GP100 and 586/686 revolvers & todays loads

[peacebutready]

Can the latest Ruger GP100 and S&W 586/686 revolvers handle a steady diet of 158gr loads producing 535 ft/lbs of energy? I believe that is a standard full-house load.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Absolutely

 

[reddog81]

The GP100's and 686's are some stout revolvers built for those loads and loads even a bit hotter. The new guns might not have the same fit and finish of older models but they can take many 1,000's of those standard loads without issue.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Yes they can and without issue, I've yet to hear from of timing issues or cylinder/forcing cone erosion on either.

 

[gotboostvr]

In case you're wondering, due to the cylinder notches being offset in odd number chambered guns (i.e. 5 &7 shooters) the 7 shot GP100 and 686+ are actually stronger than their 6 shot brethren.

 

[DWFan]

A 158gr launching at 1250fps produces slightly more muzzle energy than that. No problem.

 

[CraigC]

I load mine according to velocity, not energy, so I really don't know how to answer your question.

 

[blue32]

My standard load is 510 ft lbs but I've been loading a bit more of the 628 ft lb variety lately. My 686-6 doesn't seem to mind at 8,400 rounds to date.

 

[DWFan]

A "full-house" load with a 158gr @ 1450 fps generates 738 ft/lb. I don't see either revolver having issues even at that level.

 

[cfullgraf]

The S&W 586/686 series guns (L frames) were developed in part to correct the forcing cone ills of the K frame 357 Magnums.

Ruger always seems to build a substantial safety margin in their revolvers.

Both the L frames and the GP100 should handle industry standard maximum 357 Magnum loads without issue.

 

[Texas1880]

In case you're wondering, due to the cylinder notches being offset in odd number chambered guns (i.e. 5 &7 shooters) the 7 shot GP100 and 686+ are actually stronger than their 6 shot brethren.

Have you or anybody else had any problems with the 7 shot rugers? There was a guy making a lot of noise about some cases that wouldn’t let you fill up the gun. The rims would touch

 

[Jonesy814]

My built in 1985 686 is still going strong. Probably 75% of what I have shot in it are full house 158gr magnums and the rest have been 85% of full power loads.

 

[gotboostvr]

Have you or anybody else had any problems with the 7 shot rugers? There was a guy making a lot of noise about some cases that wouldn’t let you fill up the gun. The rims would touch

I have no experience with the 7 shot Rugers. I did however put a few thousand rounds through a 686+ with zero issues.
I'm under the impression the GP100 cylinder is slightly wider than the 686's which would mean less chance of issues with rims over lapping.

 

[MidRoad]

Only one way to find out!

 

[stchman]

Can the latest Ruger GP100 and S&W 586/686 revolvers handle a steady diet of 158gr loads producing 535 ft/lbs of energy? I believe that is a standard full-house load.

535 ft/lbs from a 158gr bullet is only 1235 ft/s. That's pretty weak sauce for a .357 Magnum. Most .357 Magnum ammo I see is around 1400 ft/s and the hotter stuff is around 1600 ft/s.

 

[DPris]

In testing over 70 different .38 & .357 loads off the shelves here, I found three that created rimlock in my early 2.5-inch 7-shot GP .357 snub.

Two were Winchester white-box .357s & one was a Federal .38.

Ruger has since made some efforts to address that POSSIBILITY, which is going to be statistically less than 3% in early UNCORRECTED samples, and should be nill in current production 7-bangers.

I was offered a replacement, but declined it.
The gun shoots well, and I simply don't use those three loads in it.
Denis

 

[peacebutready]

Thanks for the posts, all.

 

[Wbblazer90]

You can shoot 158gr and hot 110gr hotloads in those platforms until the cows come home. Only in the s&w k frames was there an issue with the forcing cones. And that was only with a steady diet of higher velocity 110gr .357 magnum rounds.