.357 Max bullet recommendation

[nitroproof]

My Martini Cadet is rebored to 357 Max w/ 1:22 twist. It's really more of a 1881 Maynard .35/30 than a Maxi.
Anyone recommend a cast bullet for such a S L O W twist? I've been shooting mild load J-word pistol bullets out of it since 1991. Time to try casting for it.

[docone31]

My favourite bullet for the .357 max. was the Sierra 180gn flat point. It was awsome in performance. My thoughts, would be, to hard cast at least 180gns. The max. likes heavy bullets. You might consider paper patching it also.
I bet that is a sweet shooter.

[runfiverun]

180-200 pushed pretty hard should do it.

[crazy mark]

find a 358627, 358315 or 358318. If you really feel lucky try for a 358009 All are over 200 gr. The 627 and 009 are probably your best bet. Saeco makes a 245 gr 35 cal that is the big brother of the RCBS 35-200. Mark

[crabo]

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

[357maximum]

I would start with the rcbs 35-200 atop a rather stiff charge of n-120 and see what happens. Start at 18 grains of VHIT N-120 and go up..... see if you concur.

I have always wanted to play with a max in a similar twist...I think it would be a winner...greenhill be darned. My 16 twist works well, but I have this feeling your situation will be a good one.

[Johnch]

I have always had good luck with the RCBS 180 gr Sil. bullet in my max

But 358315 or the RCBS 35 200 gr bullets also work well
But my 360 220 gr GB is a sleeper
It has produced exalant groups in the 14" TC barrel

John

[357maximum]

I
But my 360 220 gr GB is a sleeper
It has produced exalant groups in the 14" TC barrel

John

That 360-220 is an awesome boolit....I just figgered he could access the rcbs molds a little easier. The 180 sil is also a good boolit in anything I have tried it in....I just like the 200's whumpum a bit better.

[nitroproof]

Can anyone give me some O/A lengths for their boolits? Greenhill calculations say 0.87" is Prrrr-fect with my 1:22 twist. Sounds like the 180-200 gr. Silhouette slugs may be the way to go.
Thanks,

[GabbyM]

Saeco #354 180gr FPGC = .745” with gas check.
They make plain based version #353.
Saeco makes a pair of 180 gr TC bullets that give you bearing surface ahead of the crimp grove. I don't have the TC bullet but I would assume that in a closed breach gun you could load the RNFP with less bullet down in the case. Before hitting the rifling. Leaving more powder space.

Saeco moulds generaly don't cast very large bullets. In 1:20 alloy mine barely makes a .358 boollet. Perfect if you want a .358 bullet. My RCBS 38-158-CM drops .3605”. When cast hard they are quite a chore to size down. Great mould though and $20 less than a Saeco.

[Handgunr]

nitro,

I've had a lot of history with the .357 Max, but admittedly, it's been mostly with the Contender in the 14" barrel, as well as the Ruger SRM and Dan Wesson revolvers.

Most nominal rates of twist for the Maximum's were 1 in 14 and up to as slow as 1 in 20 in some cases. Faster rates of twist are usually required for heavier rounds to get them to stabilize, so since your situation is in the 1 in 22 realm, you "might" be better off using lighter bullets instead of the heavier bullets kindly suggested here.

158 to 200gr. bullets should stabilize well in the 1 in 14, to 1 in 18 inch twist rates. From there on, 158gr. or less might be the only way to go. You'll have to try them to see. You'll know very quickly if the rounds are going all over the place, or are keyholing.

The rate of twist in my 14" TC is 1 in 14 I believe, and it's handles the 170-200gr. bullets very well. Being that lighter bullets will stabilize in slower rates of twist, and due to the higher rate of twist of my barrel, they are obviously spinning much higher than they need to be just to stabilize. This is fine unless they are constructed using a thinner jacket that can't handle those higher RPM's.

Hope this helps,
Bob

[nitroproof]

Handgunr - The gun originally was to be a .357 Mag rebore. A gunsmith suggested the Max chambering, that was back in 1991.
I've shot hundreds of 140 grain JHP bullets, mostly MidwayUSA bulk Remingtons through it. I tried 110, 125, 158's, etc... but the 140's shoot the best.
It goes against the Greenhill formula results.
I was thinking of getting a mold of around 140 grains byt posted here for opinions first.

[Handgunr]

nitro,

To be honest, I'm not familiar with the Greenhill Formula. I think I read where it has something to do with bearing length in relation to bore maybe ? I've been in this game a long time, and I've seen & heard a lot.......some good, some not so......dunno ?

Best rule of thumb in a situation like this, if in doubt, try it.......it won't hurt a thing. If you know that 140's are working for you, mark it down and keep trying heavier weights (in several different loads mind you) until you reach levels where the bullets start acting erratically on paper, i.e.; going wide for no reason/shotgun like patterns, yawing, keyholing.

You might find that weights not favorable to your rate of twist will still fly fairly well considering.

I'd venture a guess that 170-180 would be pushing it.


Bob