if you rummage around a bit.

Enjoy your 686P, and give us a range report...

David

[Mastrogiacomo]

Thanks for the reply David. Yes, both were white box Winchesters 50 bullets, target and range for the .38. The 125 grain which was about ten plus dollars read 38+P. It's that part that just confused me. My gun is a 686P so for a moment I thought, "Am I buying the wrong ammo? Should I get the one that specially reads +P?" I obviously have a lot to learn yet about how to buy ammo. I just wanted to find a mild grain for the range but clearly there weren't too many options being Walmart -- these were the only two boxes they had in this caliber. By the way, they don't sell personal protection hollow points. I tried to get Winchester Silver Tip hollow points for my Berettas and was told "no dice."

Range report to follow....:D

[Mastrogiacomo]

You said "Jacketed hollow points" meaning not personal protection, so you knew that all ready about Walmart just selling for traget and sporting....:o I told you I have a lot to learn....:uhoh:

[Al Thompson]

M., for practice those 130 loads work fine. If you want self defense loads, the 125 +Ps are adequate. The best rated load in a .357 is the 125 JHP. In .38, the 158 LSWCHP +P, the Winchester (IIRC) 130 +P and the Gold Dot 125 +P are all highly rated.

[Mastrogiacomo]

Thanks Al. :) I was actually planning on purchasing Winchester Silver Tip Hollow points for this gun too. I've yet to do so for my Berettas but it'll be in the 115 grain for my compacts. As far as this gun, I guess I'll be looking at 125 or 130 grain, correct?

[Stainz]

A friend of mine wanted a revolver for protection - he had a PPK and 'didn't like it'. He wanted a very small and light revolver - like the 637. I suggested my local shop's prices - he drove >110miles roundtrip to buy there - came back the next day for one for his wife. I met him at my range several days later to try his latest acquisition.

He had bought 125gr +P ammo. It was a handful in that dimunitive 637. The rebound was stiff - follow-ups were 'wild' - he barely nicked the BG target at 12 yd - totally unacceptable. I took him into the range's store and insisted he buy some .38 'Cowboy' loads/reloads - ~155gr lead and $6/50. He became a marksman - he could get the BG and never the hostage on the Hostage target - follow-ups were good and easy. Two boxes later, I started adding a few .38+P's to a cylinder amidst the 'Cowboy' loads - then all .38+P's. A bit more rebound, but the accuracy was still there.

The point is simple - crawl before you walk, walk before you run. As to those heavy and slow (~700fps) 'Cowboy' rounds... I don't have a force field around me - they can be instantly lethal. Even a 'wound' would be a stopper in the torso. You don't need .38+P's - much less .357 Magnums - for home protection. That seven shot 686P (The seventh shot earns it the 'P'.) will absorb the .38 recoil quite well due to it's size and weight - even if you add wood grips, which obviously do not absorb recoil. You will appreciate rubber grips when you launch .357 Magnums with it. I have wood grips on all of my S&W .44's and .45's... they look so much better that way. But believe me, I'll keep the stock rubber grips on my Ruger Super Redhawk (.454 Casull) due to it's recoil.

Good choice in the 686! Enjoy plinking with it.

Stainz

[JeepDriver]

When I'm in the mood for Magnum loads I use the UMC 125 gr JSP's. But after 50 or 100 rounds of Magnum loads I'm ready for something a little lighter.

The Winchester 125 38+p "Personal Protection" ammo is really mild. Plus it's only $10.97 a box @ Wal Mart. I've shot some where around 2,000 rounds of it in the past couple of years with out any problems. It's a great plinking round.

I'm shooting a 686, 681 and a GP100

[Al Thompson]

M., the last time I checked, .357 Silvertips were 145 grain loads. The difference between most .357 loads and .38 loads is substantial. Lots more muzzle blast and kick. If that annoys you, you really don't lose much with a good .38 load. FWIW, I really like Gold Dots better than Silver Tips.

[Penforhire]

Stains, I've always wondered about my 686P backstrap. I mean, they give me nice rubber grips but the exposed steel strap just sounds like a bad idea. Is there a reason I'm missing why they didn't wrap some rubber over that too?

[WebHobbit]

They don't wrap rubber over them because it increases distance to the trigger. It's a real problem for small-handed shooters like myself. If you have larger hands and want that kind of grip there are several aftermarket options that will do it.

[JeepDriver]

I've always wondered about my 686P backstrap. I mean, they give me nice rubber grips but the exposed steel strap just sounds like a bad idea. Is there a reason I'm missing why they didn't wrap some rubber over that too?

And belive me that exposed back strap will put a hurting on you. I have 2 L frames with the Hogue grips on them. After 50 rounds of magnum loads my hand is sore. But I also have a GP100 that I can shoot longer and with much more comfort.

My 681 and 686. That back strap transfers a lot of pecoil into the palm of your hand.
http://www.fototime.com/CA56A8EB70B713A/standard.jpg

[mec]

Very likely, in your medium frame revolver, you will feel very little difference between the two loads you mention. Any and all 38 Specials will probably produce mild recoil and muzzleblast.

Eventually, you might decide you like the idea of the greater power available from the .357. Even with that load, a little bit of familiarizaition will allow you to shoot it comfortably. hearing protection is important across the board.

[Tropical Z]

For .38spl,its hard to beat UMC's 130gr metal case ammo. Its more powerful than most .38spl.Stats are at Remingtons website.For .357mag,Fiochii is real powerful!!!