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tomf52
02-08-2007, 07:53 PM
Found one of these 23" Contender carbine barrrels in the safe and was wondering what cast bullets would be suitable for paper punching with it. Any suggestions? I do have 158 SWC gas check mould but nothing else that I think would be appropriate so it's time for trip to the candy store. Thanks for any help. Tom

leftiye
02-08-2007, 08:36 PM
I've got an H&R barrel in this caliber, but I haven't gotten around to shooting it yet. I have acquired several molds off of eBone which I'm excited about working with. Lyman makes a 200 grain round nose. Rcbs makes a 200 grain FNGC, also Lyman makes a 206 grain .358 RNGC which may be a little long if fired in a pistol twist. However if the twist is 1 in 16 or thereabouts, the higher velocity (no cylinder gap, plus longer barrel gives several hundred fps over published loads) should stabilize it. There are also a bunch of 180 grain silhoette boolits if you want to be more moderate in weight. Saeco makes bth 180 and 200 grainers in both round nose and truncated nose designs that have gas checks.

I'm more interested in heavier boolits, and higher velocities, so I mainly prefer gas check boolits. Obviously, any of the "pistol boolits" could be used for small game and plinking, including the one that you mentioned. Actually that could be a lot of kickbutt to be called a plinking load (it could be loaded way over 2000 fps.) Also, any of the .358 rifle booits could als be used all the way up to 300 grs. or more- depends where you draw the line about too heavy & too slow (and what won't stabilize). Wishing you much fun and satisfaction with your new project. It's a dandy little cartridge.

Parson
02-08-2007, 08:39 PM
I have the max in a 10in. Contender. I use a 210gc hard cast bullet with a very healthy dose of Little Gun, chronographs a little over 1950fps

Scrounger
02-08-2007, 08:43 PM
Found one of these 23" Contender carbine barrrels in the safe and was wondering what cast bullets would be suitable for paper punching with it. Any suggestions? I do have 158 SWC gas check mould but nothing else that I think would be appropriate so it's time for trip to the candy store. Thanks for any help. Tom

Hey, Tom, that barrel kicks too much and there's probably lots of other things wrong with it too. It so happens I have a new in the box .223 barrel 23 inches long I'd be glad to trade you. Or a 23 inch .45-70 barrel if that's more your speed...

tomf52
02-08-2007, 09:09 PM
Scounger - The 357 kicks too much and you want to trade me a 45-70? Also I have a 223. Bye now.

Johnch
02-08-2007, 09:44 PM
I have a 10 and 14" Contender barrels , was always to cheap to buy the carbine barrel .
Now I kick my self for being so cheap :( :(

I have found that a 180 to 206 gr ish cast bullets shoot best .
Contender 357 Max barrels tend to have Waaaaaaaaaay more free bore than needed for accuracy

So I tend to load my bullets out , long

In my barrels , I get good groups at starting loads and again at or close to MAX

I have tryed a 250 gr bullet , but it key holed at 50 yds , probely the twist wasn't right .
But I had to try

Good luck

BTW do a search for 357 Max , there has been several posts on it that I remember

Johnch

Slowpoke
02-08-2007, 10:20 PM
My experience for just 100yrd paper punching, the 358315 is hard to beat .

good luck

cbrick
02-08-2007, 10:26 PM
Here is a Glen E. Fryxell article on the Max, It'll give you some boolit ideas and load data as well as a dose of the history of the cartridge.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell357Max.htm

Rick

Scrounger
02-08-2007, 11:09 PM
Scounger - The 357 kicks too much and you want to trade me a 45-70? Also I have a 223. Bye now.

Just checking to see if you'd fallen off the turnip wagon recently.... I think that might be the best caliber Contender makes. I wouldn't sell my barrel for anything if I couldn't get another.

HEAD0001
02-09-2007, 12:41 AM
I have 45 live rounds. They are Remington 158 grain factory loads, along with 55 pieces of brass. I would sell them for $25 shipped. I also have a set of RCBS carbide dies that have never been out of the box. I would take an additional $25 for the dies. Or ship the dies alone for $30. Tom.



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/HEAD0001/IMG_0207.jpg

Scrounger
02-09-2007, 01:02 AM
If 357 Maximum doesn't want the dies, I'll take them.

HEAD0001
02-09-2007, 01:08 PM
Send me an e-mail. Tom.:castmine: