686 strength question

F

FullEffect1911

New member
Short and sweet question.

What is the heaviest/hottest .357 magnum rounds you would routienly fire out of a new (with the lock) 686 with a 4" barrel. Would 125 grain .357 mags going 1400 fps be to much for the gun over the long term?

Looking forward to any responses.
Fulleffect1911
 
So, this isn't coming from the experience of shooting 30,000 rounds like you describe through the 686, but just an educated guess - I think you'd be fine. S&W guns are well built and have a lifetime warranty, and the 686 is not a lightweight model. A quick look at the Remington ballistics tables show their standard .357 Magnum 125gr round as moving @1450fps. So, I don't think this would be considered an unusually hot round.

Any gun will wear out eventually, and I am sure it will wear more slowly if you shoot .38 Special cowboy action loads (light-light) through it, but I believe you should expect normal life with a load like you are considering.
 
One of the gun mags ran an endurance test on the Ruger GP100 and the 686 a few years ago with hot .357 magnum loads. At about 5000 rounds they found erosion of the forcing cones. Gun is still good to go, just shows first signs of wear by hot gases.

I have fired a whole lot of magnums before I learned that .38 spl are the way to go unless I am hunting, practicing for hunting, involved in self defense and keeping familiar with self defense loads. Hunting would involve heavier bullets, less hot powder. That leaves us with self defense. The average person is not going to fire many rounds in self defense and 5000 hot rounds is way more than anyone needs to remain familiar with self defense loads.

Don't worry.
 
They can take a lot of punishment. I know of two that have over 20,000 rounds of magnums, and they still shoot straight, and lock up tight.

This one has a way to go.....

686d2up.jpg
 
The fight between the Rugers and Smiths...whos stronger...yada yada yada. In all reality, their both amazingly strong firearms, that with proper care, will last a lifetime. I wouldnt be to worried about pushing 125 grainers 1400 FPS. Youll most likely get a small amount of flame cutting on your top strap, but it will usually cut to a point, then stop. Alot of revolvers seem to wear into a certain point, then just stay that way for a LONG time.
 
Course you could stick to 158 grainers at 1350 or so fps. Not as flashy, but interesting. I've loaded some just to experiment with copper plated bullets.
 
the S&B FMJ/FT 158gr. rated at 1394fps. and 683ft.lb. of energy at the muzzle which according to S&B's web site was tested out of a 6" barrel. I have been shooting my 686 6" for over a year and a half now using this round and have not seen any sign of extra wear at all. It is still as tight as when i first got it.
mine is a -3 made in 1989 and was like new when i got it. after shooting the S&B round and several others I have no problem shooting hot loads all day long in it.
I do shoot a lot of .38spl for economy reasons but i always buy at least one box of the hot S&B and run it through it also.
the 686 is one of the best .357 mags i have ever owned and will be willed to my grandson.
 
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