357/44 B&D or .357/.44 Bain and Davis history

[dragon813gt]

I love the article about NY that's in the American Rifleman PDF. It seems this country continues to ignore the facts four decades later.

[ohland]

I don't have any ARA Bulletins, in my surfing, one post surmised that the ARA Bulletin faded away with publication of Handloader magazine.

[ohland]

Guns&Ammo Oct 1977 "The .357/.44 Dreadnaught" by Dan Cotterman
http://ps-2.kev009.com/ohlandl/310/3...o_1977_Oct.pdf

[ohland]

http://ps-2.kev009.com/ohlandl/310/3...and_Davis.html

Looked for 44 AMP brass, found some (supposedly) at Grafs. Added the Speer #9 357 and 44 AMP pages. Added the article Feeding the .44 Auto Mag by George Nonte.

If there is anything more on the 357 AMP, I'd love to hear about it.

[Greg]

ohland-

Alliant has published .357 Maximum loads in the 2004 Reloaders Guide
Page 46 – Silhouette Data

http://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalo...ntPowderSM.pdf

It was in some older Reloaders Guides also, but the 2004 is still available online

Older editions that I’m aware of include two different 1996’s and an undated edition that I think is from 1998

[Greg]

Moonie-

Gary Reeder has a few different bottle-necked proprietary rounds

I had looked at the .356 GNR

but my idea was for it with the 358156 HP for a flat shooting Antelope round. The 356GNR doesn’t have much of a neck so…

of course if I could overcome the insidious habit of eating on a regular basis, I’d have a 357 Auto Mag

I’ve wanted one for about 43 years.

[ohland]

ohland-

Alliant has published .357 Maximum loads in the 2004 Reloaders Guide
Page 46 – Silhouette Data

http://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalo...ntPowderSM.pdf

Looked at it, good catch, but those loads are with Blue Dot, 2400 and Reloder 7. I've got my Power Pro 300-MP downstairs in the basement.... I sent a note to Alliant asking for some loads for the 140gr FTX and 300-MP.

[429421Cowboy]

In your OP you asked for scans of Ackley's Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders. My Vol. II shows the .44/357 Davis, designed by Keith Davis. Ackley again states his lack of faith in bottleneck revolver cartridges, and lists these loads worked up in an 8" S&W revolver.
113 gr bullet, 14 gr of Unique for 2170 fps Max.

140 gr bullet, 12 gr of Unique, 1460fps.

148 gr bullet, 21 gr of 2400; 1900fps Max. 24 gr of 4227; 1703 fps Max. 18 gr of 2400; 1377.

158 gr bullet, 19 gr of 4759; 1418 fps. 20 gr of 2400; 1483fps Near Max. 22 gr of 4227; 1490 Max. 17 gr of 2400; 1235 fps. 20 gr of 2400; 1483 Max.

150 grain cast, 22 gr of 2400; 1970 Absolute Max.

I listed the data as it is shown in the book, with no attempt to organise it. Sorry i have no abilty to scan the page, hope this might help somehow.

[bruce drake]

Just finished rechambering a 9x19 12" rifled barrel insert that I have stubbed into an older 12 gauge shotgun receiver that I built into a rabbit gun last year. I'm hoping now its become a fully efffective woods and field-walker rifle. 357-44 B&D should be good for everything from deer to rabbit out to 100 yards.

Nice thing about keeping old Handloader magazines on a shelf...June 2015 article "357-44 B&D Loads in a T/C Encore" by Stan Trzoniec was just waiting to be re-opened tonight for review and getting some loading tips for modern powders in this cartridge.

[Green Frog]

Wow, talk about a blast from the past! To quote Bogie from the Maltese Falcon “it’s the stuff dreams are made of.” I read about this conversion in Super Blackhawks & N-frame S&Ws and had my mind take off in flights of fancy. Like so many of my projects it never got beyond the idle dreaming stage, but it was fun while it lasted. Thanks for (reawakening) the memories.

Froggie

[Wayne Smith]

AAH, Froggie, I dream of this stuff in little single shot rifles - but not being a gunsmith or having those tools ... . They stay dreams.

[bruce drake]

Right now, the fight is finding affordable dies for this cartridge. Lowest price right now at CH4D at just under $100. I may just size down some 44 Mag brass with a 7.62x39 sizer and then a 357 Magnum carbide sizer just to then fireform to 357-44B&D and then just neck-size from then on.

[Steve E]

I currently have the following chambered in 357 x 44 B&D, Marlin 94, Encore rifle barrel, Encore pistol barrel and a Ruger Blackhawk in 357 x 44 B&D with cylinders in 357 Mag, 9mm, 9 x 25 Dillon, 357 Sig and 38 Super. The powder I found best for me in the B&D has been Hodgon Lil'Gun. One neat load in the Marlin 94 is 125 gr jhp bullets zipping out at about 2300 fps. I would really love to connect one of those with one of the local Coy Dogs, it'll probably turn it inside out pretty quick. I found that in the revolver setback is not a problem if each chamber is kept oil free and clean, if I take it shooting without cleaning each chamber in the cylinder it will have some setback and tie up the cylinder occasionally.

Steve.......

[ray h]

Steve E, Notice you said you have a Blk Hawk in 357-44 B&D. I have a few extra 9mm cylinders for my 357 3 screw. Can that 9mm be rechambered ??? Who would you recommend? Thanks

[Pressman]

AAH, Froggie, I dream of this stuff in little single shot rifles - but not being a gunsmith or having those tools ... . They stay dreams.

Wayne, about 15 years ago I built on on the Handi rifle. It's a great shooter with 150 grain. 358" boolits. If I can get them. I have exhausted all of my Speer hoard.
I have a Black Hawk chambered so also.

[Steve E]

Ray

That is exactly what I did all my extra calibers on was a 9mm cylinder, would I recommend it, yes. You will have some setback with hot loads or oily chambers but most of the time it is easy to extract cases. Be prepared it is loud. Go for it.

Steve.........

[ray h]

Thanks Steve, I was afraid maybe the cylinder walls would be too thin.

[McFred]

Attached are 'modern' handload data for the .357B&D I've stumbled across over the last couple years. One is published by Hornady in its native PDF format, the other is an older Accurate Arms PDF that you could download from their site once upon a time.

Finally, here's a screen capture of a 2013 ADI (Australian powder maker) 6th-edition electronic load guide; page 69 FWIW:



You can do your own powder cross-reference.

[Steve E]

Mine has been working fine for ten to fifteen years and I have run some pretty stout loads through it (rifle loads from my Marlin), normal range practice is usually with less than full throttle loads. Best powders for me has been H110 and especially Lil'Gun which seems like it was made for it.

Steve.........

[merlin101]

Dang it! I new I'd regret letting that SBH in .357 go! I just foolishly figured just how many .357 do I need?