After shooting your 686, you will be surprised to find that
hull life is much shorter with an auto, esp. Federal 3-1/2".
Have no idea why. I went from a SX2 to a 686 Onyx Pro and brass / hull seperations stopped. I do shoot a lot of waterfowl and it could be simply b/c the hulls no longer hit the ground or get wet. I do know when you change you will cuss the autoloader chasing expensive 3-1/2" hulls. If you're not reloading them, the autoloader is much softer to shoot, with any load, and MUCH faster on the third shot.
