Best Bullet for hunting with the .357 max.

[AllOutdoors.22]

Just wondering everyone's opinion on their favorite bullet for the .357 max. Or any .35 caliber really?

[Djones]

All for hunting
357 mag NOE 360180 wfn
35 rem ranchdog 190
358 win 358318 FN

I don't have a max but I bet the ranchdog or rcbs 35-200 would be good

[MT Gianni]

RCBS 200, Lt 358627, 180 fn all work well depending on twist.

[Djones]

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt124/duckwhackercmon/29911AB4-0095-4145-B8A2-EA62FE133940.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/duckwhackercmon/media/29911AB4-0095-4145-B8A2-EA62FE133940.jpg.html)

Shot at 50 yards.

[Beerd]

It's hard to beat a 180gr WFN bullet in the 357 Maximum.
Revolver or single shot?
And WELCOME TO THE FORUM!
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[AllOutdoors.22]

Thanks for the welcome Beerd...it is a 24" Encore barrel. Some great recommendation so far...does Lee make any good molds? Thanks for all the replies!

[AllOutdoors.22]

I also should mention that I have no experience with sizing or gas checks yet...I am assuming I will need to learn both for the Max ?

[Djones]

Lee doesn't have anything bigger than 158 grain in 35 caliber.

If you want to run 357 max velocities you will probably need a GC.

[Beerd]

Lee makes a bunch of dandy moulds. Unfortunately their catalog does not include a 35 caliber rifle bullet offering, and you really need a 180 grain or heavier bullet for your Encore.

Since Lee made the original "Ranch Dog" moulds maybe you can start a write-in campaign to have them add the 359-190 RF to their lineup. I'll bet there are quite a few 35 Rem & 357 Max shooters who would invest $20 in one.
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[AllOutdoors.22]

I think I just might do that. I am not familiar with the "Ranch Dog" but I will get familiar with it if it will work in my .357 Max.

[AllOutdoors.22]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/16/a6e4e9yp.jpg
This Is 3 separate loads I tried the other day. I would love to get these results with a cast bullet

[AllOutdoors.22]

8http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/16/2yqujape.jpg

And this is what she looks like ready to hunt!

[Hamish]

(ahem)

The 360-235 Thor over 2400,,,,,,,:bigsmyl2:

[Beerd]

Ranch Dog is the screen name of a dedicated levergun shooter and bullet designer.

His bullet for the .356 Win looks like this:

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/bin/TLC359190RF/bullet/sketch.jpg

That 360-235 Thor is mighty interesting but in my opinion is a little heavy for the Max.
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[AllOutdoors.22]

That looks pretty good...so if I understand correct this is a tumble lube bullet also? Is there a benefit from the Tumble lube versus a bullet with lube grooves?

[Beerd]

Yes, it's a tumble lube (TL) bullet intended for use with Lee Liquid Alox (LLA).
The "advantage" is one less piece of equipment to buy.

Keep reading. Do a search, check out the Stickies.
..

ps
Nice rifle. You shoot it well.
..

[AllOutdoors.22]

I like the idea of using a tumble lube bullet. Like you said less equipment to buy. But do you think that it will hold up at the velocities the .357 max. can deliver?

[leftiye]

I agree with the idea that tumble lube boolits (especially with the lubes used) may lack whatitneeds for top velocities and accuracy. JMHO.

Ranch dog's designs may be the exception to this.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
My rule of thumb is heavy for caliber, large flat nose, the softest mix that yet supports launch velocity and base pressure, get as close as possible and put it through both lungs to include the heart if possible. If I know for sure I will try to bust shoulders I use WW aircooled with 2% tin but still the large flat nose.
I hunt river bottoms so all my shooting is close. My longest corn cruncher to date is 34 yards. Most are 20 yards and under. I actually set the fur of a doe on fire once with my caliber .58 Zuoave. That is when I predomonently went back to recurves.
Mike in Peru

[MT Gianni]

Ranch dog 35 cal designs are also available from NOE and Accurate molds.

[AllOutdoors.22]

MT, I did find a mold from NOE that I was interested in but I am worried about lube choices. I seem to always come back to worrying about leading my barrel. And I don't want to ruin this barrel as it shoots so well...

[Hamish]

I like the idea of using a tumble lube bullet. Like you said less equipment to buy. But do you think that it will hold up at the velocities the .357 max. can deliver?

I have run Alox/JPW to a little over 1600fps in the .357 with excellent results.

[BigboreShooter]

Leading will not ruin the barrel!!! Just clean it out and keep tinkering with different load/bullet combinations.

BigboreShooter

[quilbilly]

My favorite small game (up to 50# at under 80 yards) is the Lee 150 gr round nose plain base over 8 gr. of Unique which give it a muzzle velocity of about 1200 fps. and consistently groups under 2" with iron sights at 100 yds. My rifle is a 21" barrel Contender carbine. No leading at all and I do size to .358 though I probably don't have to except for consistency. For smaller bears at under 80 yards I use the Lee 158 gr SWC -GC which consistently come from the mold at 163 gr. over 2400 which give an MV of 1900 fps (sorry I forget the charge weight) and I would use this load for deer if I wasn't muzzleloading. The 357 max is a wonderful cartage and that 150 gr load is great fun to shoot.

