357 Max and 356Win Boolit

[Ktmrider]

Good evening ladies and gents,
This is my very first post after looking at some amazing topics in the pages of the forum. I am absolutely brand new into this fun looking past time. I just picked up a couple of items over the past couple of weeks so I can get started but the one item I will need is a mold. Since I would love to use one mold if possible for my 357 Max and the 356 Win I was thinking of a 180FP design with hopefully a HP pin for the slower Max. Does anyone here have experience with a 180 or 200 and these 2 calibers? I just would like to have a expanding bullet for the Max but finding a factory one is soooo difficult. I would like to thank every one for your help a head of time.

Keep up all of the great data!!

[bhn22]

180 gr is really light for 356 Winchester. 220 gr worked best for me when I had mine.

[Ktmrider]

I'm running a 220 FP in it right now and it works great for whitetails, I'm just looking to make my own to use it on deer. I'm looking for a new challenge and I thought with these 2 calibers it should be a perfect start. I was just thinking the 220 would be just a bit much for the Max.

[Pilgrim]

They're both 35's....right? Go get the RCBS 35-200, start casting and shooting. Out of ww alloy, lubed w/gc, mine weigh 213 gr. An alternative is to buy a custom mould with two pins. One for HP the other for FP. Alternately, order a mould with one cavity for each. I don't have any .357 Max. data at hand, but suspect there is enuf case capacity to move a 200 gr. +/- boolit to respectable velocities.....FWIW Pilgrim

[MT Gianni]

They're both 35's....right? Go get the RCBS 35-200, start casting and shooting. Out of ww alloy, lubed w/gc, mine weigh 213 gr. An alternative is to buy a custom mould with two pins. One for HP the other for FP. Alternately, order a mould with one cavity for each. I don't have any .357 Max. data at hand, but suspect there is enuf case capacity to move a 200 gr. +/- boolit to respectable velocities.....FWIW Pilgrim

This is worth a repeat. Is the max a rifle or TC contender. I like the 180 in a 10" contender but the 200 does better work in my Handi rifle. The 358 loves the 200 rcbs, my old 356 did OK with 180's but preferred the 358627 @ 225 grains.

[Wayne S]

Welcome,
I'm going to make a SWAG on your intended use, and that is hunting ?? If that is correct the best bullet for hunting will be one with a large flat nose
List what weapon your Max is in, If it's in a T/C I know their twist will handle the 200 FP.
When the Max first came out , there were a lot of articles written on it, one using several weapons including a 14" Contender used a Lyman 358318 255 gn mold. NOE's version is 360318, although I'd question that long unsupported nose for accuracy past about 75 yds.
The NOE RG series offers you the option of making HP's or FN.
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=35&osCsid=cj04mvfsgm3e7spkdoq7oogbl7

[Ktmrider]

Yes Wayne the Max is a 12" contender that I picked up from MGM and the 356 is a Winchester rifle. Right now the Max will do really well with 180's that is why I was thinking of the 180's or 200's. Thank you Pilgrim I looked at that bullet but since I am new I was hoping there would be someone else recommend this same bullet, the only downside to it was the lack of a HP.

[leftiye]

I'm hoping - since I've got one - that the hollow point version of the 358318 will reduce the issues of the long unsupported nose section. This ends up being similar to a design of Babore's (which could have been a .375)) that did quite well. The hollow point will surely aid stability by removing weight out at the front end. Makes a nice gap filler in the .358 weight range.

[Djones]

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=355

There is a two cavity clone of the RCBS 35-200. The RG mold will allow you to cast HP or flat point. You can't go wrong with NOE.

This bullet will make an great deer bullet. Check out this thread by Goodsteel

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?172689-I-believe-the-cast-lead-rifle-boolit-is-the-most-effective-projectile-in-the-world

To avoid destruction....You may want to harden up your alloy or slow down boolit or plan to only take broadside shots.

[Ktmrider]

It looks like NOE will get a call from me by the end of the week. This is one of my calibers that I really wanted to start with, the 40,44,45,375 and 50 will follow through this summer. Thank everyone for your input!

[Wayne S]

One thing to keep in mind when loading for the T/C, you do not have to seat down to the crimp groove, thus you can seat the bullet long like you would a bolt action. You will probably won't be able to touch the riflings with the nose, but maybe the front driving band can be a push fit into the throat helping to center the bullet till it hits the riflings .

[Ktmrider]

I just picked up this barrel this past year after I sold my old Competitor collection and I was able to use the same loads that I ran through my older Competitor. I have used this load through six different Max barrels over the years and it just plain works. I'm hoping I will be able to run 296 and have similar results once I make up a few new 200 grainers.

[Beerd]

The 190 grain Ranch Dog bullet wouldn't be a bad choice either.
..

[rockrat]

I would think along the lines of the RD 190 or the 35-200. Been working with the 35-200 in the max (rifle) with surprising velocities. Gotten some decent groups with the RD boolit. Depends on how far you will be shooting. 150 yds or less, the RD will probably work well. over that, the 35-200 might work best.