I decided to get a cast friendly Contender barrel for Deer Hunting with the wife in mind. Ok this gives me a new Project to work with. I decided the 357 Maximum was about as good a choice as I could come up with. I ended up ordering a 13" MGM barrel. I sent in a 180 cast Dummy Shell and a 180 XTP Dummy Load to get the throat cut to best handle both loads. The reason for 13 Inch rather than 14 was cost. You have a price jump between 13 and 14 inch. I got it drilled and tapped for the 6 screw base.
I ordered a Weaver scope base for it that will probably be modified to the 6 screw configuration. I plan to start it off with one of my old Burris 2-7 pistol scopes for load development. For Deer Season I plan to have a 30mm UltraDot or 30mm MatchDot Red Dot Sight on it.
No luck with Remington 357 Maximum Brass so far. I got a Notification from Midway on the 357 Maximum Brass a while back, but not the one I wanted to see. Instead of IN STOCK it was listed as DISCONTINUED. Not what I wanted to hear.
I do have some Jamerson 357 Maximum Brass. I guess I will need to test it for my self and see if the cracking problem has been addressed. I could not find any information on this that was not two or three years old. On the Positive side I have 500 rounds of 360 Dan Wesson Starline Brass. I will probably never notice it does not say 357 maximum on the head stamp. I think it will produce all the velocity I need with 180's. It would be nice if Starline would make 357 Maximum, so we have a source of High Quality Brass.
I have had this project on hold for a few months. I did get my 5 cavity bullet mold that casts WFN 180 grain Gas Check bullets in. I have cast close to 1000 of them. I have been picking up a box of 180 XTP's now and again.
Now I need a rainy day to get to reloading for it.
Bob R