.357 max, custom mold for contender

[jsirm]

Hello, I have an 11" custom contender barrel by MGM. It has a tight throat (dont know how tight but bullets dont seem to wiggle in it), which is plenty long, about .375". My first loads with the 35-200 RCBS were very encouraging, exceptional velocity, and accuracy on par with j bullets tested.

The 35-200 has a small meplat, and it comes out well over 200 grains. I will be hunting deer with this gun and would prefer something like a 180 gr. WFN. I have been looking at some of the great molds that have been created for the group buys, but I have some questions.

The C-358-180-RF group buy http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=127864 looks great but I can fit a lot more bullet out of the case, the rcbs 35-200 has 0.500 forward of the crimp groove. It also has a nose that may be riding the bore at .350. LBT WFN seems to have a very long band on the much longer nose compared to this bullet.

What do you think is the ideal bullet for this barrel and purpose? I could just get a mold nearly identical to the RCBS 35-200 but with a shorter nose, thus lighter with a broader meplat.

Thanks!

[jsirm]

Ill probably get something very similar to the 180 LBT FN (WFN). Veral Smith recommends it highly for .357 Mag. Carbine use, velocities similar to my contender. A bore riding nose probably isnt necessary with a broad forward driving band.

[leftiye]

Go to Mountain molds and design sumthin' like a flat nosed loverin design to cast right at your freebore (size it if it is still too large). Seat it out to touch the rifling. Use a heavier boolit if the 200 grain version won't reach the rifling and still be in the case. You'll have exposed lube grooves, too bad (I don't have a problem with this, some others do). 300MP is the bomb in my .357Ms.

[stubshaft]

This is what I use in my 14" MGM Maxi. I used it extensively when I was shooting sillywett and downed a lot of hogs and goats with it.

[Nobade]

Ranch Dog's 190 sure does work well in mine.

[leadman]

I have a Saeco 180gr RFN with gas check that shoots great out of my 357s. Should work equeally well in the Max.

[Sheriff]

R D's TLC359-190-RF and Lil'Gun works in my Contender. I seat it in the bottom crimp groove in .357mag cases.

[DragoonDrake]

Go to accurate molds and take a look at the 358-230. I had Tom do that one up for my 357max bc I have a ton of free bore

[Beerd]

+2 for the Ranch Dog bullet.

However I must confess, I haven't shoot it much, but it looks good.
..

[Paul5388]

I need to try the RCBS 35-200 in my long chambered Handi .357 Mag. I've shot Beartooth 250 gr GC for 1" at 100 yards with it, but I haven't tried the RCBS bullet yet.

http://www.bbhfarm.com/albums/album21/abb.jpg

The powder weight is gr, not g and .360 DW brass is .1" shorter than the chamber. However, it will shoot about the same out of .357 Mag brass. I have loaded the same OAL for this gun as what is called for in Max brass. Some Contenders are chambered the same way.

[jsirm]

While my barrel has a long throat, it is tight. I had MGM cut the throat that way so I could chamber a certain jacketed bullet way out (boo!). The saeco 180 rnfp bullet looks great but Im my mind I can use more bullet ahead of the crimp groove.

I have been using the mountain molds online design feature and I really like it. I made up one that is very similar in dimensions to the RCBS 35-200 behind the crimp groove, which is about .360 long, a .100" forward band, tangental ogive to a 75% meplat, weighing about 185 grains. It looks a lot like LBTs WFN.

Im not positive that I need a crimp groove? I have used IMR 4227 to my satisfaction, I didnt like the giant fireball that H110 produced.

Thanks for all the information!