New member, Contender 357 Max load

[tc scout]

Just joined the forum, looking to get into cast bullet loads for my 357 Mag and 357 Max Contenders. Have been shooting Contenders for many years with jacketed bullets, but with bullets being hard to come by and cast readily available I decided to try some cast bullets for hunting.
Problem is, there isn't much information on the max. What I have for bullets right now are Dardas 180 gr .358 RNFP, 158 gr .358 SWC and 158 gr .358 RNFP. These are all PB, so I am looking for a good starting load suitable for hunting that won't lead up. Powders I have on hand, H110, 2400, Unique, Red Dot, Power Pistol, Lil'Gun, Titegroup, HS-6. Have all primers.
Would appreciate a suggestion on a starting load. I have never pushed the max even with jacketed bullets so am not looking for a super fast load.
Thanks for your help, glad to be part of a great forum.

[quilbilly]

I have a 357 max in the T/C Contender carbine. Love it. I use three loads in it. The plinker is 8.5 gr of Unique with a 155 RN-PB boolit at 1250 FPS for 1.9" groups at 100 yards. My hunting load is with a 158 gr SWC-GC using 17.5 gr of 2400 at 1800 fps. I am currently experimenting with a Lyman 170 gr swc-PB (drops at 174 gr) using about 10.8 gr of Unique at 1540 FPS with no leading and so far 2.3" groups at 100 yards. That carbine is so light weight that full-house loads cause teeth rattling vibration making it unpleasant to shoot but fortunately the above do what I ask exceedingly well. All of the above groups are with a Williams peep sight. The good news is that all three loads use virtually the same aim point at 100 yards so I can switch out loads seasonally with almost no sight adjustment.

[TCTex]

My 15in Contender likes 27gr 1680 with a RCBS 354 (180gr GC) with a CCI primer at 1950 fps.

FWIW your mileage may very.

Duane

[TCTex]

I should have mentioned...

I personally don't care for H110 in the Max (Super-Mag) rounds. It tends to spike quickly and has more felt recoil to me. I dis have good luck with LiL Gun and the 180 XTP.

I am currently shooting 5-6 gr of Red Dot out of my 30 Herrett, 30 Whisper, and 7mm TCU. They all average around 1000 fps.

Duane

[Beerd]

Welcome, tc scout.

Have a read here: http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell357Max.htm
..

[revolvergeek]

I recently tried 6.4 of Red Dot under a Lee 158 RNFP out of my Ruger. I have not chrono'ed it yet be it felt pretty mild and shot about 1.25" at 25 yards.

[leftiye]

Read some of .357 maximum's threads on the max. He really likes the max. Ya think?

I've got an H&R handi with a .357 mag. barrel opened up to max. Also a blackhawg in maximum. Love it. Don't have much use for fast powders and light bullets myself. 200 grain mountainmolds boolits and 1680. 300 MP looks good too, as does VV powders.

[tc scout]

Thanks for the help, much appreciated. Have some 158 gr and 180 gr loads to try out, hopefully this Fri. Will let you know how my first shot at cast bullets goes. I am needing a good load for deer hunting, hope I am close.

[Artful]

What loads are you trying?

[frankenfab]

Shameless mold plug....

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?216591-NOE-360-180Gr-FN-(RCBS-357-180-SIL)