Super Heavies in the 357 Max

[hc18flyer]

Not familiar with the Henry single shots. Do the 357mag guns use the same receiver as their 223?

Yes, available in .357 magnum. Having Mike Bellm open it up to Max. I am looking for specifics to start developing some loads. Picked up some IMR 2442 and brass.
hc18flyer

[Moleman-]

hc18flyer, how long is Bellm making the freebore and what are you going to use as your max chamber pressure? Is that IMR 4227? I have the RCBS 35-200 and the NOE 360-228 molds although I've not used IMR4227 with them. Once you get your barrel back figure out a basic COL and I'll run it through QL with IMR4227.

[hc18flyer]

GREAT, THANKS! Yes it is IMR 4227. I think the Henry will handle 50,000, I'm not looking to max the max, just a nice 'plate smacking load', and a hunting load for the NOE 35-230. Tom

[Texas by God]

CW thanks for those pics!

[curioushooter]

AA2015? Interesting. Slower than 1680 but not as dense.

[KLR]

I'm in. I just finished putting together a 357 Max and would like to find a good deer load for under 150 yards. I have the NOE RD 35-230gr mold. I had the RCBS 35-200 NOE mold but sold it. However, I still have a few bullets.

Today I loaded one round with:
35-200 bullet. Mine weighed 216gr
17gr of Lil' Gun
OAL of 2.160.

I shot it over the chrono and the velocity was 1760 fps.

Moleman - Would you be willing to run this through Quickload and see how much pressure it was?

BTW, the 230 gr bullet will have to be seated a lot deeper in my rifle due to the large nose. Or sized down.

[Moleman-]

KLR, the 216gr bullets you sent me is what motivated me to finally get a lubrisizer. I used the RCBS 35-208 as a basis but changed the weight to 216gr and the length to .886" (measured one of yours). 2.160" COL, 17.0gr Lilgun, standard 33.6gr water capacity case, QL guess is 26,203 PSI, 20" barrel 1665 fps, 24" barrel 1716 fps. Ran it the first time and it came back slower, so went out to my bullet stash and found one of yours, measured it and adjusted the QL. Still coming in a little slow unless you have a 26" barrel.

I was running them around 1830 fps out of a 16" with W296 which puts a good thump on the steel plates at 150yds, but so far haven't taken a deer with them. I have the Lee copy of it now.

[KLR]

Thanks, Moleman! My barrel is 18.5" Maybe my chrono is off? I only shot one and it was the first bullet out of a freshly cleaned/oiled barrel so maybe that did it? Anyway, I loaded four more tonight and will shoot a group and chrono all four shots.

I played around with the 230 gr RD bullet and it will have to be seated deeply in my rifle, or I'll have to size down that fat nose. I think I'll just get the Lee copy of RCBS bullet and modify the mold to make the meplat bigger by cutting the nose length back.

Edit: In a PM with hc18flyer he mentioned using 360 DW brass with the 230gr bullet. So I took a piece of 357 mag brass and seated the bullet until it just fit in my chamber. Results were a 2.010" OAL. The bullet is .910" long. Would you be willing to run this in Quickload for me? I have Lil' Gun, 300-MP, 1680, 110, 2400.

[KLR]

I shot four more of the 35-200 clone over the chrono today. Results were 1716, 1707, 1745, 1731. Average 1724 fps. They went into a .72" group at 60 yards.

[Moleman-]

Nice!

[KLR]

Today I loaded a 230gr bullet (sized to .358) over 6gr of Titegroup. I used 357 Mag brass and seated the bullet to an OAL of 2.0" Velocity was 1050 fps.



It wasn't fast enough to stabilize in my barrel. Four rounds went into 3.5" at 60 yds and lube smears on the target bullet holes were uneven.

I cast some more today (plain base and gas check) and will PC the plain base ones and up the velocity.

Probably switch to Lil' Gun too, but not sure where to start. Maybe 12-13 grains?

[Moleman-]

If that's the NOE 360-230FN then QL is pretty close at 1070 for the guess from COL 2.0, 6.0gr titegroup. 12.0gr LilGun guess is 1226 fps, 13.0gr is 1325 fps, 15.5gr is 1558 fps at 32Kpsi....ISH.

[nagantguy]

Great great info keep it coming please I’ve kinda just started down the heavy 357 max road myself, seeing what authority a 218 grained pcd and CG’d put on large MI corn field does! 180 or so seems the sweet spot with Jwords but like the Dr.’Suese book on beyond zebra; some people stop there but not me, if 200 was really good and 215 was awesome and no pressure signs , and I’m eagerly awaiting my 360-200 MP hp group buy mold! High 190s or low 200ish hps should be great deer big bear medicine!

[KLR]

If that's the NOE 360-230FN then QL is pretty close at 1070 for the guess from COL 2.0, 6.0gr titegroup. 12.0gr LilGun guess is 1226 fps, 13.0gr is 1325 fps, 15.5gr is 1558 fps at 32Kpsi....ISH.

Thanks! That is a NOE 360-230FN. 32Kpsi doesn't sound too bad, but I really don't want to go much higher in my converted shotgun. I think I'll start at 14 grs and see how it shoots. Likely I'll go with a modified 35-200 for a hunting bullet.

[Stephen Cohen]

KLR that is one hell of a nice bullet, This is an interesting thread as I also have a 357 max on a Martini action and just love it. Regards Stephen

[hc18flyer]

My Henry will be in next week and I can figure out my col, so Moleman can run some loads thru QL for me? KLR- Happy to send some 35-300 gc for you? I like the NOE 35-230fn, that big meplate makes for a distinct 'thwack' on a whitetail! Hope to get caught up reloading other stuff tomorrow, cold and snowy outside! hc18flyer

[hc18flyer]

Sorry- RCBS 35-200 gc boolets

[KLR]

Sorry- RCBS 35-200 gc boolets

hc18flyer- Thanks for the offer, but I still have a couple hundred of those 35-200 bullets that I cast before I sold my mold. I'm thinking about making a jig and milling off the nose to make a meplat as big as the 35-230 bullets. If those work well, I'll order the lee mold and modify it. Like this:



It looks crude, but casts nice bullets. I have a milling machine now so I'll be able to do a better job.

Anyway, I got my first order of powder coating yesterday and will try powder coating. How's that for adding another variable into the mix? Lol.

Stephen - That bullet is a Ranch Dog design. He originally made it with tumble lube grooves and in 30 cal. NOE sized it up to .360 and changed to normal grooves.

[McFred]

Hey guys, just in case people hadn't thought of it yet, Hodgdon CFE Black is a similar speed as lilgun, and 1680. Might fill the niche in terms of density and burn rate.

[Moleman-]

I've also been looking at the MP-359 220gr WNFP HP GC, or perhaps having it made a little heavier near 260gr. For my rimless the Lyman 204gr RN looks good too. I need to start casting again before it warms up and I've got nothing to shoot.