[AllOutdoors.22]

I see a .360-180gr. fn in a group buy that I am pretty interested in getting. Question for you guys though...where would I find a sizing die that size? I like the idea of the Lee push through style as it doesn't require extra equipment but I believe they only have .358? Any help out there would be appreciated!

[AllOutdoors.22]

Plz disregard the second half of my last post as I found Lee does custom sizes for not much more than there .358. But anyway, do you guys think that would be a good bullet for the Max. I do not have a lubrisizer so I would probably dip lube in carnauba red. Thoughts? Thanks!

[Jupiter7]

Plz disregard the second half of my last post as I found Lee does custom sizes for not much more than there .358. But anyway, do you guys think that would be a good bullet for the Max. I do not have a lubrisizer so I would probably dip lube in carnauba red. Thoughts? Thanks!

AO22,

Contact member "buckshot" here and he can make you a push thru sizer. Much better than the Lee and no playing the lottery about what you'll get. Dipping in carnuba red should work fine.

[AllOutdoors.22]

I will definitely do that. That bullet looks like it should do well in the Max!

[Beerd]

If you are looking at the mould offered by A.C.E. Co. it appears to be a copy of the original Glen Larson design and will be a dandy in your Maximum.

[AllOutdoors.22]

That is the one...I sent out a PM to find out how the group process works. Hope I can still get one...

[johnestmon]

I like the 180 grain Hornady XTP. They get excellent penetration and are heavy enough to get a "Whack" for bone breaking and depth. I get them from RAM Precision, 50 rd box for $30. Can't beat it.

[onceabull]

I'm surprised that no one yet seems to favor my own long term choice. Lyman 358627..Granted it is long discontinued,but I think still available from some custom moldmakers,and for a tryout, Western Bullet in Missoula sold me my first,10-12 years ago ,then I went loking for a mould of my own..Shooting it in Dan Wesson Supermag, TC super 14s in both 357 Max. and 35 Remmie...Onceabull

[Blammer]

alloutdoor, pan lubing will be your ticket, cheap and easy

check out this place for all your NOE mould needs.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/

he may even have a "LEE Tumble lube" of the bullet you are looking for.

of course, the conventional lube bullets will tumble lube quite well too.

[tward]

Jerry at Carolina cast bullets is a sponsor here and sells the Ranch Dog 175 gr and 190 gr Boolits if you want to try before you invest in a mold. Jerry is a great guy to deal with and makes a quality product! Tim

[quilbilly]

I have been tumble lubing in Alox the Lyman 173 gr Keith style SWC plain base and didn't start having leading residue in my Contender 357 max until I passed 1450 fps if this info helps. I size to 358.

[FredMcIntire]

I have several .357 Maximums. I use a 185 grain, flat nose, gas check bullet from Beartooth Bullets, sized .359. I load them over 20.0 - 21.0 grains of H110.

I speak from experience when I say they are a deer hammer !

[rockrat]

ACE 360-235 Thor. Out of my Ruger #1 100yds
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/500sampw357maxACE002_zpsb6bcf4ec.jpg (http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Bigdog337/media/500sampw357maxACE002_zpsb6bcf4ec.jpg.html)

[Beerd]

rockrat,
good shooting!
(as I was once told, "Too bad you missed the bullseye")
That 1680 brings out the max in the Maximum. Have you shot that across a chrony yet?
..

[Greg]

nawh,

the 360-235 Thor over H-110






(ahem)

The 360-235 Thor over 2400,,,,,,,:bigsmyl2:

[taco650]

ACE 360-235 Thor. Out of my Ruger #1 100yds
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/500sampw357maxACE002_zpsb6bcf4ec.jpg (http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Bigdog337/media/500sampw357maxACE002_zpsb6bcf4ec.jpg.html)


That's great accuracy but what blows me away is a Ruger #1 in 357Max!

[Hamish]

nawh,

the 360-235 Thor over H-110

At some point you and I need to have a pow wow,,,,my limited testing of 296/110 was a little less accurate than 2400, and the recoil was quite a bit snappier, but, I only had time to test two or three load levels.

Im always willing to try it again,,,,,[smilie=w:

[MT Gianni]

I don't have access to 1680 or 680 but have had the best groups with the 200 RCBS and 358627 and 296.

[Greg]

Hamish-

pm headed your way

[Beerd]

That is the one...I sent out a PM to find out how the group process works. Hope I can still get one...

last call if you are still interested
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?241571-55-360-180-fn
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[AllOutdoors.22]

Beerd, thanks for the notice. Unfortunately, I just ordered 500 of the Carolina Cast Bullets 175gr. RD bullets. So I thinks I'm gonna pass on this one.

[JSH]

I didn't see any mention of you slugging anything. My thoughts are of others, a 180 as fast as it will go. A gas check may save you some time and grief.
Jeff