joined the revolver club

[skiwi]

I am the proud owner of a S&W .357, 686 plus 6" stainless steel.

This is a fun gun to shoot -accurate, light recoil. 38s feel like a 22, 357 very comfortable. I love it!

An interesting experience- I bought some Tula 357 in aluminum shells. Ejecting them was difficult versus brass. Is this common?

I will be handloading for this. Is it common just to use 357 cases for 38 level loads?

 

[antiquus]

If you shoot .38 in .38 cases, because of the shorter length you end up with a ring in the chamber and it might make loading a full length .357 difficult afterwards. It's nothing serious, you just scrub it out when you clean the chambers. But some people feel that .38 loads are less accurate because of the distance traveled to the necked down area of the chamber is much greater with .38's than .357's. So to avoid either or both conditions, some folks only load .38 charges in .357 cases.

 

[skidder]

Now you're screwed. This is the first chapter in a book that never ends. I will be satisfied with just one more, "I swear!". NOT....

Welcome to the revolver club! A great bunch that hangs out here, enthusiastic and full of knowledge.

Oh ya... we want to see some pics of your new weapon.

 

[Pancake81]

Photos or it didn't happen

 

[RaceM]

Dump the aluminum cased ammo. I burned a line in one chamber of my Blackhawk when a Blazer aluminum case split. Never again.

Aluminum is "grabby" vs. the slickness of brass and can latch on to any imperfection in a chamber, leading to rough extraction.

 

[BYJO4]

The 686 is a great revolver. If you reload, load target 357 rounds instead of shooting 38 to prevent the ring in the cylinder.

 

[56hawk]

I only have 357 revolvers, but load target loads in 38 cases. Mainly because I have a lot of 38 brass that I have picked up, but also to be able to tell the difference. If you load the same bullets in the same cases it's harder to remember which is which.

People mention the crud ring from shooting 38s, but I have never had this problem with any of my reloads. I did buy an old model 27 that I couldn't load 357s into. Took a lot of scrubbing to get the cylinder clean, but now it works perfectly.

 

[skiwi]

I'll probably stick to the 357 cases, so I don't need to adjust the dies.

I'm planning on using 158 gr. SWC from Missouri Bullet with Titegroup and small pistol primers.

I have read varying opinions on taper crimp or roll crimp. Thoughts?

 

[murf]

roll crimp.

and ditch the aluminum cases, as has been said. can't reload them.

nice piece you have there. enjoy!

murf

 

[skiwi]

this is also my first SS gun, so I've trolled for cleaning advice. Most seem to avoid brass brushes? Lots of lead remover cloth used as well. Any good tips?

 

[skiwi]

pictures as requested

 

[beag_nut]

Roll crimp for most revolver calibers; taper crimp (if any) for auto's.
Nothing wrong with brass brushes on SS. Just don't use brass brushes with some copper-dissolving solvents.

 

[dgroff85]

Congrats on the 686. My first two revolvers where a 686 4" and 686 6".

 

[bluethunder1962]

I agree with skidder. You did it. I went in a different order than you . 357 was the last one I bought. I started with 45LC then 44 then 45 acp then to the 357 but you can do it in any order but now that you have started you will get more.

 

[Fishslayer]

I will be handloading for this. Is it common just to use 357 cases for 38 level loads?

All the time. I use range pickups & whatnot for light target ammo & load the Big Dogs in Starline I bought new.

 

[rswartsell]

Man skiwi,

You know how to get things started. I couldn't suggest a better intro into revolvers. As others have stated you may find yourself probing into the "golden age" of revovers. Curiosity about "pre-MIM" and "pre-lock" will open a Pandora's box for your wallet, let alone exploring Colts!

Wow! Yours IS a pre-lock! Good choice my friend!

P.S. Upon closer inspection, it is not pre-lock (the angle almost hid the "Hillary hole"). Thats OK, no matter what you hear still a fine revolver and with tuning capable of a trigger action you will not believe!

 

[Hondo 60]

An interesting experience- I bought some Tula 357 in aluminum shells. Ejecting them was difficult versus brass. Is this common?

In a word? Yes

(sorry, but I'm one of those reloading snobs, nothin's as good as my ammo)

 

[rswartsell]

I'll second Hondo,

Maybe not universal, but definitely common. They're cheap for a reason and if this troubles you avoid steel, aluminum and alloy cases in favor of brass. Nickled brass is there to be the opposite, nickle for eased ejection.