357 Max what twist

[glockky]

I gave up on the idea of making my 357 handi rifle a max. Next month I plan to order a 357 Maximum barrel from MGM and buy another encore frame. My question is what twist to order? I have read some articles about 1 in 14" being good for 180gr bullets which is what I plan to shoot and have also seen some prefer 1 in 20".

I also wasnt sure about there tight neck diameter and what that meant. Are they talking about the throat? I didnt see if they offered a bore size either seems some custom barrels are .358 instead of .357? thanks for the help

[wlc]

I just got a new max barrel in from MGM. I custom ordered it in a 12 twist. I plan on shooting 250-300 grain boolits in it through a suppressor. You need to decide what the heaviest boolit you will shoot in it then get the length of the boolit and use one of the online ballistic calculators to determine the best twist.

[wallenba]

I was thinking about the max from MGM too. Looked around and no brass anywhere. Just thought I'd mention it before you spend $. My Ruger 77/357 has a 1:16 twist. Here's a chart from Brownell's website. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11182/GunTechdetail/Calibers-and-Twists
Remington and Jamisons are about the only companies cranking them out, and then only periodically. Some threads on the net say only once a year or even two years.

[glockky]

Anyone else done any shooting with 180gr bullets in MGM 357 max?

[wlc]

Anyone else done any shooting with 180gr bullets in MGM 357 max?

Not yet, but will use the couple of boxes of factory loads(180gr) I've scrounged to break in the barrel as soon as I get some optics on it. I'm also planning on trying the MP molds 359-640 in it as well. Hopefully this weekend....

[357maximum]

1/16 or 1/18 is what I recommend for 180's if you intend on "driving them" which you can do easily in an Encore/MGM MAX. A standard cut MGM barrel is just fine, but I recommend sending in a "dummy" round for what you wanna shoot in it....tell them to make the boolit slightly engrave on the ogive and live happily ever after. You can do all this in the "notes" section of the order form or pester them on the phone like I did. If you have it throated for a 180grain RNFP you will not be able to shoot the 200plus boolits however....personally I feel tha MAX is best suited for 180's doing 2150 or so...and that the big heavies do not belong in a MAX anyway.....but that is MY opinion.

[lak]

I have a Encore Max with 1-14 twist and it shoots RCBS 200 better that the RCBS Sil180 grain. Now I'm gona really muddy up the water, I did alot of research before ordering a barrel, on another web site where alot of people shoot the Max and those who had 1-14 were very happen and even stated that the accuracy was scary, others with a slower twist were not as satisfied. Most of the shooter on that web site shot jacketed bullets, which may explain their opinion.

[IHMSA53393]

lak, I ordered a 357 Max barrel last week from MGM. Went all out with 24", SS Shilen barrel, fluted and muzzle break with 1-14 twist. We must have read the same posts because that is what I based my decision on. I plan to start loads with Remington 7 1/2 primers, Lil Gun and WC 820 with the RCBS 35-200. Would you mind sharing load data with the RCBS 200?

[ubetcha]

I was thinking about the max from MGM too. Looked around and no brass anywhere. Just thought I'd mention it before you spend $. My Ruger 77/357 has a 1:16 twist. Here's a chart from Brownell's website. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11182/GunTechdetail/Calibers-and-Twists
Remington and Jamisons are about the only companies cranking them out, and then only periodically. Some threads on the net say only once a year or even two years.

Does anyone know why StarLine has not started making 357max brass? Does maybe Remington have a patent on it?

[glockky]

Well thanks for all the info I am still kind of torn on what to do. I guess I have a few weeks to make up my mind before I order. I still cant decide whether to go 16 1/4" or 18" long either

[wlc]

I went with the 16. I like it. I would have gone shorter, but don't have a pistol frame, or a SBR stamp for the rifle. Makes for a compact little package for sure. The more I fool with this Encore, the more I like them. Two screws and a pin and two minutes and I've got another caliber rifle. This could get expensive.

[357maximum]

Well thanks for all the info I am still kind of torn on what to do. I guess I have a few weeks to make up my mind before I order. I still cant decide whether to go 16 1/4" or 18" long either


Performance wise shooting cast/gc'ed 180's the difference between the 16 1/4 and the 18 incher are moot. I would go 18 or 20 for balance reasons alone, but that is just me. My 180grain N-120 max load fired in a 15 inch "pistol" gets almost identical fps as the same load fired in BaBores 20 incher....the MAX case only has so much space useable for fuel.......your choice based on balance/like in barrel length......I would choose the 18/20 incher unless you are hunting from a teeny tiny blind.....in the end it is all up to you....you pays your money and takes your chances, but a 20 incher can be shortened......a 16 1/4 incher cannot be ste-e-e-e-tched longer. :lol:

[wlc]

357Maximum, I do agree on the balance of a 20 incher. I only got the shortest MAX barrel I could legally run on my rifle because it will be run suppressed. The suppressor adds another 8 or so inches. My 500 S&W barrel is a 20 incher and it handles nice, and balances out well. Same reason for the 12 twist. I plan on shooting big ole heavy and long boolits and needed the faster twist to stabilize them.

