357 mag T/C Contender rifle barrel

[james nicholson]

I have a MGM 22" 357 mag barrel for my Contender. It shoots the Lee 158 gr gas check, conventional lube at 2100fps into a 1" group at 75 yards. Has anyone tried a .358 Lee (or any other brand) gas check 200 gr bullet that is made for a 35 Remington in a single shot 357 mag? I realize this bullet would not work in a magazine fed rifle but I think it should work in my break action. Thanks for any and all help, James

[quilbilly]

My 21" T/C 357 Max barrel shoots that new Lee 200 gr GC boolit very well getting 2 MOA accuracy at 100 yards with my ghost ring iron sights (pretty darn good with my old eyesight). For many years I have been shooting the same 158 gr GC boolit (my mold drops them at 163 gr w/o GC) with similar iron sight accuracy but downloaded it to about 1900 fps because the vibration (not recoil) in that ultra-light carbine was rather unpleasant. Reducing the MV did not seem to significantly effect terminal ballistics of that SWC at 40 yards so I have continued to used it as my close range target-of-opportunity black bear rifle. When I get around to doing a terminal ballistics test this winter with that 200 gr round nose boolit, I will reduce the muzzle velocity to 1750 and I suspect my penetration will be much deeper than with the SWC (maybe double) making the carbine an even better short range black bear rifle. For the record, I have limited the shots with the 357 max with the 158 gr GC's to smaller local black bears under 200# and under 75 yards but for serious bear hunts use something else.

[chutesnreloads]

In a break action rifle?Yes absolutely.Looking to do the same thing with a .357 Handi rifle.

[haynk]

TC contender, 14 inch barrel, 357 maximum,200 gr Lyman GC bullets, delivering 1600 or so fps. I have red dot sights, not laser sights. It gives adequate accuracy but I haven't shot for group size lately. Load is 18 gr 296 which is 2 gr below maximum.

KEH

[wonderwolf]

Not in a contender but I've been playing a bit with the 215-225gr keith style bullet in my bolt action .357 mag. I like my contender and have been thinking about a MGM custom .357 barrel or two, how you liking that MGM? have had decent results so far but have not tested extensivly yet, still messing with a different HP cast bullet with different HP sizes currently.

Thinking of a carbine length stainless and then a 11" drilled for iron sights but thread the muzzle for future can hopefully.

[P Flados]

I have been using the new Lee 200 in my TC 10" 357 maximum and it loves it. Same for my Dan Wesson maximum.

Results are at

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?283606-New-LEE-design-358-200-RF