PDA

View Full Version : 357 Max



Tenbender
02-25-2015, 11:26 AM
What deer hunting cast bullet load are you guys using in a 10" or 14" Contender style pistol. I have always used 180 gr. HP jacketed pistol bullet or 180 gr. Hornady Single Shot Pistol bullet. Now that I have the casting bug I might buy a die and play with the Max.

runfiverun
02-25-2015, 11:46 AM
you might want to look at the throat in your contender.
if it is a re-chambered 357mag they did that for a reason, it wasn't cause the 357 sucks it was cause they couldn't get anything across that canyon straight.

having said that I use a 180gr silhouette type [truncated cone] boolit to thump things that need thumped in my max.

Tenbender
02-25-2015, 12:36 PM
It is a factory Max barrel. Nothing wrong with the way it shoots jacketed bullets. I just want to see if a cast boolit will work as good. I'm just looking for a good starting point.

quilbilly
02-25-2015, 12:50 PM
I have a factory Max T/C carbine and it shoots wonderfully. For practice loads I use the Lee 150 gr RN with 9 gr of Unique (if memory serves) at a velocity of 1200 and for smaller medium game under 200# I use the Keith style 173 gr SWC from a Lyman mold at 1400 using Unique. No gas check on either. I also occasionally shoot a Lee 158 gr SWC-GC with 2400 powder at 1900 which groups at about 1.7" at 100 with a Williams peep sight. The 150 and 173 boolits have virtually the same point of aim grouping at about 2" at 100 if my old eyes and the peep sight are working together on a good day. I started seeing leading for both of the plain base boolits right at about 1450 fps. Sizing is to 358 with the Lee mule snot lube.

glockky
02-25-2015, 01:17 PM
My 357 max encore with 18" MGM barrel likes the NOE 360-180 GC and the NOE copy of the RCBS 35-200 HP.
The 180gr bullet runs aound 2100fps and the 200gr around 1900fps. Both loads I use alliant 300MP which you can do a search here and find load data.

357 maximum and I think Babore posted load data with this powder.

Moonie
02-25-2015, 03:14 PM
I had a 10" 357 max barrel for my contender years ago. I just used it for fun, shot 125gr XTP bullets over heavy charges of W296. I remember using just standard 38/357 magnum dies to load it.

Wayne S
02-25-2015, 03:53 PM
What deer hunting cast bullet load are you guys using in a 10" or 14" Contender style pistol. For Max. killing power look for a bullet with the largest melplat. Check NOE's site, they offer a few heavy 357's with large flat noses including the Ranch Dog designs. Also be sure to get a sluging of your chambers throat because T/C normally cuts long throats so you won't be able to touch the lands, so you will need to size your bullets for a tight fit in the chambers throat.
just my $.02