[Stephen Cohen]

I asked these same questions near 18mths ago. Tomorrow I get mine back from the smith, I had to settle for 1/14 twist as it was all I could get. I have finished making stock and forearm and it makes for the nicest Martini Cadet ever. But I am biased.

[357maximum]

357Maximum, I do agree on the balance of a 20 incher. I only got the shortest MAX barrel I could legally run on my rifle because it will be run suppressed. The suppressor adds another 8 or so inches. My 500 S&W barrel is a 20 incher and it handles nice, and balances out well. Same reason for the 12 twist. I plan on shooting big ole heavy and long boolits and needed the faster twist to stabilize them.



That is indeed a different kettle of fish....sounds like fun :lol:

[wlc]

That is indeed a different kettle of fish....sounds like fun :lol:

I certainly hope so. If not then It'll become a "barn burner" instead of a slow and quiet thumper. I figure it'll do nicely with anything from 180gr on up. Gotta get a scope on it this week so I can shoot it some while we are having a little bit of warm(ish) weather.

[alt]

I have an 11" MGM for my Contender, 1-18, have had real good luck with the 180gr Rem SJHP. And a recent communication from a 'smith of some note says Max brass is scheduled for production in the not-too-distant future...

[Larry Gibson]

+1 for the 16" twist in .35 cal. I've a 26" Shilen barrel with a 16" twist on a M91 Argentine action that is just scary accurate with the RCBS 35-200-FN chambered in 35 Rem and a full case of 4895 for 2150 fps. I expect to push it faster with the same excellent accuracy using LeveRevolution powder. If I was to get a 357 Max it would be with a 16" twist, no doubt in my military mind.........

Larry Gibson

[parisite]

I've had my 13" MGM Contender barrel about a year now it has 1:14 twist as that's what MGM recommended. I figured they knew more than I did. Getting one more inch in length would have cost me $50 more.
Very happy with accuracy from 158gr fmj, 180gr gas checked, and 200gr Speer fmj.
I have a 2-6x Simmons handgun scope and I think if I had a better scope I would get better 100yd groupings.

I use either AA4100 or IMR4227 powder for 158gr and 180gr and 4227 exclusively for 200 grainers.

[glockky]

I just called MGM and they only stock 1-14" twist barrels. The LADY who answered my questions said the .357 bore were all 1-20"twist and the .358 were 1-14".

[Larry Gibson]

1/16 or 1/18 is what I recommend for 180's if you intend on "driving them" which you can do easily in an Encore/MGM MAX. A standard cut MGM barrel is just fine, but I recommend sending in a "dummy" round for what you wanna shoot in it....tell them to make the boolit slightly engrave on the ogive and live happily ever after. You can do all this in the "notes" section of the order form or pester them on the phone like I did. If you have it throated for a 180grain RNFP you will not be able to shoot the 200plus boolits however....personally I feel tha MAX is best suited for 180's doing 2150 or so...and that the big heavies do not belong in a MAX anyway.....but that is MY opinion.

+1.

A 16" twist will prove best unless you want to shoot super heavies at sub sonic velocities. I've a 16" twist on my 35 Rem and it is outstanding with cast from 105 SWCs up through 200 gr 35-200-FNs. Can't see a 357 Max needing anything more than that.

Larry Gibson

[Larry Gibson]

They'd probably get upset if you sent a Shilen blank to them..............might ask?

A shame to pay for a custom barrel and have to go with such a narrow choice and not get what you want.

Larry Gibson

[kolob10]

I have a Shilen 20" 357 max with 1:16 twist shooting 158gr to 200gr using Lil Gun. Hornady 180 gr SSP bulllets shoot the best for hunting out to 200 yards. Cast boolits shoot quite well in the same weight range.

[glockky]

Today I was given the option from them of 1-14" twist or 1/18". Not sure what to do. MGM really needs a knowledgable person to answer there phone.

[wlc]

Try and talk to Missy, Misty (can't remember her name for sure, but its one of the two)??? Tell her what you want. What they told you today was probably what twist blanks they had in stock. They can and do source blanks for different twists. I ordered a 12 twist for my Max. I got lucky and they had two blanks of that twist on the shelf, otherwise they would have ordered in what I needed/wanted with additional wait time.